AN UNLUCKY FOOTBALL TEAM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 538, 8 June 1920, Page 2

AN UNLUCKY FOOTBALL TEAM.

A SERIES OF MISHAPS. That the Pukekohe senior fifteen i 3 experiencing a stroke of ill-luck this season was again borne out on Saturday last. On the two previous playing Saturdays two members of the team sustained fractured ribs, while another received a severe injury to a knee. This left three vacancies in the - team, and ones which were difficult to fill.

On Saturday last the seniors managed to get seventeen players to travel to Clevedon. Six agreed to travel in privateiy-owned cars, while the remaining eleven set off in one of Messrs. Hart and Brown's motor lorries. The lorry left Pukekohe shortly after one o'clock, but before the Pukekohe East Hall was reached engine trouble developed, and in spite of efforts to locate the trouble it could not be found, or repaired. A Rugbv | union official who was accompanying the team, together with a member of the team, endeavoured to ring up local garages with a view of obtaining motor-cars to convey the team to its destination. The 'phone used, that installed in Mr. J. Reynolds' residence, was out of order, and cential could not be ccinmuiiicated with. The official then walked from Mr. Reynolds' residence to Pukekohe, and was then successful, after getting- into touch with several garages, in obtaining two The cp.rs had to be filled with benzine, and this tool: time. Eventually another start on the journey was made. It was raining all the while, and by this time most of those who started out on the lorry were wet through. Good tm: was made right through, the team eventually arriving at the Clevedon showgrounds at about ten minutes oast four o'clock. A telephone message was despatched from Papakura to the effect that the team was or. its way, and within a short space of time would arrive at Clevedon. At anyrate the 'phone message did not reach the Clevedon players, as they decided to get away home. The local team arrived, and found that only a few of the home players had re mained, and these informed the visitors that as Pukekohe had not turned up, they (Clevedon) had claimed the match. A few minutes later the secretary of the home team was met, and he could not give a definite decision until the matter had been discussed by the Clevedon Club on Tuesday night. The members of the visiting team assured him they would be willing to play the match at Clevedon after the conclusion of the fixtures. As far as could be gathtied, Mr. Dawe was inclined to favour the suggestion after it had been pointed out that extenuating circumstances —a breakdown of a conveyance—had been the cause of the delay of the team in arriving. The visitors then commenced the homeward journey, and as one of the cars was drawing into Papakura a tyre blew oat, and some time was experienced in mending the puncture. And stiil it rained heavier and heavier. Eventually the whole team arrived home after a journey which is not looked foiward to again. Everyone was more or less drenched, but no one was downhearted.