FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5145, 29 June 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

HAURAKI PLAINS COMPETITIONSLAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The Hauraki Plains Rugby Union’s inter-club competition was continued on Saturday' last, when the third matches of the second round were played. The Turua club secured two wins at Kerepeehi, Waitakaruru seniors and Ngatea juniors were victorious at Ngatea, and Turua B juniors secured a win by default from West. The day was showery, thus the fields were heavy and the balls difficult to handle. WAITAKARURU V. NGATEA. This senior game was dull at the beginning, but it livened up towards the middle of the second spell and from then on was a good exhibition between fairly eyeply matched teams. The players lined out as. follows

Waitakaruru.—F. Barlow, Lipsey, D. Dalgety, Walters, C. Stretton, D. Molesworth, J. Knox, G. Paton, K. Caie, L. Berney, P. Clark, C. Clark, J. Millington, J. Ivan, L. Williams. Ngatea.—C. Wilton, J. McCollum, G. Buchanan, H. McCollum, W. Williams, Z F. Nicol. G. Birkenhead. W. O’Neil, K. McCollum, R. Hawera, R. C. Abel, H. Kirkman, R. McPherson P. Leonard, J. Riddle.

Ngatea opened up with an attack to Waitakaruru’s end, xvhere a free kick gave relief.* Open play in neutral territory followed, and Wilton failed to score with a penalty kick at goal. The Ngatea backs followed up a long kick, but faulty handling prevented a score and a drop-lkick at goal went wide. Dull, slow play was the order in neutral ground until the change-over.

The Ngatea backs took play to near Waitakaruru’s posts in a series of passing and loose rushes, and were awarded a free kick but no score resulted. Play remained in Waitakaruru’s quarter until Millington relieved with a line kick. C. Clark took the ball frc.m the throw-in and passed to Molesworth, who, Awith Lipsey, carried pl' ay to the other end of the field. Str etton picked up in the- loose and era jsed over the line. Molesworth converted. Waitakaruru 5, Ngatea 0. Molesworth secured tire ball in open play in outpacing ; the Ngatea players, added another' three points to Waitakaruru’s score . C. Clark failed to convert. Waif akaruru 8, Ngatea 0.

T| ie second half opened with brisker P la ? y, Ngatea attacking strongly. After ba’ rd, close play near the goal-line NVicol secured and dived over. Kirk-. M tan failed with the kick. Waitaka-i j uru 8 Ngatea 3. Waitakaruru attacked and ! kept play in the home team’s territory. Wilton at full-back was thoroughly tried, and his soun'l play earned him a place in the representatives! No score resulted from; a penalty kick. McPherson and Kirkman led tihe Ngatea forwards to halfway in a strong rush, but Walters, returned the ball and eventually compelled a force. Ngatea had slowly worked play to half-way by the hud of the quarter. Molesworth broke awa.y at the commencement of the final round, but was brought down by Nicol, who bad gone to full-back. A strong Ngatea. attack eventually resulted in a force, and play was kept in the visitors’ territory. Wilton secured in the looose and scored, bu‘.t Kirkman failed to convert. Waitakaruru 8, Ngatea 6. McPherson. Kirkman, and Abel carried play into the visitor’s territory, but Dalgety relieved. Following a good kick by ,Nicol, Ngatea rushed and Wqitakarulru forced. Fast, close play in Waitakaruru’s twenty-five followed until the close of the game, the visitors being compelled to force on two occasions. Mr F. Clotvrorthy was referee. A protest has been entered by the Ngatea team concerning the tries awarded to Wfaitakaruru.

PAEROA JUNIORS. EAST V. WEST. Considerable interest was taken in the junior match East v. West at thelocal domain on Saturday. It was a good even game, cleanly played, and fast and open. West kicked off and followed up, but were over-anxious and S. Williams cleared. Conolly took the ball on the full and rap down the line., and the. position looked dangerous until Walls cut in and a force resulted. Honours were with West until the end of the quarter. After the change-over East attacked, Moore carrying play into West’s territory, but Overall relieved by finding the line. From the line-out Snow set up a loose rush, but L. Williams cleared. Throughout the quarter play w as very even, and neither side gained much advantage.

On resuming after half-time, Barakat received from the opening kick and made a brilliant run until he was collared by Conolly, who quickly transferred play to the other end of the field. Play was even throughout the quarter, and both teams took turns at attacking without a score being gained.

In the final quarter East kicked off for Sinnett to mark, but his kick was unsuccessful. Give and take play followed for some time, until in a loose rush by West Wickliffe, failed to take a pass. Salby cut in and, gaining possession, made a great run from half-way., By gbod dodging he worked through the West backs and scored a good try. S. Willia,ms converted. East 5, West 0. The remainder of the quarter, saw East having a busy time defending, but the team was equal to the task and the game ended without any further score being added. Mr E. Smith was referee. PRIMARY SCHOOL MATCHES. Two primary school matches were played during the morning, when Paeroa B defeated Netherton by 5 points to 0 (Mr T. C. Arnold) a.nd Hikutaia beat Karsfngahake by 25 to 0 (Mr JRatkh’am). $