NUAFC 1968-2018

Ngaruawahia Pre-Season Soccer v Huntly Thistle
1976
In past years Ngaruawahia have found their
matches against Huntly Thistle reasonably easy-going and,
this year, welcomed the ‘come alive’ team of Huntly, who
had routed the Northern League 4 th Division to win
promotion to the third this year.
In 1975 Ngaruawahia spent their first year in the
Waikato 1 st Division with some success against established
1 st Division teams and is building a team that is developing a
better understanding of each other and their capabilities.
Ngaruawahia met Huntly last Thursday evening in
Huntly in a pre-season friendly game, and had no illusions
about another win. All Ngaruawahia players were given a
game and their performances watched closely. Huntly just
managed to creep into the double figures with fine driven
goals, with Ngaruawahia gaining a double.
The early combination of players on the field for
United showed some promise and held Huntly 1-1 for much
of the half, but the changes in players and the contrast in
fitness between them and Huntly showed out, and Huntly
drove ahead.
Huntly suckered Ngaruawahia’s defence
continually by drawing them to a man away from goal and
then crossing to an unmarked forward who had a clear shot.
At one stage the United keeper found he had to change into
sand-shoes, and sat down in the goal to do this while Doug
Snapes was presented with the easiest of goals.
Ngaruawahia found the practice run very valuable
in their build-up for the 1976 season, and wishes to thank
Huntly for the invitation to play them.
The Huntly Press - Wednesday,
April 7, 1976
Double-Header Soccer at
Ngaruawahia
In excess of 300 people
gathered at Centennial Park
Ngaruawahia for an afternoon of fun
and entertainment revolving around a
double-header soccer match.
The Ngaruawahia League
team played the Ngaruawahia United
third division soccer team at soccer in
the first match. Goals, scrums and
rucks were the order of the day. The
league boys scored twice in a very
creditable performance that
demonstrated a considerable amount of
wasted talent playing league. The
thirds four goals gave them the win.
Fifteen “oldies” played the
first team at soccer and came out with
a 3-3 draw to their credit.
United commence their
season this Saturday with the first
division team meeting Hamilton at
Muir Park. The third division plays
Huntly at Huntly.
The Huntly Press - Wednesday,
April 21st 1976
Woman Referees Soccer
Match
It is not often that the wife of
a soccer player has the opportunity to
do something about a foul on her
husband. Such was the case in the first
division match between Ngaruawahia
and Cambridge. In what is thought to
be the first occasion in which a woman
has refereed a senior soccer match, Mrs
Elizabeth Gorman controlled the
game to her credit. Both teams had the
highest regard for her knowledge of the
sport and their respect in her decision
making.
When her husband, playing
striker for Ngaruawahia, was flipped in
the penalty area, she had no hesitation
in pointing to the spot for the penalty.
Ngaruawahia took a five
minute lead over their 1975 Northern
League opponents through Mike
Liddle. R. Bradley of Cambridge
equalised from the left and on three
occasions pegged back Ngaruawahia’s
goals. Jeff McLaughlin and Sandy
MacDonald (penalty) were the other
Ngaruawahia scorers.
Ngaruawahia took their first
points of the season off Cambridge in
their 3-3 draw.
3rd Division
It took 70 minutes before
Ngaruawahia broke through Te
Aroha’s defence and then Ronnie
Clark, Steve McLaughlin and Tony
Armstrong combined to gain the 3-0
win.
Ronnie Clark worked hard
all game and deserved the goal he
gained from a wide-angle drive that
bounced off the far post. Rod Dennis,
Ngaruawahia’s apprentice keeper,
proved his worth, especially with the
high crosses, which he took in true
basketball fashion.
The Huntly Press - Wednesday,
April 28th 1976
Greg Kelly Hat-trick
Managed by Kerry Barakat,
the Ngaruawahia High School 1st XI
playing in Division 2 of the Secondary
Schools competition travelled away to
Fairfield.
Captained by Alistair Bell
they teamed well to take a win in their
first game 5-2 with goals from Simon
Prendergast, Alistair Bell and Greg
Kelly (3).
Dynamo of the team was
Phillip Jerry, who played the valuable
role of sweeper behind the forwards,
and it was he who laid on Bell’s goal.
Greg Kelly laid on the Prendergast
goal before he let loose in the second
half with his hat-trick, one being a 30-
metre shot.
Richard Anderson and
Lindsay Runciman, playing their first
games of soccer, did well in defence,
marshalled by an experience Jason
Cargo.
Player of the Day must go to
Anderson whose bustle and drive
contributed much to the defence.
Junior 11 beat Fairfield
The junior 11, made up
predominantly of third-formers, are
playing in the fourth form division
(3b). They also met Fairfield B and
after being down 1-2 at the turn, came
away with a 4-3 win with goals from
Glen Solomon, Grant Cathro and
Andy Bell (2).
These boys won their Primary
School division in 1975.
Ronnie Clark nets Five in
Waikato Club Soccer
The 3rd division had a field
day at Affco against Affco Rangers.
Being level 1-1 at the half, Ronnie
Clark of Ngaruawahia United ran
away with the game, netting five goals,
setting up one for Steve McLaughlin
and Steve gaining one of his own to
give a final score of 7-2 to United.
The 3rd Division have now
four points from three games, having
lost to Huntly No. 2.
The Huntly Press - Wednesday, May
5th 1976
$60 ball donated
Having being offered $60 for
one of their new match balls by a
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