FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4444, 24 July 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND 18, THAMES VALLEY 8VISITORS TOO GOOD. On Saturday the Auckland y. Thames Valley representative Rugby football match eventuated at Paeroa. The weather was perfect, and everything was in favour of a good game being witnessed. Spectators to the number of about 2000 congregated on the ground from every part of the district. The Waihi Federal Band was in attendance, and its well rendered selections were much edThe home team was not up to expectations on the day, the backs giv-* ing a very poor display. The forwards. did not shape so badly, but the whole team showed that training and knowledge were not too plentiful. Considering that the Valley team met for the first time on the ground the defeat could easily have been a lot worse, especially when pitted against a team like Auckland with their combination on a fine day. the lesson to be learned has '.probably been driven home, and before the next big local football match comes off bur representatives will have to be placed in the hands of a coach and solid training insisted upon, and then an improvement will be seen in our knowledge of the game. The teams took the field as follows-! Wright beipg captain of the Auckland fifteen and Nicols being in .command of the Valley representatives: AUCKLAND. Full-back, S. H. Goodacre (1) ; three-quarters, Wade (2), Malloy (3), Matson (4) ; five-eighths, Earlly (5), Gregory (6) ; half-back, Wright (7) ; rover, Lynch (8) ; forwards,. Bagnall (9), Peters (10) McDonald (11) Lamb (12), Helander (13), Marshall (14), Somerville (15). THAMES VALLEY. Full-back, J. Winder; three-quar-ters, Garry (Plains),*® J. Magill (Piako), K. Dean (Paeroa) ;* fiveeighths, McDermott (Waihi), J. Gilpin (Piako) ; half-back, Nicols (Plains); rover, Goldsbury (Piako) ; forwards, L. Honey (Waihi), W. Reilly (Waihi), W, Heath (Waihi), T. Johnson (Paeroa), Newdick (Plains), McMahon (Plains), K. Atkins (Piako). THE GAME. Following the kick-off Auckland suffered a penalty. After loose play which followed Winder got possession and kicked out to Earily. Earlly picked up near his own twenty-five ami great pace ran along the line, easily outpacing his opponents and -scoring. Peters took the kick and landed at good goal. Auckland &, Valley 0. Considerable forward play then ensued, Auckland giving ground before the weight of the yellow ft and blacks. A free. kick was awarded the home team on Auckland’s twenty-five line and Magill had a kick at goal. The ball did not go between the posts, but Auckland charged the kick and Magill was given another chance. This time he converted, and made the scores Auckland 5, Valley 3. The visiting backs then took a hand in the game, and a passing rush ended with Wade being brought down on the corner flag. A period of; tight play in the home team’s territory was relieved by Gilpin, who sent play into mid-(field for a time. Another attack by Auckland saw some very good passing in front of the posts, but solid tackling by the defenders prevailed and the ball was sent out near the twenty-five line. The Valley forwards broke through from the line-out, Gilpin then taking charge and dribbling down past half way. A penalty to the home team put Auckland on the defensive until the end of the quarter.

A scrum followed the opening kick of the second quarter, and then a penalty to Thames Valley. Heath attempted a long kick at goal but was unsuccessful. A long spell of close play followed on the Auckand side cf half-way, terminating with Somerville breaking through and with supports carrying as far as Wihde*. Matson fielded the return and made a run up the line, but Winder brought him down at the twenty-five flag. Play travelled straight across the field from the throw-in, Atkins carrying on, but Auckland saved with a linekick. A high punt by Wnider was followed up by Garry, who sent out near the corner flag. Ap attack by Valley forwards was broken by. the opposing pack, who sent back to halfway. Auckland started a forward rush from near. half, way, arid after breaking through the backs took a .hand and Malloy got over near the posts. Peters again added two more points with the kick. Auckland 10, Thames Valley 3. Almost immediately afterwards Peters marked in a good position and made Auckland 13, Thames Valley 3. For the remainder of the quarter play was restricted to neutral terirtory.

Auckland went on the attack after half time and carried play into the home team’s territory. A kicking bbut then ensued, Goldsbury finally sending down to Auckland’s end of the field. Up and down play followed, terminating in a penalty to Thames Valley in Auckland’s territory. The kick f eU short and Goodacre relieved to the line. The home forwards slowly gained ground by line-out play, which ended in a scrum on Aucklands’ goal line. The visitors hooked the ball and forced. After considerable forward play at half way McMahon and Atkips carried into Auckland's territory. Tight play gave way to an exchange of kicks, Auckland gaining the advantage to half way. Thames Valley returned to the attack and more tight play gave Winder an unsuccessful penalty kick. Auckland broke away with a loose forward rush, but Goldsbury intercepted a pass and kicked well down the line. The Valley forwards wept through, in the line-out and reached the goalline, but Auckland forced. The final quarter was made fast by Auckland, and the ball was sent up and down the field very quickly. The open play soon brought out signs of weariness on the home team, and they were hard put to it to hold the visitors. Near the end of the game the ball was sent to Winder, who badly mulled. Several Auckland forwards

followed up and got the better of] Winder and scored, Peters again converted. Auckland 18, Thames Valley 3. Mr. A. W. Dunstan was referee, THE CURTAIN-RAISER, WAIHI V. PAEROA THIRD GRADE. As a curtain-raiser Waihi v. Paeroa thi'd grade teams took the field. The game was generally of a lively nature and after a very even contest Paeroa walked off the field the victors, the scores being Paeroa. 8, Waihi 3. In the first half neither side could break t.hrough the opposing defence, but Waihi showed to slightly better advantage. It was not long after commencing the second half that Jaimeson got possession on Paeroa’s 25 line s and with a nice win scored for Waihi. Jamieson took the kick, which was unsuccessful. Play continued very evenly, and no further points were scored until about half way through the final quarter. PaePoa, when attacking strongly, gained a penalty kick through Waihi holding on to the ball, and Garry .converted, making the scores three all. Shortly before time the ball went to Smith from a line-out, this player kicking over the line near the posts. More followed up smartly, and with a dive reached the ball just before an apponent, who was caught napping. Garry succeeded with the kick. No more points were recorded, the game ending Paeroa 8, Waihi 3. Mr. E. Shaw was referee. PLAINS MATCHES. WAITAKARURU 16, TURUA 0. Turua met Waitakaruru at Waitakaruru on Saturday and suffered their first defeat this season, the home team winning by 16 points to 0. The junior game between Turua and Waitakaruru was played at Turua, the hbme team winning by 26 points to 0. Waitakaruru took the field with; pply seven men.