FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4849, 6 July 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. REPRESENTATIVES. Waikato 14, v. Thames Valley 5. SENIORS: Netherton 23, v. West. o. Suburbs 9, v. East 3. Ngatea 5, v. West 3. .Turua 0, v. Coast 0. Kerepeehi 3. v. Waitakaruru 3. JUNIORS: West 8, v. Netherton 0. Suburbs defaulted to Karaugahake. Ngatea 14, v. West 0. Kerepeehi won by default. THIRD-GRADE : Paeroa School 14, v. Netherton 3. The only match played at Paeroa on Saturday afternoon was the senior (iAture between Netherton and West. The interest taken in football locally docs not seem to be worth mentioning. • A third-grade game was set down as a curtain-raiser on Saturday, but owing to the poor attendance of players nothing eventuated. The spirit of enthusiasm in the West eniors is apparently of no higher standard, for the team took the field with its full number made up by the inclusion of six lower grade players — mostly third-grade. Likewise, the union officials are not losing much sleep over the worries and cares of office, those present being few and far between. This makes the second occasino on which third-grade boj’s have been called upon to play with the seniors for West, and it is no credit to either the club or union officials. Such an action can in no way be justified. It is unnecessarily risky and unfair to the boyis, and shows a lack of consideration for the spectators. Incidentally, it points to sportsmanship being absent from all those in authority who would allow such a thing to take place without a protest. However, as a result of these and may be other circumstances, Netherton had an easy win. The teams were : —

Netherton. —G. Pullar, B. Fisher, C. McNeil, H. Coldicutt, W. Potter, T. Pullar, A. Burt, B. Johnson, G. Fisher, H, Morrison, E.. Fisher, P. Morrison, E, Johnson, J. Morrison, D. Hill. West.—B. Rae, Keating, Currie, Hargreaves, Masters, Rowe, Nield, Sinnott, G. Pennell, H. Wilton, W. Pennell, Carrick, Shaw, W. Wilton, Spinks. West kicked off and immediately afterwards gained a penalty. With the visitors defending the ball was sent to Rae, who centred. The kick was too strong, however, and Netherton forced. From the drop-out the Netherton pack worked down to West’s twenty-five line, where the movement was terminated by a breach. In the loose Rae obtained possession adn by good play shifted operations to the other twenty-five. A mark by Hargreaves was badly placed, and Netherton worked the opening. The ball was kicked across the field and over the line, Fisher following up and scoring in the corner. P. Morrison failed with the- kick. Netherton .3, Wqst 0. West advanced with the kick-out and Nethetron forced. In open play Netherton gained the advantage. From a throw-in in West’s territory the ball went, to Masters, who kicked to G. Pullar. Being in a handy position Pullar placed, a nice drop-kick. Netherton 7, West 0. Witnthe visitors defending West gained a penalty, bu.t Rae failed to score. Using their weight, the Netherton forwards worked down the field, the quarter ending with hard play in the corner. The second round opened with an attack by Netherton which reached the pests. After a temporary check the ball shot out tb McNeil, who dived over the line. Morrison failed to convert. Netherton 10, West 0. Play went to midfield, and‘a punting bout terminated in B. Johnson putting in a good run. He beat several opponents, but threw away a sure try through not passing soon enough. West strenuously defended, but the attack was too strong and J. Morrison crossed the line. G. Pullar succeeded with the kick. Netherton 15, West 0. For the rest of the quarter Netherton kept West defending. Just when the home team began to weaken the bell brought relief. After half-time West momentarily attacked, and then Netherton took control. A number of scrums and line-outs followed in the corner, Nield and Sinnett eventually clearing for West. The game opened up a little, and Netherton sent over the line for West to force. Pressure was maintained by the visitors, and the home team was compelled to force twice more before the quarter ended. The last round wsa all in Netherton’s favour, and the visitors took things easy. Throughout the game they were never fully extended, and in the final stages of the game opened up the play and indulged in a number of passing bouts. When on the attack the ball passed through their backs, Fisher, on the wing, scoYing. Burt converted and made the scores Netherton 20, West 0. After a short respite West had to defend again, but the effort was of no avail, J. Morrison notching another three points. P. Morrison was unsuccessful .with the kick. Netherton 23, West 0. From then on until time was called play was in midfield. Mr E. Smith was referee. SUBURBS V. EAST. The Suburbs v. East match was played at Hikutaia. The teams were evenly matched, and after a good game the home team won by 9 points to 3. Tries were scored by Patterson and Bennett, and L. Rice kicked a penalty goal for Suburbs. G. Royal scored with a penalty kick for East. Mr. J. D. Crawford was referee. WEST V. NETHERTON. In the junior competition the West team travelled to Netherton and gained a victory by 8 points to 0. Parsons and Shaw scored a try each, one of which Swann converted. Mr R. B. Penlington was referee. The match between Karangahake

