FOOTBALL AT WAIHI.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4727, 21 July 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL AT WAIHI.

THAMES VALLEY V. WAIKATO. VISITORS HEAVILY DEFEATED. Un samruay lasi the biggest fixture in local union lootoail so far inis season eventuated at vvailit, the Waiaato repiesuniatives meeting ana being dernatea by the Thames Valley fifteen to the tune oi 21 points co 6. The match createu a lair amount of interest, and upwards of 900 spectators weie present to view the play. The calibre of the visitors was much below expectations, however, and disappointment was freely expressed at the action of the Waikato Union in sending men far below the standard of others available in that union. The exhibition given was not of a high cltthp, and not what is expected in representative football. The teams were as follows: Waikato.— Full-back, Valentine; three-quarters, Campbell, Harrison, Quinn; five-eighths, McCormick, Moyes ; half-back, Hinton; tover, Delaney ; forwards, Tomalin, Thrupp. Smith, Cotter, Carter, Monagetti, Tims. Thames Valley.—Full-back, Delamore ; three-quarters, Adlum, Southgate, S Goldsbury ; five-eighths, Williams, Price; half-back, Mooney; rover, F. Goldsbury; forwards, Johnson, Mannix, Shaw, McLeay, Ryan, Mclnnes, Benney, Valley kicked off agains la strong wind, and after several scrums on the visitors’ twenty-five line gained a penalty kick which Delamore failed to cert. Play went to the other twenty-five, where Moyes marked. No advantage was gained, and from a scrum on the twenty-five line gained a penalty and cleared. Hinton set his backs in motion from the throwin and they carried to the line, Valley forcing.' The drop-out was badly handled by several Waikato men, play going to their territory. In loose play the visitors worked back to halfway, from where their forwards initiated a rush. In attempting tp clear Mooney kicked towards the line, but Quinn obtained possession and after beating Adlum was tackled by Delamore in the corner but threw him off and crossed the line. The kick failed. Waikato 3, Thames Valley 0. The home team livened up and rushed play to the other end of the field, and in close play on Waikato’s line .Williams picked up and dived over. Delamore added two more points with the kick. Thames Valley 5, Waikato 3. In loose play about the halfway line Price was penalised, but Cotter did no good with the kick. Gol labury returned the opening kick in the second round to Valentine and play settled down in midfield. Mclnres made use of an opportunityand curried well up the field. Waikato checked, but it was only m&' mentary, Price almost immediately adding three more points. Delamore failed to convert. Thames Valley 8, Waikato 3. Waikato instituted an attack with the kick-out, and followiiijj tight play iu front of the home team's posts Monagetti converted a penalty kick. Thames Valley 8, aato 6. An interchange of kicks' ter-' niinated with Williams sending out at the halfway flag. The throw-in was scrummed, from which the Valley backs gained control, but the movement broke down at Price and Harrison, supported by Campbell, carried to Valley’s twenty'’five. The detending forwards worked back again to Halfway, where another passing rusn by the Valley backs was frustrated by Price getting offside. Shortly afterwards Benney picked up in the loose and made a good run to the line, but iiis pass to Ryan was forward. Open play m raidfield followed until halftime.

At the commencement of the second half the Waikato forwards worked down to the opposing twenty-five, where Ryan w.as penalised. Cotter’s kick failed to materialise and Delamore found the line. The Valley forwards broke away from the line-out, but Valentine stopped the rush. Waikato returned to the attack, Delamore eventually forcing. From a throw-in shortly afterwards at halfway Adlum sent to Mooney, who ran into the lineout. Mooney returned to Adlum, who raced up the line, and, with Mooney in support, badly beat Quinn and Valentine and scored a nice try. Delamore converted, making the scores-, Thames Valley 13, Waikato 6. The kick-out was carried over the line by the wind and Delamore forced. Waikato attacked from a scrum, but just when the position began to appear serious for Valley Mooney cleared to the line. The pressure was immediately resumed from the line-out and tlie Waikato forwards reached the line, Mooney again saving the situation with a mark. A kicking bout followed in neutral territory, the quarter ending with a passing rgsh by the Valley backs which reached the visitors’ twenty-five.

