FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4599, 17 August 1923, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THAMES VALLEY 10, WANGANUI 6. SCORES MADE UP OF GOALS. On Wednesday last on the Show Grounds, Te Aroha, the Thames Valley team played its second game of the season, meeting the Wanganui touring team, before about 1300 spectators,, and administering a defeat by 10 points to 6. On the night previous and during the morning heavy rain fell, but in spite of the weather the ground was in good prder, and fast, hard football was the order of the day. The following were the teams : — - Wanganui.—Full-back, Pini; threequarters, Cameron, Googan, J. Delves; five-eighths, Jackson, B. Delves ; halfback, Baddeley ; rover, Bellis ; forwards, Murphy, O'Connell, Hooper,, W. Ross, L. Stewart, G. Ross, Petei’ison Thames Valley.—Full-back, Poland; three-quarters, Campbell, Nicoll, Samson ; five-eighths, R. Williams,, WMolloy; half-back, Hudson; rover, McLeay; forwards, Millington, Nelson, Johnson, Heath, Magill, Robinson, Wallis. Wanganui won the toss and elected to play with the sun and slight breeze at their backs. From a line-out following the kick-off Wanganui secured and carried play into the Thames Valley territory, where for off-side play Stewart was penalised with a free' kick. A good line kick took play into mid-fleld, where from the line-out Wanganui secured again and returned the leather to the Valley's twenty-five. Off side play in a loose rush by Wallis gave Wanganui a freekick which Samson marked, returning with a good line kick. Wanganui secured, but a knock-on stopped the : r loose forward rush. The Valley secured and kicked out, where in the lino-out Wanganui was penalised, Heath returning play into Wanganui’s territory with a good line-kick. A knock-op in the line-out gave a scrum, and Wanganui suffered a penalty for lifting their feet. Googan secured and returned to Poland, who found the line. From a free kic.-< Wanganui returned to the attack, and in the home team’s territory Jackson marked and kicked a go.aJ. Wanganui 3, Thames Valley 0. The kick-out was returned to a scrum In mid-fleld, Johnson being in front, of the ball. Wanganui secured and Bellis, cutting in, beat the Valley forwards, but was tackled hard by Nicoll. Destruction by Wanganui gave the Valley relief. O’Connell marking the kick, but his drop at goal failed, the Valley forcing. In a line-out following the dropout Wanganui were penalised for offside and Heath line-kicked. In the line-out 1 the Valley got possession and Millington’ and Johnson led a forward rush, forcing Wanganui to mark. Poland .secured and opened the attack for his forwards. Time and again the Valley forwards broke through Wanganui’s defence, but the backs lacked the combination to carrv the play to a finish. ’ Delves saved and Nicoll marked, kicking out. From the line-out the Valley secured and N'coll beat two or three men in'a smart run, but his pass to Samson fell short, the ball going out. Change over took place with Wanganui leading by 3 to 0.

From the kick-off .iohnson secured and returned to Baddeley, who started a back movement, which finished up by Bellis cross-kicking to Cameron, but Poland saved with a mark, kicking to the line. Bellis secured from the line-out, but, Magill was penalised for tripping, and from a scrum back the Valley got possession and a loose forward rush, led by Nelson and Millington, again put the visitors on the defence. From a line-put the Wanganui pack broke through and took the ball right up the' field into their opponents’ twenty-five, where a drop-kick at goal failed, Poland nearly losing the ball in his slowness in forcing. From the drop-out Ross secured and passed to Bellis, but Samson smartly intercepted and. made a good run down the line, being forced out in the visitors’ twenty-five. -The line out resulted in a scrum, and Bellis was penalised for off-side play. Wanganui returned with a forward rush, putting Valley cn the defence, but smart fielding and kicking by the defending inside backs, especially Molloy, saved. Baddeley marked, sending Wanganui on the attack, the forwards indulging in short passing, almost handing the ball to one another. A knock-on by Johnson stopped an ugly rush and the home for- a wards got possession, broke up quickly, and carried play back to the visitors’ twenty-five. liLa scrum the defenders were penalised for lifting their feet, but Molloy’s kick failed. From the drop-out. Hudson secured and returned to the line. An exchange of kicks ensued until Ross goi off-side, giving Molloy another kick at goal. With a beautiful kick he made the scores even. Wanganui 3, Thames Valley 3. Magill secured from the kick-out,, and a kicking bout followed until half-time. From a line-out soon after the opening kick after half-time Pini secured and returned well into the Valley’s territory. The visiting forwards again pressed hard, using the same tactics of short passing, and only for the deadly tackling of the Valley forwards several Wanganui back movements would have been dangerous. Molloy saved with a mark and returned with a high kick to mid-fleld. From a scrum for a knock-on Wanganui gained possession, but a passing rush was quickly smothered with Bellis in possession. The Valley forwards took the leather back to Wanganui’s territory, but Pini saved again with a good line kick. From the line-out the Valley forwards again commenced an attack, but a forward pass gave a scrum, in which Wanganui again suffered a penalty for lifting their feet. Molloy’s kick at goal dropped over the bar, making the scores, Thames Valley 6, Wanganui 3. From the kickout Samson secured and returned to Cameron, who marked. Poland obtained possession and cross-kicked, Bellis secured, but a forward pass to an off-side man gave the Valley a kick. Delves secured and returned to Nicoll, who transferred to Campbell, who failed to gather in the ball. Wanganui epntinued to press hard, but a