and Suburbs did not eventuate, the latter team defaulting. SCHOOL V. NETHERTON. The only match in the third-grade competition was between Paeroa School-and Netherton, the former winning by 14 points to 3. THE PLAINS MATCHES. The second round of the Haiiraki Plains matches in the club competiions was continued on Saturday s in fine weather. At Turua and Kerepeehi the state of the fields militated against good football, as also did the interval of five weeks since the last game, but at Ngatea the ground was in good order and, a« was expected, the match was a very good one. The position of the various teams is such that- the Ngatea Club should win both competitions. In the senior grade Ngatea has 13 points, West 9. Turua and Coast 6 each, Kerepeehi 4, and Waitakaruru 2, and each team lias three matches to play. In the junior grade Ngatea has 10 points, Kerepeehi 5, West 5, Waitakaruru 4. and Turua 2. Turua and Kerepeehi have three matches to play and the others two. NGATEA V. WEST. The teams in the senior match were ais follows :— West— E., Costello, M. Tuhua, G. Paton. F. Costello , S. Sivery, G. Elvidge, B. Nolan, J. Garry, R. Wallace, D. Cowdrey, E. Cowdrey, R. Benny, J. Bolton, J. Milne, T. Foote. Ngatea—C. Wilton, R. Harris, McPherson, Gillespie, L. Cotter, C, Molloy, G. Birkenhead, T. Alderson, J. Baker, R? Spencer, L. Lipscombe, P. Leonard, Hawera, Cleave. West kicked off and carried play to Ngatea’s territory. Play went back to neutral ground, and a long kick by Costello sent back to Ngatea’s end. where, after line play in which West gained ground, some tight play ensued until Birkenhead relieved to midfield. Cowdrey secured from a line-out and carried to Ngatea’s quarter. Play ranged up and down on Ngatea’s side of halfway. Cotter relieved, but the West forwards returned and (secured a free kick. No score resulted, and they failed to take advantage of opportunities to mark or drop-kick. Open play in front of the posts ensued, West throwing the ball about well. Wilton effected a good save and West failed to score from a free kick. Ngatea worked up to halfway and Cotter secured from a scrum, sending play into West’s territory. Ngatea attackde strongly and secured a penalty, but faild to-score, Costello returning to the halfway flag. The Ngatea forwards broke away and almost scored, a force resulting. In the second quarter Ngatea attacked and compelled a force. Play was in hte neutral zone until West again. forced. Ngatea was showing to advantage, and West had to defend. Cotter secured and with Birkenhead made a good passing rush and scored. Cotter also, converted. Ngatea 5, West 0. From the kick-out West rushed play, to Ngatea’s line, where tight play ensued until Harris relieved to halfway. The ball was sent to West’s territory, and play was restricted to tli at part of the field for some time. Eventually Lipscombe marked, but the ball hit the cross-bar .and bounced back into play and West rushed to the other end of the field. Costello failed with a penalty kick at goal. On . resuming after half-time West attacked and reached the line. However, no score resulted, and the attackers also failed to score from a penalty kick. A long punt sent play to West’s line, and fast open play eventuated in West’s territory until Costello found the line at halfway. A good passing rush by the West backs put Ngatea on the defence, but McPherson relieved to halfway, where fast open play was the order until

change-over. The final spell opened with a Ngatea attack, during which Cotter failed to score from a mark. West worked up the field and held Ngatea until the forwards broke through to midfield. Play was fast, and West gain- . ed ground by good forward play, Foote finishing the movement with a try. Tuhoe failed to convert. Ngatea 5, West 3. West made a big effort to even up the score, the forwards doing good work and restricting play to Ngatea’s territory. With a few minutes to go Ngatea send down the field, where play remained until time was called. Mr J. Kidd was referee. Scon after the junior game opened ■ Ngatea scored from a penalty kick by Courtenay after a brilliant run by Hayward. Shortly afterwards Hay-. ward iscored and Courtenay converted; In the second quarter Hayward again scored, the try being unconverted, ahd in the third quarter Courtenay scored. The game was a good one, but rather one-sided. In the second half Ngatea eased up suffiicently to hold their opponents. A Ngatea player, PSoloman, was ordered off the field for talking. Mr A. McClean was referee.