PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5437, 19 June 1929, Page 1

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

COMPETITIONS CONTINUED. LAST SATURDAY’S PLAY. Fine weather prevailed for the Hauraki Plains Rugby competition games on Saturday last., but the playing fields were slippery. The Ngatea Club, which has experienced difficulty for some weeks in getting a full senior team, was unable, to muster sufficient- players to meet Kerepeehi and had to forfeit. The junior match was a fine exhibition under the control of Mr D. G. McMillan, and resulted in a last-minute win for Ngatea by eight points to six. McDuff scored and Kirkman converted and also kicked a penalty goal, while the home team’s points were secured by two penalty kicks by Nicholson. The Maramarua junior team entered the competition on Saturday, taking the place of the West junior team and beating the Turua juniors after an interesting, hard-fought game, by one try to nil. TURUA V. WEST. The best game ,so far witnessed at Turua this season was played on Saturday, when the West seniors fully extended the local team. The scores 11 to 3—do not indicate the merits of the contestants, for the game was very even. Play was hard but clean, and was interesting to the large number of spectators. The teams were as follows :— West.—J. Hedley, G- Foote, A. Shirley, W. Costello, F. Costello, G. Garry, W. Turner, J. Garry, W. McMahon, R. Benny, L. Hunter, J. Silcock, R. Wallace, K. Hunter, T. Herewini. Turua.—J. Catlin, K. McCollum, K. Graham, W. McCoid, F. Scott, J. O’Carroll, A. Elvin, G. McCowatt, C. Blacklaws, R. Madgwick, G. Elvin. West kicked off and found the line in Turua’s twenty-five and maintained the advantage until the following up of long kicks took play to the visitors’ territory. Play was very fast and interesting, though at this stage poor tackling and milling of the ball were very common. Gill failed with a free kick at goal and Costello forced. O’Carroll made a fine run and Turua lost a score through not having its field clearly marked. Play remained on West’s line, and from a scramble Blacklaws scored but failed with the kick. Turua 3, West 0. Fast following up took play to Tuura’s line, Costello and Herewini being conspicuous workers. West failed to score with a penalty kick.

On changing over West did the attacking until a long line kick by Graham sent play to the other end, where Hedley saved from a tight corner and cleared to midfield. Madgwick showed to advantage in the Turua forwards. A lengthy period of tight play on West’s line terminated with McCollum scoring from an opening made by Graham. Blacklaws converted, the ball bouncing on the bar. Turua 8, West 0. O’Carroll, Graham, and McCollum returned play to the visitors’ end, where tight play followed until Fox mulled a long kick, and operations were restricted to Turua’s territory until half-time. After the spell West followed up the opening kick and maintained the advantage. Hedley negativing all attempts by the defenders by returning the ball to a good location. W. Costello opened West’s score with a penalty goal. Turua 8, West 3. Play remained in Turua’s twenty-five, and was fast and hard. Turua suffered a penalty on several occasions but no score resulted from the kicks. Turua invariably secured from the scrums, but the West backs had improved with their tackling, and until the end of the quarter the home team was hard put to it defending its line.

The final round opened with play in neutral territory, but West soon set up an attack. By close line play Turua worked down the field. G. Garry got through but mistook the'goal-line and a scrum was ordered. From then on the game became open, and rangedup arid down the field. McCoid made a good run and Madgwick scored. Gill sent the ball over, but the kick was disallowed owing to double handling. Turua 11, West 3. Scott retired injured and was replaced by T. Ryan. The game ended shortly afterwards with the scores unchanged. Mr J. Kidd was referee.

BEHAVIOUR OF FOOTBALLERS. The Tuma players, W. Clark, A. Elvin, and G. Elvin, who were reported to the Rugby Union for incidents which occurred after the Turua-Nga-tea match, appeared before the judicial board of the union last Friday evening. After an exhaustive inquiry, during which, evidence was given by the referees, Mr J. Reid, and by Mr C. Scott, manager of the Turua team, the board announced that the referee had been justified in reporting the matters, but there had not been sufficient brought out at the inquiry to justify suspending the players, though it was evident that incidents had occurred which were not to the credit o’ the game or of the players. Such behaviour would have to stop, and a warning was issued that future offenders would not be lightly dealt with. In regard to the charge against G. Elvin of calling the referee a liar, the board was of opinion that when the referee had acknowledged that he had made a mistake in identity Elvin. should have accepted it. Had the matter occurred on the field a more seiions view would have been taken ; but under the circumstances it was hoped that the warning would be noted and that an apology would be tendered the referee. This was done.