PLAINS FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4731, 30 July 1924, Page 2

PLAINS FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Ideal weather prevailed Lor the second matches of the second round of Plains inter-chib faatball on Saturday last, and some good games were witnessed. KEREPEEHI V. WAITAKARURU. As was expected, this match, which was played at Waitakaruru, was a most interesting one. By the form shown, both teams will be in the finals of the competition, and Satur- 1 day’s match was looked upon by some as a deciding factor. However, it ended in a draw, making Waitakaruru nine points and Kerepeehi eight points in the competition. The field was fairly wet, but not as bad as the adjoining one on which the juniors were playing. There was no wind. The teams proved very evenly matched, and the game was a particularly hard struggle from beginning to end and at times was particularly fast. The attendance was a little above the average. The teams lined out as follows : Kerepeehi.—J. Adlum, J. Watene. R. Hawera, W. Murphy, G. Masters, T. Majury. L. Masters, W. Molloy. R. Steedman, T. Rapana, Nathan, H. Baggs, N. Tipa, Reneta, P. Duce. Waitakaruru. —G. Tager, W. Parata, C. Stretton, W. Ryan, F. Stretton, A. Hamilton, E. Dibble, E. Laing, A. Tavlor, L. Williams, L. Hunt, L. Berney. R McPherson, A. Craig ,C. Clark. Waitakaruru kicked off, and after fast play in midfield worked down, a long shot being forced by Murphy. An interchange of kicks terminated in a penalty to Waitakaruru which was followed up into the visitors’ territory, where hard close play ensued until G. Masters relieved. A free kick to the line took, play to Waitakaruru’s territory, and from a passing rush Murphy reached near to the corner, being stopped by Stretton. A strong attack by the Kerepeehi backs compelled Waitakaruru to force. Laing took play to Kerepeehi’s twenty-five flag, but the visitors returned and set up another attack. C. Stretton marked in a dangerous position and clearer to neutral ground, where C. Clark secured from a line-out and carried on to the corner. In the second quarter Waitakaruru gained ground with a penalty kick to the line. Kerepeehi secured from the throw-in and worked up the field, but a free kick sent play down to Kerepeehi’s end. The attackers failed to score with a penalty kick, and Adlum retun ed to the line. After fast open play Watene obtained possession but was forced out in touch. From the drop-out Waitakaruru attacked solidly, ami a rush was negatived by Adlum marking. Taylor led Waitakaruru forwards back again, Adlum being the stumbling block to this movement also. Another penalty kick by the home team failed to materialise, and the quarter ended.with Kerepeehi defending. On resuming after half-time fast following up of the kick-off by Waitakaruru sent play to the corner, where several five-yards scrums en sued, E. Masters eventually relieving. Kerepeehi gained ground in the open play that followed in the neutral zone, but could not pass C. Stretton. F Stretton retired and A. Otter went on in his place. After much line play near Halfway Kerepeehi secured ami leached Waitakaruru’s line, Stretton again relieving. Play swung to the other end of the field, and Majury got in some good defensive work and eventually eased by lining. Waitakaru' u returned to the attack, and after a number o£ five-yards scrums the ball went to Molloy, who, after a long run, scored the first try. The kick failed. Kerepeehi 3, Waitakaruru 0. From the kick-out Kerepeehi pressed, but Tager relieved by marking. Play then went up and down the field, Adlum doing good work. The quarter ended with Waitakaruru on the defensive. Tn the final round H. Baggs retired and was replaced by S. Reti. Play was in midfield, and was fast and open. A free kick sent the ball to near Kerepeehi’s line, and from a following five-yards scrum G. Masters relieved. Bad passing bj- the home backn lost much ground, and a penalty kick sent the ball to midfield, but Kerepeehi soon had to defend again. Majury relieved to halfway, but the home team returned with a free kick am! tight play ensued under the posts which terminated in the defenders being penalised. C. Clark converted,’ making the scores even. Kerepeehi 3. Waitakaruru 3. Particularly fast play was then indulged in until the call of time. THE JUNIORS. This was also a good exhibition of the game, but the Kerepeehi team was much heavier and overwhelmed its opponents. The ground wais very wet, out not slippery. Tries were scored for Kerepeehi by S. Reti, P. Reti, B. Moore, and Connor, and one was converted by S. Reti. Mr M. Leonard was referee. WEST V. TURUA. The Hauraki West team journeyed to Ngatea by launch and f'-om there to Tuitia by car. Upon arrival it was found that the ground was in such a bad state that the team declined to play, it is understood that the match will Le played at a later date if necessary. UNITED COAST V. NGATEA. This match was played on the Pipiron Domain, which was in fair order. The was very fast and open, and the teams were about equal >n strength. The playe”s were as follows : Coast. — F. Wallis. Hooper, O’Ciirroll, W. Knox, Ryan, McMillan, J. Knox. O’Neill, S. Djalgety, Corbett, RGreen, B. Wallis, D. Dalgety. H. Wallis. J, Green. Ngatea.—C. Wilton, Andiews, Stewart,. Hortene, Andrews, Nicoll. Ellis, Rolton, Taranaki, Baker, Lipscombe, Leonard, Spencer, Jobe, Booth. B. Wallis scored a try for Coast.