LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume XVIII, 6 October 1931, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

draffin cup. HUNTLY 14, NGARUAWAHIA 7. The first game for the challenge scries for the Draffin Cup was played last Saturday on the local ground between Ngaruawahia, holders, and Huntly, challengers. Everything was ideal for football, and although the scores indicate a clear victory for Huntly, Ngaruaawhia, although their best team was not available, missed many opportunities and the game should have been more closely contested. The home team showed more dash in the start of the second spell and looked like keeping the cup in the town, but faded away in the stages. It is hardly fair out any players for special but on the day’s play W. Tittleton, W. Dare and E. Abbott were the most prominent, whilst Huntly were w T ell represented by Scott, Knight, J. Whorskey and Smith. The Game.

The teams lined out as follows: Huntly (Reds), Raynor, Whorskey, Peckham, Whorskey, Smith, Knight, Jones, Timms, Scott, Trautvetter, Stephenson, Grooby; Ngaruawahia, (Black), Abbott, Wilson, Evans, Williams, Tittleton, Hall, Abbott, Laird, Payne, Menzies, Dare, Benjamin, Mason.

Jones set the game going and kicked well down field, but this was soon returned to midfield where Stephenson broke away but Abbott saved, and from here the blacks looked like pushing their way over, an infringement by Dare giving Huntly a chance to clear. Play soon came back to the red’s 25 and for offside play by Peckham, Abbott was given a chance at a penalty with which he made no mistake. Huntly now took a hand on the offensive and by good passing by the red backs saw Whorskey get held up by a forward pass when he looked like finishing off the movement. A few minutes later saw the same player pick up smartly and race over at the corner. Raynor’s shot missed. Laird and Dare now headed a black rush right up to the red’s twenty five but Raynor sent play back with a long kick and from a ruck in the Huntly twenty five, blacks were awarded a free kick for shepherding by Raynor. W. Abbott’s kick just fell short. A nice bit of passing by Laird, Tittleton and Abbott saw Laird being just pushed out at the corner. From the scrum that followed Stephenson and Trautvetter broke away and carried play to within ten yards of the home line, but E. Abbott proved their stumbling block, and relieved with a nice bit of work which ended in Paki forcing, just ahead of Abbott. Half time came with the scores, Huntly 3, Ngaruawahia 2. Second Spell. This opened with the home team combining much better, and the local boys were now keeping their opponents busy. E. Abbott picked up and after a bit of zig zag runnfng beat several men, only to be grassed by Scott in time. A scrum in the red's twenty five saw' Knight penalised for offside play, and W\ Abbott just missed with a good kick. Laird was the next to have a shot from a penalty, a good kick going wide. The blacks were now forcing the pace, and a good movement made by Hall ended in Tittleton scoring in a handy position. E. Abbott failed with a fairly easy kick. Dare was again responsible for a good rush and was only beaten by Raynor in the nick of time for a force. Play was now mostly in the forwards, until Smith got away but lost possession, and Mason sent down a long kick to the red twenty five where Trautvetter was penalised and Williams put a good kick just over. Huntly were now four points behind and started to open up the game, which proved very fruitful for Smith intercepted a pass and dashed over in a hardly position. Raynor missed the kick. The game was now very exciting and fast and Scott started a nice passing rush to be finished by Raynor scoring nearly behind the posts. Huntly were now gaining the upper hand, the ball travelling about very quickly and from a penalty Raynor kicked a goal. Play was in midfield when Smith set his backs going, the ball travelling right out to Whorskey who scored behind the posts. Jones missed a simple one. Huntly now had the advantage, and the w'histle blew' with Huntly doing most of the attacking. Mr. Rogers, of Auckland, was referee.