FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5126, 16 May 1927, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIORS : West 10, v. Waitakaruru 6. East 12, v. Suburbs 12. Ngatea 8, v. Kerepeehi 5. Turua 8, v. Plains West 0. JUNIORS : West 15, v. Suburbs 10. Netherton 15, v. East 5. Ngatea 14, v. Kerepeehi 3. Turua wpn by default from West Turua B 17, v. Waitakaruru 0.

Owing to the heavy rain which piovailed nearly all the afternoon there were very few people present at the domain on Saturday afternoon. The principal attraction was the senior game between West and Waitakaruru. Play did not commence until late owing to the state of the weather, West taking the field with 12 men only,, the vacancies being filled at hal - time by juniors. The wet and slippery ball, combined with the heavy going and blinding rain, mitigated against a good exhibition pf footballTrie visitors were undoubtedly the better team on the day, and were unlucky in not winning. The forwards, particularly, were superior to the local pack, while the backs showed speed and combination at times. During the first half the West team with only 12 men was unbalanced, and a good deal of offside play took place, and this no doubt placed the visitors at a disadvantage. Following were the teams: — West. —K. Dean, G. Wells, J. Vei-. ran, Dickson,. R. Swann, H. Coldicutt, L. C. Masters, M. Poland, E. Nei , Mayo, T. Dawson, G. Gage, C. Snow, H. Mills, R. Killgour. Waitakaruru.— Barlow, ‘-Valters, Gault, Burgin, Ticklepenny, C. Stretton Caie, D. Dalgety, Williams, Ivan, L. Preston, Barker, P. Clarke, Greathead, Annan. Waitakaruru kicked off, and a lOOSe rush was headed by Gault, who opened the way for Ivan to score near the corner. Stretton’s kick was unsuccessful. Waitakaruru 3. West 0Loose rushes on both sides followed for some time, and it was almost an impossibility to pick the ball up from the- ground. Gradually. however West worked play into the visitors territory where, in tight -play. Neil gained possession and sent out to Polan , to Masters, who put in a good run before transferring to Wells for him to scene. Dean converted. West '5, Waitakaruru 3. The second quarter opened with the visitors on the attack, and although neither side scored, Waitakaruru had the better of the spell. With the team Strengthened, West opened with an attack, and the x isi. tors were kept busy defending for a period. Neil gained possession in a forward rush and carried up before sending out to Dawson, who failed to take the pass. Walters cleared, and Clarke carried on for Ticklepenny to score near the posts. Stretton failed with the kick. Waitakaruru 6. West 5. Up and down play ensued for some time, until Masters opened up the game and carried into the visitors’ territory. In tight play near the posts Dalgety’s clearing kick was blocked by Dean, who gained possession and scored an easy try. Dean also added the extra points. West 10, Waitakaruru 6.

Failing light and heavy rain made for ragged play in the final round, which was shortened, and the game ended without any further score being registered. Mr T. C. Arnold was referee.

THE JUNIORS. WEST V. SUBURBS. The third game in the first round of the junior competition was played on Saturday, and ip the game on the local domain West defeated Suburbs by five points. The teams were evenly matched, and despite the rain and greasy ball a really good and willing game was witnessed. West has some good players this season, and of these J. Conolly and-L. Carrick were the most prominent on Saturday. In the visiting team Rare was the outstanding player. For the home team tries were scored by Conolly (2), Carrick, Fulton, and T. Wickliffe. For Suburbs Robinson and M. Brown each scored a try, both of which were converted by Rare, the game ending 15 points to 10 in favour of West. Mr J. M. Crosby was referee. HAURAKI PLAINS GAWS. The Hauraki Plains inter-club competitions were continued on Saturday, though heavy rain fell steadily all afternoon. Much rain had fallen since the Friday evening, and the fact that any matches were played at all demonstrates the keenness of the players. The West teams were set down to play at Turua, and one. team attempted the long journey over clay roads, but di,d not arrive until late in the afternoon. The game was called off at half-time, when the score was eight to nil in favour of the home fifteen. The Turua second junior team had an easy time at Waitakaruru, as the home club only fielded seven players. Two good matches, considering the weather, were witnessed at Ngatea, where the Kerepeehi seniors were beaten by eight to five and the juniors by fourteen to three. KEREPEEHI V. NGATEA. Kerepeehi.—M. Murphy, Rita, J. Adlum, L. Hearfield, E. Smart, F. Burt, W. Kidd, J. Connor. Parata, Murphy, E. Gill T. Rappna, E. Mulgrew, A. Courtney, Petersen. Ngatea.—C. Wilton, H. McCollum, J. McCollum, W. Williams, J. McPherson, F. Nicol, Gi. Birkenhead. R. McPherson. K. McCollum, S. Dalgety D. Hutchinson, J. Riddell, B. Cook, R. Hawera, W. O’Neil. This game was expected to be a. walk-over for Kerepeehi, but it proved fairly even, and the home fifteen were the luckier. Play was confined to the forwards, and many opportunities were lost through playeis attempting to pick up the ball. Play

was fast, but the game was slow on account of many stoppages by the whistle. There was a strong wind blowing down the field, and all the play was in one half of the field. The vsitors had many free kicks in the Ngatea quarter, but failed to score.

At the change-over, when Ngatea commenced to play with the wind the predictions of a walk-over for Kerepeehi seemed likely to be fulfilled, for the play ranged about the half-way line, the Kerepeehi forwards, in close play, being able to regain the ground won by Ngatea with lucky kicks. The opening of the second half saw Ngatea force. Kerepeehi pressed, and close play on Ngatea’s line terminated in a try by E. Gill, who also added the minor points. Ngatea defended, throughout the quarter. In the most open play of the game Ngatea carried .the ball from halfway to Kerepeehi’s line, the attack terminating in a score by J. McPherson which C. Wilton converted, making the score five all. From then on Kerepeehi made a greater effort, but the wind and rain had increased in force, and after close play Strange, who had played rover after R. McPherson retired, was able to score for Ngatea. No further scores were registered, although Kerepeehi worked up into Ngatea’s twenty-five-. Mr G. T. Davidson was referee. THE JUNIOR GAME. In the junior game Ngatea had much superior combination, and outclassed the opposing side, winning by 14 points to 3. Tries were scored by C. Young (2), Franks, and Napier, and one was converted by R. Phillips. "Stingaree” scored Kerepeehi’s only try. Mr J. Reid was referee.