FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5267, 27 April 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

HAUBAKI PLAINS MATCHES. LAST SATURDAY’S RESULTS. The Rugby football season openbid on the Hauraki Plains on. Saturday last, when the first of the inter-cll’ub matches were played. Play was of, the typical “first match of the seappn” order, as few players had undertaken any training, and, in addition, the hardness of the playing fields made many of them footsore. The strength of the various teams was gratifying, i« view of . the pessimistic forecasts, and ;a'll the matches were interesting. NGATEA V. TURUA. The Turua v. Ngatea. matches were Played at Ngatea. The fieldls were very hard and somewhat rough, and there was a strong wind blowing diagonally over the fields-. Spectators were not very numerous. The Turua senior team proved to be much heavier than the home team, but by no moans had the better of the game, despite the fact that until baits time Ngatea had ■only 14 mep and many of them were promoted juniors. Turua was the stronger in the back division, L. Clotworthy being the; best player on- the field without any doubt. Catlin ably assisted him, and with the Madgwick brothers gave the only good displays of back work. The Ngatea full-back, A. KiUgour, did 1 excellent work and got his slide out of difficult positions on several occasions. F. Nicol played his old game, and C. Young and J- McPherson proved that they were worthy of, promotion to senior rank. The Turua pack was satisfactory and will probably not be changed for future matches. Kelk, the “dark horse” of which, so much has been heard, proved to be a useful .chestnut draught galloper, but not the undiscovered All Black of his reputation. The. Ngatea pack could be improved, t,hough nene of the players showed great weakness or great superiority. P. Leonard) came on at haJE-time to fill the Ngatea; pack. The teams were as follows :— Turua. — A. Blvin, R. Madgwick, M. Madgwick, Bagnall, J. Catl'in, L. Clotworthy, G. Elvin, K. Fox, W. Clark, G. McCowatt, E k Gill, A. Kelk, C. Blacklaws, A. Fisher,, H. Schofield. . Ngatea.—A. KiUgour. W. Williams, Hartley,, C. Young, J. McPherson, F. Nicol, S. McKerchar, 'W. O’Neil, L. Peckham, S. Dalgety, C. Abel, N. Martin, ,P. Leonard, McPhie, D. Hutchinson.

Turua kicked off into tilie winds and from a linenout was awarded a free kick which Blacklaws followed: up and kicked into Ngatea’s tweiutyi-five. Ngatea rustled into neutral territory and then gained ground* by line work. A penalty eased Turua’s position, but Ngatea held play in Turua’s, end. A forward' rush, by Blacklaws, Clark, and) McCowatt was . stopped: by Hartley. Clotworthy secured fr.om a scrum and broke away, but lost to KiUgour. Hard forward play followed in Turua’s territory. From a scrummage at .halfway Youiig broke away, and with a lot of luck was able to beat the Turua back? dnd score. Nicol failed to convert, land 1 the quarter ended with the scores Ngate,a. 3, Tut rua 0. ' c . ■

The second' round, opened with tight play in neutral territory until Ngatea Worked into Turua’s twenty-five. Long kicking followed, and from close play Madgwick a,nd: Clo tworthy broke away to bei stopped by KiUgour. With a free kick Ngatea returned p(lay to midfield'. Bagnajl broke a.way and Catlin scored in the corner. iGill con-< verted. Turua 5, Ngatea 3. Ngatea. kept play in the, visitors’ territory and compelled a feyree down. The pace was slo.w at the latter end of the quarter.

The second half opened* with play in Turua’s e nd, and' a breach gave Hart Hey a shot at goal, but nio score resulted. Tujrua remained on the defensive untWj Clotworthy, Catlin, and Madgwick carrie,d play to the other end of thue field.. O’Nqil got offside, but Gii'll fa’/led' to tscore with the kick. Young sent play tc> midfield, and. Clotworthy, Cfatlin, aihd: Madgwick again got going., but Hartley, leaked a short punt and relieved.

In t'he last round' open play ranged in neutral territory until a long kick Compelled Ngatea. to for.ee. The Tu,rua backs kept active, and hard, open play followed. A; stroing Turua attack followed:, and after lojag kicking Ngatea forced. The. game was ragged and in neutral territory until the close. Mr Kidd ~was referee. THE JUNIORS. The juniors played on ;an adjoining ’'field, and the game resulted in a walkover for Turua. F. Olsen scored twice, W. McOoid- once, and W. Hutchinson once, while one try .was converted by J- Marshall. » Mr C. Molloy was referee, and the teams were as follows :— Ngatea.—V. McPherson, B. King, R. Wellington, P. Solomon, H. Spinks, G. Clark, A. Kawene, H. Kirkman, L. Wilson, M. Martin, A. McDuff, H. Barriball, H. Taylor, D. McKercha.l', F. Trevelyn. Turua.—J. MarhasH, T. Ryan, W. McCoid, R. Sadgrove, F. Olsen, T. White, F. Scott, A. McConne.il, HBaker, h. Aberhart, G. Gray. D. Clendon, G. Hutchinson, W. .White. W. Elvin. WEST V. WAITAKARU.RU. The Waitakanuru and Plains West senior .teams met at Waitakaruru, and the 'match, which was refereed by Mr G. Paton, resulted in a win. for the home team by 9 points to 3. D. Molesworth scored twice and kicked a penalty goal, and R. Benny scored once. The teams were as follows : — West. —W. Costeillo, G. Foote, Griffin. Reti. F. Costello, Lindsay, Hercwini, J. Garry. R. Benny. Silcock, A. | McDonald, H. Taylor, Abbott, L. I Fenny, Scruton. » Waitakaruru. —T. Cannon. J. McMcCollum, C. Wilton, L. C'oxhe.ad', D. Molesworth, J. Hudson. J. Knox, V. Hayward, A. Craig, G. Coxhead, J. Dobbs, J. Millington, K. Caie. M. Caie. II P. Clark.