Wednesday, May 19, 1971
Ngaruawahia Wins First Cup Match
John Melstor of Huntly and Allan Rose of Ngaruawahia scored hat-tricks on Sunday in the annual series of matches between the two teams for the Baranyai Cup.
It was obvious that the sheep of Centennial Park in Ngaruawahia had taken a keen interest in the forthcoming match, as the players soon found out after a few slide-tackles!
Malcolm Burt of Ngaruawahia opened the scoring by picking up a good ball from George Sunnex, and the resulting weak shot spun off the hands of the keeper and over the line. Martin Bell, playing in the unaccustomed position of outside left, saw Pere of Huntly handle his oblique shot to deflect it over the line. United now had a purposeful manner about them, but Huntly did not let it stay that way for long. It was John Melstor who equalised with two well-executed goals to put Huntly back into the running. United had no answer for his two drives.
Neil Gorman chipped a ball into the penalty area for Allan Rose and John Ashton to duel for. Keeper Ashton was a fraction too late and Rose netted United’s third goal. Allan’s determined rushes after the ball paid off on numerous occasions throughout the game. He engineered United’s fourth goal by giving Malcolm Burt the perfect pass, a chance eagerly pounced upon and netted.
The half-time score of 4-2 was a reasonable indication of the play, but many goals went begging at crucial moments, that could have swayed or increased this.
Allan Rose got his double by beating the keeper with his head from a well-timed lob by Robin Turner, though it was immediately after that John Melstor gained his hat-trick from a run through the defenders. John showed himself to be the most dangerous attacking player up to that point.
Ivor Stewart came onto the left wing in the second half and had the Ngaruawahia defence really worried. His penetrating runs made openings for his fellow-forwards to capitalize upon. He first evidenced his ability by worming his way past three defenders to shoot in the corner, only to see Howard Pharo, United’s keeper, palm it away.
Malcolm Burt was moved out to the left wing for United and engineered a goal for Robin Turner. Malcolm’s shot across the goal was deflected out by the keeper for Robin to drive in. Allan Rose looked dangerous again when his solo run was partly ended by a trip – he recovered to score, but meanwhile the whistle had gone for the trip – no advantage was allowed. Nothing resulted from the free kick.
The highlight of the match was Ivor Stewart’s 45-yard run past four defenders to score in the narrow gap between the keeper and the post. This seemed to be a good reward for the excellent work he was doing on the left wing.
Tony Janssen showed his potential when a looping shot from him dropped down onto the keeper, who attempted to deflect it over the bar, but the ball rebounded from the bar onto the incoming knee of Allan Rose, who hit it up into the roof of the net.
Greg McLuckie nearly had a goal when a left-foot chip had keeper Pharo at full stretch. Allan Rose nearly netted his fourth when he slammed the ball just to the right of the post.
For Ngaruawahia the players to stand out were David Sidney and Allan Rose, with Neil Gorman and Robin Turner not being able to find their form.
Ivor Stewart and John Melstor were the cream of the Huntly squad and could have decreased their team’s deficit with a little luck.
With a loss of 7-4, Huntly is looking to win the next two encounters to regain the Baranyai Cup, being played for from the best of three games.
Huntly: Ashton, Heslop, Pere, Masson, McLuckie, McCallum, Baranyai, Drayton, Melstor, Collins, McInally, Stewart.
Ngaruawahia: Pharo, Whare, Mark, Janssen, Sunnex, Sidney, White, Bell, Rose, Turner, Burt, Gorman, Frankhauser.