FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4962, 14 April 1926, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF SEASON.

HAURAKI PLAINS MATCHES. Rugby footbal opened on the Hauraki Plains on Saturday when the first matches of the intcr-club competition organised by the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union were played. Being the first time any of the teams, with the exception of Ngatea, bad played tluis season, the standard of football was not high!: but much promise was shown. Most of the teams contained some new- players who should become conspicuous as the season advances. At Kaihero tile West club secured two wins from the Ttirua el no teams, -defeating .the seniors by nine points to five and the-juniors, by six to. nil. In previous seasons Wes.t has always beaten Turua on their own ground. The teams were as follows :— Turua. —A. Hayes, R. Madgwick, G. Elvin, M. Madgwick, A. Elvin, E l . Johnston, A. t Chatteris, K. Fox, E. Booth, G. McCowatt, R. Hutchinson, W. Clark, E. French, G. Johns,ton, L. Peckham. , West.—E.’ F, Costello, G. Paton, F. Woodbridge, G. Garry, Silrvery, D. Cowdrey. J.. Garry, E. Cowdrey, T. Foote, J. Jeans, J. Bolton, R. Penny, R. Benny, R. Wallace.

E.' French, a promising Turua player, secured'the first try within a few fiioments of the opening of the game. It.was not converted. Early in the second spell Silvery, from loose plt’y in Tuma’s twenty-five, evened up the .score, and F.- Costello -proved that he had not lost any of his power to kick goafs. In addition to converting.the try he also secured four points with a drop-kick from the’field. Shortly! after the second half opened E. John-* ston secured a try for Turua which was not converted. - The. game was. fast and evenly contested, the visitors showing the better condition but less combination. ■ Mr D. G. McMillayi was referee. ' . WEST V. TURUA. The. junior match was played on an adjoining field, Mr C. Stretton refereeing. Tries were secured by A. Stone and J. Miller for West, t.he.o.nly points scored. Turua played two men,short.. NGATEA V. WAITAKARURU. ’ The Ngatea sieniors secured .a win by 20 points to. 3 against Waitakaruru on the latter's, ground. Following were the players \ Ngatea.—C. -Wilton, L.. .Cotter, W» Williamfs; C. Molloy, - Pilkington, F. :Nicol, G: Birkenhead, H. Duncan, T. Alderson H,. ■ McCollum, R. McPherson, R. Spencer, Quintal!,, Bi Cooke,' 0. Clea.ve. *■ Waitakaruru.—Ai/Hamilton; Clarkson, Coxhead, Wilson, D. Molesworth,. Jones, Trembatb,. Hayward, Maype, Craig; Taylor, .Williams, Crowther, Berqey, Preston. ■ Waitakaj’uru opened by air attackdug strongly, eventually compelling a force. Ngatea. followed up the dropout, but lost a try. through oyer eagerness, but a penalty goal: was ; kicked I by Gotter. Ngatea then commanded the play, but failed, with an easy penalty kick.’ A splendid bit. of play by. Molesworth was witnessed. Her.eecure'd from .the drop-out, side-stepped, three men, short punted and gained possession again, and out-ran theuest of his opponents to score between the posts. He failed to convert. This ■gave Waitakaruru new life, and . for the ■ remainder-of the first- half the visitors were- kept defending' their goal. In tlie second half better condition and superior play gave Ngatea command ofc. the game, '-and five more tries were secured, one of which/was converted.' The ;ball was touched down by McPherson, Duncan, (2) McCollum, and Molloy, and’Molloy converted. . - Mr J. T. Clark was referee. • « i KEREPEEHI V. COAST. The Kerepeehi v. United Coast match at Pipiroa was. an unsatisfactory game.. Perkins kicked a penalty goal and a try was awa-rded to Coast for ;rn act olf obstruction. Rillgour secured a try, which J. Acllunt ; converted. . ■ Following wore, the;- players :— United Coast-—W. Nicol, P. Clark, R. Whelan, Johnny, Chapma.n, E. Hooper, J. Knox, -W. O’Neil, J. Ivan, ,S. Dalgetyf D. Dalgety,. E. Gill, E. Perkins, E. Hale, Hawerar « Kerepeehi.—B. Moore, H.’ G. Carter, J. Adlum, P. Reti, Smart, Courtney, IV. Kidd, R..Steedman, J. Parata, L. Killgour, Ratngi, W. Murphy, L. Hira, Ruzich, /y. Murphy. ■» ■Mr G. T. Dawidson was referee.