LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18053, 23 June 1930, Page 13

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

HAMILTON'S FIRST DEFEAT NQARUAWAHIA A ON TOP. FINAL OF FIRST ROUND. The Hamilton Senior League team was defeated by a fair margin of points by the Ngaruawahia team at Ngaruawahia on Saturday. It is the first time they have suffered defeat, while Ngaruawahia A’s have won every game to date. Saturday marked the close of the first round. 'The play was by no means sparkling, though the one or two promising movements which were witnessed indicated that had the ground been dry a good exhibition of League would have resulted and the score board might have told a different tale. The ground was very slippery, with innumerable pools of water all over it, and showers of rain during the match made conditions very unfavourable. The teams lined out as follows: Ngaruawahia A.—Perry; G. Tittleton, Gary, Kelly; Williams, Wilson; Hall; Dare, Menzies, Laird, Pickering, Benjamcn, Zimmerman. Hamilton.—S. Muir; Whatu, O’Halloran; J. Hynes; Graffiti, .T. Muir; Graham; Hogan, L. Muir, Shaw, Quinn, Page I , Gasgow. Hamilton kicked off with the wind slightly in their favour and their forwards following up well held play in Ngaruawahia’s twenty-five. They continued to press and were unlucky in not scoring. A breach of regulations in their forward line saw them penalised and the home team was re-

lieved. Uninteresting play to midfield followed, both teams trying to pick up the greasy ball. At last Hogan seoured and gave the leather to Glasgow to Shaw, the movement reaching into Ngaruawahia’s twentyfive.'

Old Injury Troublesome, At this stage L. Muir, who has had to stand down for two Saturdays with a badly injured knee, went down in a heap with the same injury-. It looks as if Muir will be a spectator for the remainder of the season, Papisch replaced him. The home side, led by Menzies and Dare, penetrated into Hamilton’s twenty-five, but a neat passing bout, Initiated by J. Muir and in which J. Muir, Graham, Graffln. Hogan and Whatu handled, saw the position reversed and Ngaruawahia had a hard Lime defending their line. Eventually G. Tittleton kicked >clear with a fine line kick. Home Team Aggressive, Following the scrum, Williams and Wilson, the five-eighths of the home team,- staged a spectacular movement and onlv the line defensive work of S. -Muir' lost a try for Ngaruawahia. J. Muir and Graham helped to clear the danger but Williams was soon back again, and Hamilton had to adopt defensive tactics. Whatu seoured the ball and cutting in prettily ran forty yards down-field and kicked into touch a further twenty yards down, reversing the position in a moment. Williams secured from subsequent play and cleared to the touch just inside halfway. Glasgow and Hogan returned play, the latter kicking down field.. Kelly fielded the ball and called loudly for a mark. The Hamilton players ‘stopped and Kelly made away and gained sixty to seventy yards before lie was well tackled by S. Muir. The referee stated later that he did not allow the mark as Kelly was on the move when he took the ball. The Scoring Opens. . From the scrum Ngaruawahia gained possession and Gary dummying and cutting in scored a good try. G. Tilt-leton failed to add the trimmings. Ngaruawahia 3 Hamilton 0 Gary received the leather soon after the resumption and handed in to Wil-

liams, who threw right but to Kelly. The latter, who is a particularly determined runner, gained a great deal of ground before he was grassed. The ball came out to Perry and he dropkicked an easy goal from right in front of the posts. Ngaruawahia ... ..... 5 Hamilton 0 Hamilton then took charge and forwards and backs combining well they reached Ngaruawahia’s line but another solid dash by Kelly cleared the danger. Half-time was called with the play in Ngaruawahia’s twenty-five. Hamilton Secure Points. Early in the second spell O’Halloran, Graffln, Graham and J. Muir handled, carrying the play ‘within striking distance of Ngaruawahia’s goal. Whatu secured and after running a few yards he kicked the ball in-fleld to his forwards. W. Hogan snapped it up and crossed the line after a strong bid. < Hamilton 3 Ngaruawahia 5 Hamilton immediately swung back to the attack. J. Muir and O’Halloran were responsible for carrying the ball into the home side’s territory. The visiting pack pushed through but Ngaruawahia forced down. The home team livened up and Kelly registered two unconverted tries in quick succession by determined running and using a powerful fend. His second try looked a good seven yards offside from where the writer was sitting. Ngaruawahia 11 Hamilton 5 The Score Adds Up. Hamilton were once again kept busy defending, but Ngaruawahia were very lucky, Wilson being practically given a try, which was unconverted. Tittleton annexed a try soon after. He secured the ball on the halfway line and ran through ’the whole of the Hamilton side, dodging and swerving to cross close in. He converted the try. Just, before the final w'histle blew Williams crossed the line for the home side, the kick failing, leaving the tallies: Ngaruawahia 22 Hamilton 5

HUNTLY A DEFEATED. The Huntly A team travelled to

Ngaruawahia on Saturday and were defeated by the Ngaruawahia B by 3 goals to 0. GAMES AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, Saturday, Senior Grade. Marist 31 beat Newton 10. a City 17 beat Kingsland 13. Ponsonby 8 beat Devonport 6. Richmond 8 beat Ellerslle 0. Senior B Grade. Northcote 15 beat Richmond 7. Point Chevalier 5 beat Parnell 4. Christchurch. Hornby 25 beat Sydenham 5. Linwood 6 beat Marist 0.