NUAFC 1968-2018

1971
Huntly Press
Wednesday, June 30th, 1971
Ngaruawahia wins 2-1 over Waikeria
The excellent goalkeeping of Waikeria foiled many of
Ngaruawahia’s attempts at goal in the game at Centennial Park
on Saturday. It was made obvious that half-hearted taps were
not going to qualify as goals against Waikeria.
Robin Turner scored first after five minutes, when
his gap-playing ability at right wing earned him a clear drive.
Shortly afterwards United held their breath when Waikeria
roistered a near-miss, goalkeeper Nightingale being off his
game.
Charles Gorman proved valuable all through the first
half with his persistent drives up the field, with his forwards
supporting him well.
Robin Turner netted again five minutes from the half
-time whistle, to commence the second half two goals up. The
second half was very scrappy, probably due to the changes in
the team.
Sandy MacDonald had to leave the field and his
place in the backs was taken by Malcolm Burt. Sharky
(Robert) Berryman came on into the forwards after an
absence of several weeks due to injury.
It was 35 minutes in this half before the nets were
touched, but this time it was in Waikeria’s favour, this move
following a fairly drab period of unspectacular play.
Shortly after this United’s captain George Sunnex
had to leave the field because of an injured ankle, which boded
the possibility of him being unavailable for play for several
weeks. Allan Rose replaced him for the remaining minutes.
Huntly Press
Wednesday, July 14th, 1971
United - Huntly Baranyai Cup
series equalised
A glut of goals in the first half of Sunday’s match was
followed by a famine in the second in the Huntly v
Ngaruawahia match at Huntly for the Baranyai Cup. With the
series now drawn (Huntly winning the second game 5-4) the
next encounter should prove interesting.
Alternate scoring was the pattern of the play, even
though Ngaruawahia were two players short. Huntly’s first
three goals were give-aways by United’s defence. The scorers
for Huntly in this half made easy pickings of United, as did
Ngaruawahia in their four.
United changed their goalkeeper in the second half,
which was probably the reason for the scoreless interlude.
Huntly kept two defenders continually on the back of Allan
Rose, and he was unable to score.
Series to date: Huntly 4, Ngaruawahia 7; Huntly 5,
Ngaruawahia 4.
Huntly Press
Wednesday, August 11th, 1971
Waitemata Cup clincher for
Ngaruawahia United
A banana shot by George Sunnex commenced his
team’s 3-1 win over Putaruru on Saturday. Ngaruawahia
United A.F.C. met Putaruru and United’s home ground on a
firm pitch and under the scrupulously fair eye of a Huntly
referee.
The match was the final game in a series of four for
the Waitemata Cup between Mangakino, Te Kuiti, Waikeria,
Putaruru and Ngaruawahia. Having lost only one point to Te
Kuiti when they drew 1-1, Ngaruawahia heads the table with 7
out of a possible 8 points, undefeated.
However it was Putaruru who chose to play into the
sun at the kick-off and were first to score. A nimble feat of
dribbling and a close range shot had the Ngaruawahia backs
and keeper at a loss.
George Sunnex should have had the equalizer when
his side-foot shot three feet from goal missed. Many more
opportunities went begging for United in the first half but the
Putaruru goalkeeper was safe.
After the turn Ngaruawahia began to dominate play
and had the Putaruru players well discouraged with short
passes. A ball cut back to winger Sunnex was hit with
determination. The ball headed towards the Putaruru keeper
then curled away towards the post. This caught the diving
keeper unaware and United had equalised. From this point on it
was nearly all Ngaruawahia.
On occasions the whole the United forward and halfback
lines were caught napping on rapid breakaway forays by
Putaruru but the defence of Frankhouser, MacDonald and
Mark with Nightingale in goal, eclipsed any threat this may
have been.
Ken Chisholm latched on to a loose ball in front of
the goal and slipped it home amid threshing legs to give United
the lead. Time and again United’s forward line hammered the
goal with no further success.
Late in the match an indirect free kick was awarded to
United inside the penalty box about 16 yards out. Sandy
MacDonald came forward to take the kick. His shot was
aimed between the crouching keeper’s ankles and it spun
through the keeper’s grasp for the final goal.
United had the pleasure of playing against a former
United player, Sonny King, who now resides in Putaruru.
Ngaruawahia enters a new competition for the Collett
Cup this Saturday by meeting Te Kuiti at Ngaruawahia at 2.00
p.m.
Huntly Press
Wednesday, September 1st, 1971
Collett Cup match drawn
with Waikeria
The weakness of players designated to centre-field
positions lost for Ngaruawahia United the chance of taking the
Collett Cup on Saturday. Waikeria made ample use of the long
through ball from their goalkeeper to set up attack after attack.
The bumble-footedness of the Ngaruawahia forwards when
presented with an open goal gave heart to the Waikeria players.
George Sunnex scored early in the match when
United had the wind at their backs. Waikeria equalised later on
in the second half from what seemed to be an off-side play
(according to defenders and linesman).
From a skirmish in front of the United goal,
Ngaruawahia moved forward to put attackers off-side and then
cleared the ball. It rebounded off an attacker and forward to
another who had been stranded by the green tide going out. He
netted and the goal was allowed!
Harry Docherty had a bad excursion on the field,
often leaving gaps for the opportunist Waikeria forwards to
capitalize on. Charlie Gorman worked hard on the right and
Barry White played his usual impeccable match. Rex
Nightingale, in goal, was as solid as ever and took several
punishing tackles with no more than a blink. With the loss
through injury of Derek Jones, the usual centre-field marshall,
Ngaruawahia almost lost the chance of gaining the Collett Cup.
A replay at Waikeria is scheduled for this Saturday to
decide the recipient of the Cup. Transport leaves from Pharo’s
corner at 7.00 a.m.
Team: Nightingale, Frankhauser, White,
MacDonald, N. Gorman, Janssen, Mark, Turner, Rose,
Sunnex, Docherty.
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