The final round opened with play in Waikato’s territory for a time, followed by midfield play in which there was a fair amount of kicking, A passing movement by the Valley backs broke down through. Price holding on to the ball, and this gave Waikato an opportunity to attack, Williams clearing to the lijie. Williams terminated some loose play in midfield by punting well down the field. Ryan, following up well, got possession and put in a good run to the line. He was not supported, however, and the ball was thrown out near - the corner. From the line-out the ball went to the Valley backs. and was passed right across the field, Adlum being pushed out in touch. The drop-out was returned. and after a hard tussle on Waikato’s line Williams dived over. Delamore failed with the kick. Thames Valley 16, Waikato 6. With play in Waikato’s territory Harrison gained possession and made a good run to the other twenty-five line, where he transferred to Delaney, to Cotter who reached the line and immediately afterwards claimed a mark. Cotter failed to score with his kick, and atter tight play on the line Ryan dribbled clear. The attack was renewed by Waikato, only to be negatived by Mooney. The Valley forwards then held their own, Delamore

later kicking out near the visitors’ corner flag. Ryan secured from the throw-in and crossed the line near tlie posts. Price took the kick and made the scores, Thames Valley 21, Waikato 6. Mr J N. Anderson was referee. For Waikato Cotter and Carter were the bent of the forwards. Hinton, the half, did a lot of defensive work, and fed his backs at every opportunity, but was handicapped in the scrums as the opposing hookers got the ball practically every time, Quinn shaped well, and so did Harrison, and Valentine was reliable as full-back. The Valley pack all played well with the exception of Johnson. Ryan was the pick, but all the others justified their inclusion in the team. Goldsbury prayed a good game as rover. Williams and Mooney were easily the best of the backs. Adlum did will on the wing. Southgate, although not a star, played better than was expected. He was also seriously handicapped by Price, Who was a failure as five-eighths. S. Goldsbury was also weak on the wing. Delamore did some of his work well, and some of it badly. He was not extended to any extent, and would not go low. The try by Quinn should not have been, had Delamore tackled him properly instead of swinging round his neck. Again, when Delamore was slightly pushed he attempted to speculate, which style of play is not wanb ed, especially from a full-back. Delamore, S. Goldsbury, and Johnson could be improved upon, and very likely Price ad Southgate. Price is recognised as a good man, but not as a five-eighths. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. The curtain-raiser to the repre-i sentative game at Waihi was a primary school match between Waihi and Paeroa. The local boys had the advantage in weight and also a better knowledge of the game, and had a comfortable win bj’ 12 points to 0. Tries were scores by Dunstan (2), Jennir.gs, and Henry. Mr Hibbs was referee. HAURAKI PLAINS V. THAMES. The return matches between Hauraki Plains and Thames were played at Ngatea on Saturday, the results bea drawn game in the seniors, with no score, and a win for the visiting juniors by 13 to 0. THE JUNIORS. POSSIBLES V. PROBABLES. Owing to the senloi’ representat.be match at Waihi on Saturday the attendance at the Paeroa Domain was a very small one to witness the junior game, Possibles (Netherton, Suburbs, and Karangahake) versus Probables (East and West). The teams were fairly evenly matched, the home for-> wards if anything, being a little the heavier, but this fact was compensated tor by the slight superiority of the backs of the Possible team. The game as a whole was a very poor exhibitoin o football, and combination play was conspicuous by its absence. Both sides in the eagerness to score lost sight of the finer points of the game. For Possibles tries were scored by McLoughlin (2) and Martin, two of which were converted by Rackham and Jones. A. McKenna kicked two penalty goals for Probables. The game ended with the scores, Possibles 13 Probables 6. Mr F. W. Pitts was referee. THIRD-GRADE. EAST V. WEST. As a curtain-raiser .to the junior game in the Paeroa Domain on Satur. day a match between the East and Wset third-grade teams was played. Tiie ground was in good condition, and the weather, with the exception of a .strong westerly wind, was also favourable. West had an easy win by 27 to 0, scores being registered by H. Spinks (2), A. Armour (2), W. Spinks. C. Nield, and G. Gunn. Hudson converted two of the tries and Nield one. JI MOR REPRESENTATIVES. PAEROA TEAM CHOSEN, The following players have been selected to rerpesent the Paeroa juniors against Waihi at Paeroa on Saturday next: Full-back, J. Mead (K.) ; three-, quarters, G. Wells (W.), R. Swann (W.), j. Jones (H.) ; five-eighhts, R. Mead (K.), H. Moore (E.) ; halfiback, B. Hardman (K.) ; rover, C. Treanor (E.) ; forwards, J. Neil (E.), Buchanan (H ), F. Thorp (E.), R. Smith (E.), M. McLeod (K.), Williams (N.), W.. Griffin (K.). Emergencies: Forwards, R. Shawky.), Hay (H.), Slyfield (W.) ; backs, Potter (N.), Rackham (K.), L. Nield! (W.). -