FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5461, 14 August 1929, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

HAURAKI PLAINS MATCHES. DENT CUP MATCHES. The break in the continuity of interclub football on the Hauraki Plains due to the representative matches was responsible to a great measure for poor displays on Saturday last, when the first round of the knock-out competition for the Dent Cup was played at Ngatea. None of the cluts fielded full senior teams, players were green, and there was a great lack of combination. In addition the fields were slippery and the balls heavy and difficult to handle. The attendance of spectators was very small, the gate receipts being only £3. TURUA V. WAITAKARURU. Of the two matches the Turua-Wai-takaruru game was the best display, being an even forward st juggle. The teams lined out as follows ;— Turua—F. Scott, W. McCcid, R. Madgwick, H. McCollum, K. Graham, J. O’Carroll, A. Elvin, T. Ryan, G. McCowatt, G. McGregor, R. Hutchinson, C. Blacklaws, E. Braizendale, G. Elvin, G. Johnston. Waitakaruru.--C. Wilton, L. Coxhead, L. Hill, J. Lves, J. Adl’.im, K. Findlay, A. Brooks, F, Donaghy, K. Caie, K. McCollum, P. Day, 11. Beasley, H. Dimmock, W. Dirumock, M. Caie.

Waitakaruru kicked off and Turua returned, followed up, and compelled a force down. Turua worked back to the Blue’s end, but by tight work Wai takaruru gained ground and a long kick saw Turua force. Another tigM forward rush resulted in Turua again forcing. The kick-off was followed up to Waitakaruru’s goal, and there was still another’ force. A bout of open forward play followed in neutral ground till O’Carroll broke through to be grassed near the line. Lyes relieved and Waitakaruru followed up, but a good line-kick’ by Scott returned play and from a scrum under the goal Pett relieved. Turua pressed and was awarded a free kick, but Blacklaws failed to score. A bout of long kicking terminated in Waitakaruru forcing. Turua forwards in close formation worked play down the line, but lost the ground when the game became open. Lyes, the Waitakaruru full-back, was kept busy. Blacklaws failed to lift the heavy ball over the bar with a free kick. A loose rush across the field saw W. McCoid open the score. Blacklaws failed to convert. Tnrua 3, Waitakaruru 0. Waitakaruru followed up a free kick and a scrummage ensued under the goal till Turua forwards gained the upper hand and followed up a kick from a mark to Waitakaruru’s end Play was in midfieid at half-time. The second half opened with loose forward play in midfield. Turua gained ground, and from a scr’.mmage under the goal K. McCollu:'. relieved. F. Scott returned the ball to Waitakarilru’s twenty-five, where the defending forwards, led by Beasley, secured possession and carried to midfield. The game became more open, and in this style of play the Waitakaruru team proved the best. A long tight scramble on Turua’s line terminated in a force. Play remained in neutral ground until the change-over. ' A Waitakaruru rush opened the final quarter, and ground was gained by line-play. After a spell of tight play on Turua’s line O’Carroll, one of the few outstanding players on the field, relieved. Hill followed up a long kick* and made a good run to score under the posts. Beasley converted. Waitakaruru 5, Turua 3. The pace improved, and after play had ranged up and down the field O’Carroll forced. Hard, close, forward play in neutral territory followed, Waitakaruru gaining ground by close formation. Scott stopped a dangerous rush by marking, and when Hill returned the ball and Waitakaruru followed up, by going down on it. From a scrum Turua forced. The drop-out sent play to midfield, where there was fast forward play until time was called. Mr L. Cotter was referee. KEREPEEHI V. NGATEA. Ngatea, the home team, fielded seven men at the start of the game on the No. 2 ground against Kerepeehi. It had ten players at the change-over, 14 at the commencement of the second half, and a full team for the last ten minutes of the game. The Kerepeehi team as it took the field and the Ngatea fifteen who finished the game were as follows :— Kerepeehi.—F. Burt, S. Craig, P. Reti, T. Conner, A. Burt, H. Wright, W. Kidd, A. Courtney, S. Nicholson. C. Murray, A. Nicholson, R. Hawera, J. Baggs, L. Samson, R. Smith. Ngatea;--A. Kilgour, C. White, S. Donaghy, J. McPherson, V. McPherson, G Birkenhead, A. Barton, Nipi, J. Hartley, J. Fraser, H. Kirkman, A. Martin, R. Phillips, A. Stanley, T. Taranaki.

Wright opened the score for Kerepeehi early in the game with a nice try following a good run. Nicholson failed to convert. R. Phillips had a chance to even from a mark in front of the goal but failed. Shortly after Stanley miskicked the ball into Courtney’s hands for rn easy try, and this time Nicholson converted. He also kicked a . penalty goal, making the score 11 to 0 in favour of Kerepeehi The Ngatea team was now becoming numerically stionger and able to offer some resistance. Fast following up by J. McPherson gave Ngatea its first try. Kirkman failing with the kick. R. Smith, of the Kerepeehi team, was suspended by the referee for disputing a ruling, and A. Courtney retired, having received a bump on the head, his place being filled by C. Callander. Shortly before half-time Kirkman kicked a nice penalty goal for Ngatea, bringing the scores to Kerepeehi 11, Ngatea 6. Tries by Fraser and Samson, neither of which was converted by Kirkman or Nicholson, brought the totals to 14 points to 9. Kirkman had hard luck with a penalty kick, thebal! striking one post, then the other post, and bouncing back into the field. An easy try by Wright was converted by Nicholson, bringing the final scores to Kerepeehi 19, Ngatea 9. Mr C. Stretton was referee.