FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5151, 13 July 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S GAMES ON PLAINS. COMPETITIONS ENDING. The Hauraki Plains inter-club Rugby competitions were brought to within sipgle matches of completion on Saturday last, when the usual games were played, despite the very unfavourable weather.. The Ngatea. club had two wins at Kerepeehi and the three Turua teams added points to their totals. NGATEA V. KEREPEEHI. A very Interesting game was the Ngatea-Kerepeehi senior fixture, played on Mr H. Innis’ paddock at the Ngatea-Wharepoa roads corner in a steady downpour, of rain. The new field was a great improvement on the showground but a long way below the recognised standard. There was a fair attendance of spectators, despite the bad weather.

In the flrs't part of the game the home team ran all over the Ngatea fifteen, but later on the positions were reversed, and towards the end the contest became a very hard, fast i struggle between evenly matched 'teams. Following were the .players:

Kerepeehi.—Moore, P. Reti, J. Adlum, M. Murphy, E. Smart, F. Burt, W. Kidd, A. Courtney, G. Fisher, J. Parata, T. Rapana. F. Miilgrew, Murphy, Baggs, Connor.

Ngatea.—C. Wilton, Buchanan, Williams, H. McCollum, Nicol, Solomon, Birkenhead, W. O’Neil, K. McCollum, Johansen, Hutchinson, Abel, McPherson, Leonard, Hawera.

Ngatea kicked off, play centred in midfield, being fast and close. Kerepeehi gained ground and Nicol eventually , forced. Hard play followed in Ngatea’s territory. Reti find Adlum carried to the corner several times, Burt made a number of good attempts, and Mulgrew got within a yard of the line on several occasions. Finally, from a throw-in Mulgrew secured and dived over.. Courtney failed to convert. Kerepeehi 3, Ngatea 0. Ngatea attacked, and after close play near the line Murphy forced. From a throw-in in ‘Ngatea’s territory the ball went to J. Murphy, who, with Smart, carried to the line-, where M. Murphy almost scored.

On changing over Ngatea attacked and Wilton drop-kicked a goal. Ngatea 4, Kerepeehi 3. Fisher and Mulgrew, worked the ball up the field, 'but kicked too far to the dead-ball line. Fast and open play followed until Hutchinson, following up fast, secured a try. Nicol failed to convert. Ngatea 7, Kerepeehi 3. On resuming aft&r half-time Ngatea attacked until Connor broke through and took play to midfield. A long kick saw Kerepeehi force. After ranging up and down the field the ball was* carried, tb Kerepeehi’s end by a good piece of biack play. P. Reti was responsible fori taking play to Ngatea’s end, but the opposing forwards soon regained the lost ground." Play was in midfield at the changeover.

Buchanan and Leonard took play into Kerepeehi’sf territory, where Moore saved by •marking on the line. Strenuous play followed, and a force was registered following a long kick.

A long period, of fast, open play was terminated by a score by . Buchanan as a result of./good work by Abel and Williams. Fluchanan failed to convert. Ngate/a 10, Kerepeehi 3-> Loose play followed until the end of the game, neither side being able to hold an advantage for long. Mr J. "Reid was l referee. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. Although the competitions are almost completed/the issues are still in <(oubt and play-offs may be necessary. /Tn the senior grade' the Turua, team has played all its games and has secured 11 /points, but the Waitakaruru team cam tie if it beats- Kerepeehi. Ngatea h;as 8 points at present, and an engagement yet to play the Plains West tea m. This will probably result in a win. by default, as it is unlikely that the Patetonga players; will travel to Nga'tea. Kerepeehi’s total so far is 7 points, with a game ta be played again.* ft Waitakaruru. The West senior t< jam has played five of the eight mat/ rhes in the competition and has seci /rod one point for a draw. I n the junior competitioiin Tur.ua ler ids with 15 points and one game to pl ay, but it is probable that* Ngatea w ill tie, for it has 13 points .and en-

t?agement,s with the West and Turua B- teairts. Of the other teams Kere-

peehi has 7 points and two unplayed games, Turua B 8 points a.nd four games, Waitakaruru 4 points and one game.