LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume XV, 18 August 1931, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

SENIOR FINAL NGARUAWAHIA 8, v TAUPIRI 5. The above match played at Ngaruawahia on Saturday resulted in an even, hard fought game. Ngaruawahia were minus the services of E. Abbott, and Taupiri of Tittleton, who was sick. The Play. The teams lined ous as follows: — Taupiri C. Hill, G .Tittleton, Smith, Tremaine, Garry, Dwen, Robertson, Clark, Spencer, Jackways, Farrell, Shaw, Belcher. Ngaruawahia—W. Abbott, Kelly, Hill, Ormsby, Hall, W. Tittleton, Crewther, Dare, Menzies, Payne, Mason, Laird, Mcßurney. From Garry’s kick off Payne returned play to centre. Taupiri were forced. Then Taupiri pressed but W. Abbott saved. The blues came again to be checked on the line, a penalty relieving. Up and down play followed. Abbott failed to place a penalty for the home team. Taupiri attacked but Dare found the line at Taupiri’s 25. Blacks attacked but .were checked by an infringement. Then Taupiri returned the visit, and failed with a free kick. Soon after the visitors had to force down. Laird opened Ngaruawahia's score by kicking a great goal from halfway. A penalty held up a good rush by the blacks. Bad passing spoilt a likely movement. Taupiri were compelled to force. After further play, fine black passing ended in a try by Laird. Menzies failed with the kick. After the kick out G. Tittleton made a good run which was well stopped. Another blue rush ended in a try by. Tremaine which was not enhanced. Halftime came with the score, Ngaruawahia 5, Taupiri 3.

Second Spell. After some even play, Taupiri pressed hard, but Abbott got in a line kick to halfway. A penalty for the blues lead to a scrum in the black quarters, and the home side were hard on defence until an infringement gave them a penalty kick. Taupiri pressed again and good work left play near the home line. The blacks got out of the trouble for a time; but a penalty enabled Jackways to kick a goal and make the scores even. After the kick off, Taupiri again became aggressive. A combined black rush carried play to the other end; but a penalty kick held them up. From a scrum on their 25, the blues by a great rush carried play to the black line, and they had to touch down. W. Tittleton made a good run, but was not backed up. A penalty kick to Taupiri carried play to midfield. Play swung rapidly up and down. G. Tittleton failed to increase Taupiri’s '.core by a penalty goal. Soon after Jackways failed to pilot a penalty jver the bar. Ngaruawahia invaded Taupiri quarters, and from a scrum Ormsby scored, W. Abbott failing to place a goal. In the subsequent play Kelly nearly got over. A good even game ended soon after. Mr. Harlock was referee. During the game Geo. Hall was knocked out, and was subsequently found to have suffered a broken elbow. COLTS. Ngaruawahia B defeated Huntly by 14 to nil. TALL SCORING A feature about the big matches played on Saturday was the big scores run up.

In the North Island v South Island Rugby match each side put up 20 points. The North Island v South Island League match resulted in North scorng 52 to South Island’s 23.

In the Waikato-Auckland Rugby natch the scorse were Auckland 17, Waikato 8.