PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5446, 10 July 1929, Page 1

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

COMPETITIONS CONTINUED.

LAST SATURDAY’S PLAY. The last matches but one of the Hauraki Plains interclub competitions were played on Saturday in good weather. In the senior grade the Turua club, the premier team in the competition, secured another two points by beating a weak Waitakaruru team by 22 points to nil, and thereby placed the result of the competition beyond doubt. A very weak Ngatea team visited Patetonga, where the West club’s seniors won by 14 points to nil. The championship points are now : Turua 12 (one match to play), Kerepeehi 7 (two matches to play), West 5 (two matches to play), Waitakaruru 4 (two matches to play), and Ngatea 4 (one match to play). In the junior grade the Waitakaruru and the Maramarua teams had wins on Saturday from Turua and Ngatea respectively, making the championship points at present : Waitakaruru 10 (two matches to play), Kerepeehi 6 (two matches to play), Ngatea 6 (one match to play), Maramarua 4 (five matches to play), ad Turua 2 (two matches to play). TURUA V. WAITAKARURU. Waitakaruru sent a weak team to Turua, and took the field with fourteen players. Nevertheless the home team were fairly well held till halftime, when N. Marshall retired injured, but from then on the Waitakaruru team, and particularly the backs went to pieces, and scores came fast. The merits of the teams was not as unequal as the score would indicate. Following is a list of the players :— Waitakaruru.—G. Connell, F. Wallis, J. Adlum, C. Eden, N. Marshall, W. Marshall, J. Lyes, K? McCollum, R. Beasley, T. Rapana, A. Chipman, Toi, A. Hill, H. Dijnmick, M. Caie.

Turua. —F. Scott, K. Graham, H. McCollum, W. McCoid, J. O’Carroll. J. Catlin, A. Elvin, K. Fox, W. McGregor, G. McCowatt, E. Gill, G. Elvin, J. Marshall, W. Elvin, C. Blacklaws.

Play opened in mid-field, Waitakaruru gaining ground with close forward play; A long kick compelled Turua to force. Play was in Turua’s quarter until Catlin found the line well down-field.. O”Carroll, Graham, and Catlin took play to the visitors’ end with a good passing rush, but a long kicking bout returned it to neutral territory. Numerous free kicks to Turua were sent to the sideline and Waitakaruru forwards quickly returned play to mid-field. Catlin marked in front of Waitakaruru’s goal, but his kick failed. A long kick by Graham was missed by Connell near the corner, and from a throw-in, play went across field to Graham who failed to pass Wallis. Gill failed to score from a mark.

On changing over Turua forwards Worked to Waitakaruru’s line, and were awarded a free kick, but no score resulted. Blacklaws also failed with a free kick. Fast open play followed, with a great deal of long-kick-ing. Rapana failed to kick a penalty goal. Fox dribbled to Waitakaruru’s quarter where Lyes relieved. Marshall retired injured, and Rawlson went on in the scrum. C. Eden also went on to fill the Waitakaruru team. From a scrum Turua rushed, and Eden, who was just on from behind the goal, secured the ball and was carried back by the rush. He forced, but as he was ,wearing a white shirt the referee signalled a try for Turua, which wears black and white jerseys. Blacklaws failed to convert.

On resuming after half-time Wai; takaruru forwards worked'to Turua’s line, and after a tight struggle was awarded a free kick, bur Rupana’s attempt failed. Play remained in Turua’s quarter, though relieved by several free kicks. In loose rushes Turua gained ground, and J. OCarroll dodged through half the visitors’ team and secured a neat try. Blacklaws converted. Turua 10, Waitakaruru 0. Another loose rush saw Turua cross, but Lyes was able to beat Gill and force. Play, remained in Waitakaruru’s quarter, and another score was quickly secured, Graham passing to McCollum, to McCarroll, who scored. Blacklaws failed to convert. Turua 13, Waitakaruru 0.. A bout of open play followed : : n neutral territory till the end of the spell. Waitakaruru attacked strongly, and a force resulted. Straggly open play followed in mid-field, and Blacklaws failed with a free kick. A forward rush took play to Waitakaruru’s quarter, whei’e McCollum secured and crossed the, line. Gill failed to convert. Turua 16, Waitakaruru 0. The visitors followed up the dropout, but play was returned by a free kick to Waitakaruru’s line. Fox secured from a line-out and scored. Gill’s kick missed. Turua 19, Waitakaruru 0. Connell quieKly secured another try, bringing Turua’s’ total to 22. Gill failed to convert. Mr A. Cleave was the referee.