NUAFC 1968-2018

well frequently interchanging with the forwards and setting up
many scoring opportunities.
Jim McCaig worked the left wing, but without the
sparkle that his game usually shows. Alan Rose missed two
good attempts, but was with all the attacks. Robin Turner was
a continual danger in the forwards and was ably supported by
Keith Watson and George Sunnex, who both had good
games, with George standing out as the better player. Rex
1970
Nightingale bought off some daring saves and squashed many
attacks from well out of his defensive area.
Huntly: McNaught, Allan, Drayton, Masson,
Baranyai, Collins, Stewart, Anderson, McGauley.
Ngaruawahia: Nightingale, Frankhauser, White, N
Gorman, C Gorman, Runciman, Turner, MacDonald,
Sunnex, Watson, Bell, Farrimond.
Ngaruawahia United Lack Punch
The Huntly Press, Wednesday 5th August, 1970
United travelled to meet Teachers-Varsity on their
home ground on Saturday. Having previously been beaten 4-
1,
United were out to give them a run and a much
harder win. United were surprised at the size of the goals,
each being considerably smaller than regulation
measurements.
It was apparent from the sideline that Teachers -
Varsity were out to cripple their opponents rather than outplay
them. Their captain, who had been the cause of the
trouble in the first round, lead his team most efficiently in late
and illegal tackles which went un-noticed by the referee.
There was no doubt that they could have won just as
well without their unsportsmanlike behaviour. However,
credit must be given to those of the Varsity team who did not
join the rest in such behaviour.
It was noted from the sideline also that United were
most patient and tolerant towards their opponents until one
United player could take no more of the rough beating he had
taken for over an hour from Varsity and lashed out when latetackled
for about the 12th time by the same defender. The
referee sent off the United forward, but had not a word to say
to Varsity for their continuing infringements!
It is fair to say that the 5-0 win to Varsity indicated
their striking ability due to the lack of illegal tackles from
United! Few were the players who travelled home unmarked
from the torrid 90 minutes. It is hoped that Varsity do not
have to employ such means in the future to beat their
opponents.
United Beats Thistle
The Huntly Press, Wednesday 12th August, 1970
With Putaruru, Wanderers, Mangakino and Huntly,
Ngaruawahia entered the first match of the “knockout round”
on Saturday, meeting Huntly Thistle at Ngaruawahia.
The weather was fine and sunny and the ground in
reasonable condition following the rain of previous days.
Thistle kicked off into the sun, knowing that in the second
half their opponents would have difficulty playing into it
when lower down towards the horizon. Thistle had only 10
players, but this did not prevent them from developing some
sharp attacks on the United goal.
Huntly Thistle scored first, off the boot of outside
left Ivor Stewart, at that stage against the run of play. He
brought the ball down towards goal and the defenders thought
that he was going to cross it, but he thumped it into the net
between Rex Nightingale and the near post – a good shot.
Shortly afterwards it was George Sunnex who
equalised from the outside right position by firing the ball
into the roof of the net from an acute angle. Both teams at this
stage were going well, with Thistle perhaps giving the better
passes, but United having their supporters in unmarked
positions.
United’s centre forward marked the keeper closely
on all occasions and on one such occasion the keeper barged
the centre away, thus allowing an indirect free kick only two
yards from the goal line. Sandy MacDonald snapped the ball
square across the goal mouth to be pushed home before any
defender had moved. 2-1 to United.
During this first half Huntly showed perhaps not
quite the sting they were to show in the second half, and
allowed United to deprive them of the ball on frequent
occasions. At the turn it was United who had trouble with the
sun on defence, and it was here that Thistle showed a little
more bite.
A Huntly defender fouled Charlie Gorman in the
penalty box soon after the commencement of the second half
and conceded a penalty. Charlie took the spot shot and
netted. 3-1 to United.
It was at this stage that Huntly came back into the
picture. United’s half-back line were caught forward on two
occasions and both times Ivor Stewart scored from the left.
His first shot was a “puff-shot” that curled over the head of
the keeper, and the second was a hard drive that deflected
slightly off a defender. Score 3-3.
George Sunnex was unlucky not to score again
when he headed a ball over the bar from three feet out.
However, it was Charlie Gorman who decided the match by
driving a hard ball up towards the roof of the net. Keeper
McGauley deflected the ball only slightly for it to hit the
underside of the bar and go in.
Final score 4-3 to Ngaruawahia United.
Huntly: McNaught, Allan, Drayton, Masson, Baranyai,
Collins, Stewart, Anderson, McGauley.
Ngaruawahia: Nightingale, Frankhauser, White, N
Gorman, C Gorman, Runciman, Turner, MacDonald,
Sunnex, Watson, Bell, Farrimond.
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