NUAFC 1968-2018

Early reporting of football in Ngaruawahia (1921 & 1922)
Preface
CLUB FOR NGARUAWAHIA
Waikato Times.
Friday July 15th, 1921
A m e e t i n g w a s h e l d i n
Ngaruawahia on Tuesday for the purpose of
inaugurating a "Soccer" club in the district.
There was a splendid attendance. The
president. vice-presidents, chairman, secretary and
treasurer were appointed and it was decided to call the
club "The Ngaruawahia United Association
Football Club". The colours were to be blue (royal). The
membership fee was set at 5s.
As it is now too late in the season to get into
the competition league it was decided to play practice
matches at present, in order to get the players into their
proper position, and that next year the dub affiliate with
the South Auckland Football Association.
The club so far has got 15 players, viz.
eight from Ngaruawahia, three from Horotiu and four
from Glen Massey, and they will always have four men in
reserve.
A practice match is to be held on Saturday, and
all those interested in the game are invited to
attend. Another meeting of the newly-formed club will be
held in the boat-house, Ngaruawahia, on Tuesday 19th
inst.
Hamilton v Ngaruawahia
Waikato Times.
Monday May
The first game for League honours between
Hamilton Wanderers and Ngaruawahia took place at
Ngaruawahia on Saturday under ideal weather conditions,
and there was a good muster of spectators of both sexes.
Hamilton won the toss. Ngaruawahia set the ball
in motion and continued to press the visitors for the
first 15 minutes, when Wanderers pulled
themselves together and the game evened up and give
and take play the rule until Ngaruawahia, by good
passing, scored the opening goal of the match, T. Adams
sending in a beautiful shot that gave Webster no
chance.
This reverse put the Hamilton men on their
mettle. After good work by the visitors, Crabb got the
equaliser. Even play continued until M. Binnie scored
Wanderers second goal, and just before the half-time
whistle went Binnie secured Hamilton's third goal.
During the second spell a very fast and evenly
contested game continued, neither team being able to
pierce the other's defence. although Ngaruawahia was
pressing the whistle sounded for full time.
Mr Meikle acted as referee and at
entire satisfaction to all.
It has not been discovered where the home games
were played. There is the suspicion that “The
Point” (the junction of the Waikato and Waipa
Rivers) may have been the venue, but that at the
time was also occupied by housing, the riverboat
wharf and railway sidings accessing the wharf.
YMCA v Ngaruawahia
Waikato Times,
Monday June 19th,
On the Seddon Park ground on Saturday last,
Shand, for Ngaruawahia. won the toss and set Y.M. to
play against the sun.
Clough, for the local team, early became
prominent, the visiting defence having a warm time for
the opening ten minutes. It was not long. however.
before Ngaruawahia became prominent in attacking the
home goal. Homer, being always a source of danger to
the Y.M., and there is no doubt that had the visiting inside
forwards been on the alert more to prey their advantage
home they would have been one up. However, Y.M.
were hereabouts getting more
Clough being conspicuous in shooting for goal, the latter
eventually putting the locals one up after half an hour's
play.
On resuming, play continued to be in favour of
the Y.M., erratic shots at goal and individual instead
of team work by the Y.M. forwards saving
Ngaruawahia, and at half time being called the score
was one goal to nil in favour of Y.M.
From the restart Y.M. for a period had by far
the better of the game, though at times the visiting left
wing would show flashes of brilliancy, only to be
pulled up by either Ashton or Allen, the home backs,
when almost near the goal.
After a spell of mid-field play Davies took the
ball to within the Ngaruawahia penalty area, and one of
the visitors handling the ball. Allen made no mistake
with the penalty kick, Y.M. being then two up.
More give and take play followed, the home
team having a shade the better of this, Ehich
hereabouts being especially prominent, one of his
shots from the extreme right completely beating the
Ngaruawahia goalkeeper and hitting the crossbar, Shand
clearing for the visitors. Directly after the visiting centre
forward from 20 yards' range scored for Ngaruawahia,
McCormack making a very poor attempt to save.
Ngaruawahia still continued to press, Cook,
Allen and Ashton being always to the fore in repelling
the visiting forwards, and Ashton transgressing the
rules in the penalty area. Ngaruawahia had a splendid
opportunity to equalise matters with the penalty kick.
However, to the intense disappointment of the visiting
supporters McCormack, the Y.M. goalie, brought off a
brilliant save, and from now on Y.M. never lost
their grip of the position. Davies, by following
up, scored the last goal of the match, placing the score
board to read three goals to one in favour of the local
team.
For the winners, who by the way gave their
best display this season, Allen, Walker, Ehich and Cook
were the pick, although the remainder of the team were
very close runners up and for Ngaruawahia Shand was a
tower of strength to his side, Homer being the most
prominent of their vanguard. Mr Meikle refereed.
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