Wednesday, May 12th 1976
Past v Present
The Ngaruawahia High School 1st 11 met an ex-pupils team of Waikato first division players on Thursday afternoon and scored one in each half through A. Bell and K. Barakat to take their senior opponents 2-0. First Division players from Cameron and Ngaruawahia clubs were able to attend the afternoon function and were well represented.
Third former Andy Bell and first 11 player Lindsay Runciman were leant to the ex-pupils and played well.
The team as a unit has yet to play as a well-knit team, but this will no doubt come after several more matches.
Waikato 3rd Division
Trailing Marist by two points, United were determined to move up to the ladder-leaders and were prepared to do so at Galloway Park. However they found the ground had unsatisfactory markings, thereby forcing the referee to call off the game as an official fixture.
However the game was played as a friendly fixture and Marist ended the game with a 4-3 win. United are now ready to descrimate their opponents in the next meeting.
Waikato 1st Division
Hungry for their first two point game, United attacked Teachers/Varsity from the onset at the Varsity ground, playing downhill in the first half. Winger Jeff McLaughlin moved infield on attack in the opening minutes and powered a ball through a defensive line and past an unsighted keeper to open the score for Ngaruawahia.
Opposite winger for United Mike Liddle drove in the second from out on the wing and then striker Charlie Gorman made it three from the middle. United donated a goal to Teachers when they delivered a weak goal-kick to a thankful striker lurking on the edge of the penalty area. He obliged with the return.
For the second 45 minutes Ngaruawahia were defensive for much of the time. Teachers second, and last, goal came when a spinning shot screwed past the United defence and spun in past the groping fingers of Murray Liddle.
United weathered the fierce onslaught of Varsity, who put together some good moves, having the centre of the paddock to themselves, but United saw it through for the points. The match was fast and clean, with some good play by both teams.
United are looking towards another two points from both games at home this Saturday. The 3rd division kick off at 1.00 and the first at 3.45 on Centennial Park, Ngaruawahia.