FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4860, 3 August 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

CHARITY SATURDAY GAMES. NO SCORE BY LODGE TEAMS.

The wretched weather conditions which prevailed locally on Saturday afternoon no doubt adversely affected the attendance at the football fixtures held on the Racecourse. The day was set aside by the Paeroa Rugby Union as Charity Saturday, and but for tne fact that a good number of tickets of admission: were sold during the week the amount collected for charitable purposes Would have been very small indeed.

The principal game set down for decision was a match between players from the local Oddfellods and Druids lodges. Both teams- arrived on the field short of players, and the vacancies were filled by the inclusion ot junior players. The game was fairly fast and even, and although no scorq was registered there were several occasions when a score looked probable, but the defence by both l sets of backs was sound.

The following were the teams: — Oddfellows.—G. Pullar, F. Keating, J. K. Dean, E. Potter, T. -Pullar, L. Potter, R. Wells, L. Smith, F. Patterson, G. Miller, V. Carrick, J. Morrison, G. Neil, E. Johnson, Duncan. E> rU ids. —J. D. Crawford, Mathieson, P. Angle, J. Verran, L. Nield, R. Swann, Ratliff, B. Hardman, E. Neil,' H. McKee, L. Shaw, E. McLeod, B. Neil, N. Neil, A. Nelson. The Oddfellows kicked off and carried play into the twenty-five, where Miller was penalised for offside. B. Neil took the kick, which .was returned to Miller, who carried down the field, Mathieson clearing. In a loose rush T. Pullar was conspicuous and play was carried down the field, a force resulting. K. Dean took the ball from the kick and made a good run, but was collared by Hardman, who was penalised for offside. T. Pullar failed with the kick. A few minutes later a good opportunity was lost through L. Shaw knocking on. Swann failed with a kick awarded against Patterson, and Nield put in a good run but G. Pullar cleared. The Oddfellows indulged in a forward rush, but Swann forced.

From the kick-off the Oddfellows advanced in a forward rush for Mathieson to force. In a, scrum the Oddfellows hooked and started a passing bout, but Mathieson intercepted and cleared. In loose play Nield marked and shifted play into the opposing twenty-five. The position was dangerbus for the Oddfellows, but eventually G. Pullar cleared. Soon afterwards the Druids returned in a forward rush, but Pullar was safe. The Oddfellows attacked in turn and reached the twenty-five, where Crawford relieved to the line. Morrison dribbled the ball from his. twenty-five to the other twenty-five, but was short of support. The second half commenced very willingly. Wells relieved temporarily' for the Oddfellows with a good mark, but the opposing forwards were hard on the attack and Dean forced. Later Pbtterson was penalised f°r holding on to the ball, but no advantage was gained. A good run was put jn by G. Pullar, but this pass was forward. The Druids were very eager, and a good forward rush reached Pullar, who saved the situation. The Druids immediately attacked in the final round, but G. Pullar dribbled up the field. From a mark by Hardman Smith made a good run, but was stopped by Hardman, who found the line. A run by T. Pullar gained no advantage, for he kicked too hard and Swann forced. Another attack by the Druids was relieved by Dean, but the opposing forwards returned, Pullar this time being the stumbling block. Carrick secured and put in a run, but knocked on when there was a' good opening. An 'attack by. the Oddfellows was upset by oyer eagerness. and a force resulted. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards, but no score was registered during the game. Mr R. B. Penlington was referee.

THIRD-GRADE. WEST 6 V. NETHERTON 3. The final game of this season’s third-grade competition was played on the No-. 2 ground, when West defeated Netherton by 6 to 3. The teams were evenly matched, but the game was a poor exhibition of Rugby. Certainly the ball was greasy and miserable Weather conditions mitigated against a better display. For West W. Leach kicked a penalty goal, and Currie scored a try.. Mr. A. D. Crawford was referee. THE PLAINS MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIORS: Ngatea 0, v. Kerepeehi 0. Waitakaruru won by default. West won by default. JUNIORS: Ngatea 16, v. Kerepeehi 0. Waitakaruru won by default.