PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5440, 26 June 1929, Page 1

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

COMPETITIONS CONTINUED.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES.

Only one senior-grade football game was played on the Plains on Saturday, as, on account of the prevalence of influenza, the Kerepeehi club could not secure a team to visit Patetonga and arranged for a postponement of the match.

The Kerepeehi juniors visited Maramarua and won by two tries and a penalty goal to nil. The Waitakaruru juniors beat Ngatea by three to nil, scoring a try in the last minute of the game. The Ngatea club thought it was going to field a strong senior team, but those players foi’ whom a car had been sent in earlier matches did not turn up, and only eleven players took the field late in the afternoon to meet the Waitakaruru fifteen. Others went on near the end of the first quarter, and the team ,was brought up to full numerical strength when the junior game finished.

Despite the lack of players Ngatea had the better of the game practically throughout, and while this was to some extent due to the greater energy of the weakened team, the visitors’ game was nothing to boast about. The teams, when brought up to full strength, were as follows : — Waitakaruru.—C. Lyes, Nepia, C. Stretton, J. Adlum, C. Wilton, W. Rawlson, F. Marshall, V. Hayward, A. Beasley, H. McCollum, W. Dimmock, T. Dimmock, K. Caie, J. Dobes, W. Thompson. .

Ngatea.—F. Nicol, C. White, R. Phillips, A. Kilgour, E. Masters, J. Tierney, J. McPherson, G. Birkenhead, P. Leonard, M. Martin, W. McMahon, P. Clark, A. Nipi, J. Barton, C. Molloy. Ngatea kicked off and play was in neutral ground, Nicol and Masters repelling a forward attack. A free kick took play to Waitakaruru’s end, where a long, close tussle ensued, the Ngatea team making up in energy what it lacked in numbers. Lyes, the Waitakaruru full-back, stopped many rushes. J. McPherson, R. Phillips, and W. McMahon went on to assist the Ngatea side just prior to the changeover.

Waitakaruru worked down the field with strong forward rushes and Me Collum carried to Ngatea’s line, where from a scrum McPherson relieved and later a free kick returned play to the neutral zone. Waitakaruru again advanced and Adluni failed to score with a free kick. From the drop-out play returned to Ngatea’s end, where some interesting open play ensued. H Dimmock retired. With open play Ngatea advanced, but Waitakaruru proved superior in the scrums and worked down the field. Play then became open and Ngatea threw the ball about well and gained much ground for Nipi to score in the corner. The try was not converted. Ngatea. 3, Waitakaruru 0. Barton, a junior, went on to complete the Ngatea team. The second half commenced with open play in neutral territory until P. Clark with a good run entered the visitors’ territory, the movement eventually terminating in a force. Dull, uninteresting play , followed, Ngatea showing .to better advantage, with Martin leading the forwards to the attack on many occasions.

In the final round the game livened up and the ball was thrown about more. The value of these tactics was soon shown, and Moliay was able to score. The kick was unsuccessful. Ngatea <5, Waitakaruru 0. A fine bout of open play was' followed by tight play on Waitakaruru’s line, but Ngatea lost ground, and by working the line Waitakaruru went to the other end for Coxhead to score. The kick failed. Ngatea 6, Waitakaruru 3. The visitors returned to the attack, from which Molloy relieved., Adlum and McCollum carried the ball back and Ngatea forced. Play was in neutral territory at the call of time. Mr J. Kidd was referee. ;