FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5278, 23 May 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. SUBURBS V. PIRATES. The Suburbs v. Pirates match, which was played on the No. 2 ground at the local domain on Saturday last, was a good, open game, and although the visitors won by 8 points to 0 the score does not give a fair indication of the merits of the teams. The sidejs were evenly matched, but Pirates ap" pea,red l to lack the little bit of dash required to score on several, occasions. The teams lined out as follows : Suburbs.—B. Tahu, E. Bennett, W. Bennett, Rare, L. Mcßae, F. Boyer, J. .Watene-, C. Meredith, J. Duncan, Jim Duncan, L. C. Murphy, T. Killgour, C. Gibb, M. Brown., A. Bennett. Pirates.—G. Pulia.r, T. Pull,ar, H. Coldicutt, C. McNeil,’ K. Lockett, E. Smart, J. McCarroll, G. Frost, C. Maxwell, J. Fraser, J. Bean, J- R. Goonan, F. Saunders, A. Shergold, G. Morr.ow. The Suburbs.- forwards returned McCarroll’s kick-off, and then Frost put Suburbs on. the defensive with a long punt. In th ensuing scramble Tabu fQr.ced. McCarroll set his back in motion from the kickr’out, and Coldicutt made, a good run down the line but was well collared.by Boyer. In J ( oos.e play in his own twenty-five ;a,_Suburbs player was penalised, but McCarroll failed with the kick and Tahu clear e,d with a long punt.

In the second quarter the Suburbs forwards advanced, and tight play ensued in Pirates’ twenty-five. Boyer gained possession and made a good run, but was smartly collared by G> Pullar, who cleared'. Watene had a drop-kick ,at goal, but was unsuccess' fu-1, and in tight play G. Pullar forced. E. Bennett received in a linerout and pa.sseid to Mcßae, the ball travelling along the backs and going out on the other side.

Meredith opened the second ha.lf of the game with a dribbling rush down the field. Mcßae joined in and ■ojpenejd' up the game, and; as the result of an infringement by the defenders Mcßae kicked a. penalty goal. Suburbs 3, Pirates 0. From the kick-out Brown dribbled down to Pirates’ territory, where offside play enabled T. Pullar to clear. From the line-out the Suburbs backs got going, but Frost intercepted a pass and dashed down the field with Coldicutt in attendance. Tahu secured as a, result of a faulty pass and found the line. Murphy secured from the throwi-in and carried play to| Pirates’ twentyfive line before passing to E. Bennett, who scored. Mcßae converted. Sub' urbs 8, Pirates 0.

The final round opened l with loose play, the ball travelling up :a.nd down the fie,ld until Goonan;. broke away and had hard luck in not scoring. Headed by J. Duncan Suburbs took ,a: turn at attacking, and play wq.s carried into Pirates’ territory. Killgour got goiing with the ball at toe, but he. kicked too hard and McNeil forced I .' Fra.«er retired and was replaced by Peke. No further scoret resulted, and the game ended in Suburbs’./ territory.; Mr F. T. V. Johnson was referee; . THIRD-GRADE' MATCHAs a, curtainrraiser to the West v. East match on the No. 1 ground the East and West third-grade teams played. The West fifteen won by points to 0. For the winners the scorers were : E. Vei'.ran, 8 points ; RAlp, 6 ; C. Chisholm, 5 ; M. Irwin, 5 ; G. Bramley, 3 ; M. Rackham, 3. Mr S- H. Shephard was, referee, HAURAKI PLAINS MATCHES. FIRST ROUND TERMINATED. ; The final matches, of the first round’ of the Hauaki Plains competitions were played on Saturday last, an d as a win. was secured by Kerepeehl from West and the Ngateal-Waitakarmru match ended in a, draw, the position of the teams is as follows :-r-

NGATEA V. WAITAKA. RURU. This senior grade game, played at Waitakaruiu, was a good .exhibition of fast forward play, T'hei"e was a strong wind blowing in t'he 1 first half of the game. The teams ' wen® as follows :— Ngatea.—A. Killgour, 'C. Yo.\ung, P. Reti, W. Williams, J. McPhers on, F. Nicol, C. White, AV. O’Neil, L. Peckham, M. Martin, R. C. Abel, P. Leonard, S. H. Kirkman, L'. Wilson.

Waitakarui'u.—G. 'CoJi.head, Cannon, D. Molesworih, Clayton, C. Stretton, C. Wilton, j. Knox. G. PP.ton, JDobbs, K. McCoUluni,, P. Clark, A. Craig, E. Petit,. K. Caie , M. Caie. Ngatea kicked off ’J into the wind, and the- forwards carried play to the home team’s twemty-fl ive, when? bad Play by Young a llowe d Waitakavruru to retaliate. Opcm play followed in Ngatea’s. territory, and Mol.eswmrth opened the score; s: with a penalty kick. Molesworth brol ce thi -ough, • but K’illgour stopped the > rush and McPhers»n relieved with a good line kick. Ngab? a gained ground, but Kirkman failed with a penalt y kick. Waitakaruri'. gradually gain; jA ground in! open play, until the ball was sent to the deadball line. I? ffimedrately afterwards Ngatea again forced, and tight play ensued in the - visitors’ teu’itory until, free kicks re 1 ifeved to .midfield'. Young and Reti c; 1 irried' on. and tit the changc-cvur Waitakaruru was, defending.

Early j n t ] ie s econd quarter Wili’ams marl te( i and put the home team on the < iefence, until Molesworth broke aw. 4 y.. fi nc movement by t'he Waitaka.i . uru backs gained much ground, antl , Molesworth and K. Caie reached Ngatea’s line. Molesworth .had a. p er mTty kick, but failed toiscore. Play n eJJt x 0 the other end of the

field until a penalty kick relieved. On resuming after half-time J. Millington replaced A. Craig in the Waitakaruru pack. Wa’takaruru opened with a strong attack, but a knockf-on in front of the goal and' a breach in the scrum gave Ngatea relief. A long period of open play followed in neutral territory, neither side holding the advantage.

Early in the final round Ngatea followed up a long kick and Leonard scored as three opponent© overran the ball, in an attempt to force. The kick was disallowed. Waitaka'"uru 3, Ngatea 3. Waitakaruru followed up the kick-out, and good, work by the backs put Ngatea on the defensive. Stretton put in a good run and Moles worth carried on, but Ngatea gained the ad" vantage in a, scrum on the line- Tight play followed until the end of the game. Mr A. Tynan was referee.

SENIORS. PtsTeam P. w. Lu D. Turua. 4 3 1 0 6 Kerepeehi. 4 3 1 O' 6 Ngatea 4 2 1 ' 1 .5 WaitaMruru 4’ 1 *2 1 3 Plains West. ■' 4 0 4 0 0 JUNIORS. Team p. W. L. D. Pts'. Turua o 2 0 0 4 Ngatea 2 1 1 0 2 Kerepeehi 2 0 2 0 0