| scrum relieved. The home (earn was penalised for holding on to the ball, but Ross’s kick failed. From the kick-out Bellis secured, and oy forwards and backs combining Wanganui carried play to in front of the Valley’s goal. A knock-on gave a scrum in front of the posts. Wanganui secured and Bellis tried to cut in, but was downed by Campbell. Wanganui’s efforts became desperate, but the home defence was too good and Nicoll relieved to the line. From the line-out Wanganui secured and compelled the Valley to carry the ball over. From the resulting five-yards scrum Bellis again trjed to cut in, but was quickly downed. A mark by Williams relieved. Pini secured, and coming up quickly, tried to drop-kick a goal, but failed. From the kick-off in the last spell Nicoll secured and cross-kicked to Millington, who broke through, drew the defence, and passed to McLeay, who drop-kicked a very neat goal. Thames Valley 10 1 , Wanganui 3. Heath secured from the kick-out and kicked to the line. Bellis secured from the line-out and opened up another attack, which was soon stopped by the opposing forwards. At this stage excitement became intense, with Wanganui trying' to open up play at every opportunity and even up the scores. The Valley forwards continued the pa>-e set. at the beginning of the game ' and continually harassed the visitors* back division. Time and agajn Bellis tried to get hi,s backs in action, but the Valley’s destructive tactics saved ■ the situation. From a scrum J'ohn- ’ son broke away, supported by Heath, but Delves saved. The line-out resulted in a scrum in mid-field. Pini secured and line-kicked well into the Valley’s territory. Wanganui secured J and kicked to Poland, who dropped the ball, but he recovered well, beat- > ing two attacking forwards and returning play with a good line kick. ’ Bellis secured from the lineout and ’ led the Wanganui pack in a rush, ’ but Molloy saved with a mark. Jackson secured and picking up pace quickly beat several of the home forwards and line-kicked into the Val--1 ley’s twenty-five. The defenders seI and kicked high. Pini got possession and with a beautiful cork-: ? screw beat the opposing forwards, * who were diving in all directions, and “ made a desperate attempt to start an ’ attack. He was. brought down with ’ the ball in his possession by Samson, ’ and play returned to the visitors’ ter--5 ritory with the home team again hard 1 ojn the attack. Pini again secured ’ and made another desperate cork- ’ screw run, beating several men, but whs cornered before his backs got into position. Wanganui again pressed hard, but Molloy saved with a good 3 line kick. Wanganui again made I desperate efforts in the backs to cross the home team’s line, but quick fol- ’ lowing up kept them bustled all the time. A knock-on gave a scrum in 1 the Valley’s twenty-five, the defenders 5 being penalised for lifting their feet 5 in the scrum. B. Delves converted, bringing the scqres to, Thames Val--1 ley 10, Wanganui 6. Johnson follow--1 cd up fast from the kick-out and 1 Wanganui forced. From the drop-out 1 Hudson marked and Baddeley secured. 1 from his kick and again set the visi--3 to'-s on the attack, but the tackling became deadly and spoilt their efforts. Pini again secured and made a last .. 1 effort to break through, but he brought down. Off-side play by Mil--1 lington gave Wanganui a free kick, Magill marking and kicking to the ’ line. The bell sounded with -the I scores, Thames Valley 10, Wanganui 6. 1 Mr A. J. Dunstan was referee., 1 A curtain-raiser,, played between 1 Waihi and Piako junior representa--1 tives ended in a draw—3 all. Mr 3 Barker was referee. :

PLAINS V. PIAKO. TO-MORROWS GAME. The inter union fixtures will be continued to-morrow, when Waihi and. Paeroa meet at Paeroa and Hauraßi ’ Plains and Piako meet at Te Aroha. in the latter game the following selections have been made; — Piako. —Gavin, Clarkin, Magill, Samson, Stewart, Gilpin, Hudson, Atkins, Nelson, Everett, Miller, McLaren, Magill, Wybourne, Samson. Emergencies: Jonas and McMurtrie. The Plains team will be selected from the following :P. Clark, J. Ad- 1 lum, C. Molloy, F. Nicoll, W. Molloy, G. Garry, c. Stretton, Ryan, B. Wallis, K. Fox, R. Steedman, T. Rapana, J. Millington, E. Perkins, I'. Cowdrey, G. Masters, R. McGuire, R. J. Spencer, L. Berney, D. Dalgety.

PAEROA JUNIORS. The following Paeroa junior representative team has been picked to play Waihi, at Waihi, to-morrow, leaving Paeroa at 1.30 p.m. Meade. Towers, E. Potter, J. O'Brien, J. Rackham, D. Haskell, Vcwles, H. Thorp, Robinson, J. Thomas, Morrison, Neil, Fisher, F. Thorp, Slyfleld. Emergencies ; Alley and Hayward (forwards), King and Petter (backs).