FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4866, 17 August 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

KING COUNTRY DEFEATED. GOOD EXHIBITION AT TE AROHA. At Te Aroha on Saturday the Thames Pallcy representatives played their second game of the season, meeting the King Country touring team and winning an exceptionally good match by 17 points to 9. The scores in no way indicate the play, for the King Country team gave one of the finest exhibitions o ffootball seen in this district for many years, and the 800 spectator are in no doubt as to which team deserved the honours. Punting was only indulged in as a last resource, and nearly every time one of the visiting team received the ball from his opponents he opened up a passing bout, the forwards being just as proficient in this style of play as the backs and joining in the movements at eveiy opportunity. Many times a score by the visitons seemed inevitable, but luck was against them and some slight breach generally occurred in the finishing touches to negative the at times brilliant work. The following were the teams, the King Country fifteen having eight alterations in the players given in the programme:—

King Country.—Full-back, Jacob; three-quarters, Lee, Carlson, Hobson ; five-eighths, Haddon, Craig; -halfback, Nicholls ; rover, S., Morpeth ; forwards, Butt, Mansfield, Baggs, Simon, Sibley, Ebbet, Freeman. Thames Valley.—Full-back, Gotter ; three-quarters, Price, McNeil, McLeay; five-eighths, Nicol, Sfowart; half-back, Mooney; rover, F. Goldsbury ; forwards, Patterson, Byers, McLaren, Taylor, Peacock, Mclnncs, Rolleston. . THE GAME. King Country kicked off with the wind, the ball going to Goldsbury, who fumbled. The Thames Valley forwards worked back again, Taylor heading the movement, which was upset by Goldsbury getting offside. A "kicking bout followed, Cotter eventually forcing. From a line-cut the visiting backs started a passing rush, but an infringement gave Thames Valley a free kick. The advantage was lost through a man being in front, the ball going out from the ensuing scrum. Cotter received from a punt and placed hits team in an awkward position with a bad clearing kick, Mooney relieving after some hard play in the corner. The ball was then centred, going to Lee. Nicol made no attempt to tackle his man, and a good run terminated in a score in the corner. Sibley failed to convert. King Country 3, Thames Valley 0. Thames Valley immediately set up an attack .and gained a penalty, blit Cotter failed to score. In loose play about the halfway line the ball went out to Price on the wing. This player cross-kicked to Goldsbury, who passed to McLeay to run up the line and centre, tight play following near the posts. Eventually the defenders were penalised. and Cotter placed the ball over the bar. King Country 3, Thames Valley 3. From a scrum at halfway the visitors hooked and set their backs moving. Nicol again made no attempt to tackle his man and Haddon nicely opened up the way for a try, but Lee failed to accept his pass when near the corner and with an open field.

The second quarter commenced with fast open play. In a sustained passing bout, in which nearly every King Country player handled the ball, Lee finally obtained possession and put in a good run, only to be collared on the line by Cotter. The defenders cleared from the ensuing five-yards scrum, but the visiting backe meant business and immediately returned with an irresistible rush, which was upset by a throw forward when it was only a matter of crossing the -line. With play in the home team’s territory Mooney broke away with the ball and made a good opportunity by reaching the other twenty-five line, but lack of support nullified the effort. Morpeth soon reversed the position with a nice run up the field, and with only Cotter to beat, and being supported by half a dozen men, a try seemed assured; but a forward pass again upset things. Mooney repeated his performance in a run down, the field, only to have his good work negatived by Mclnnes failing to take the pass. Play worked back into the home team’s territory, where Haddon put in a brilliant run and all but got over, being collared under the posts. Operations then shifted to midfield, and in close play Mclnnes threw out to McLe.ay, but he lacked pace. Two penalty kicks by Thames Valley then eventuated, the first by Cotter front close on halfway going just buttside the post, and the second, by Taylor, from the twenty-five flag also being unsuccessful. After half-time the ball went to the home team’s twenty-five, where Craig was knocked out. Shortly after resuming Goldsbury was penalised for offside play ,ahd Siblej' converted. King Country 6, Thames Valley 3. In close play Thames Valley gained a free kick, but Cotter failed to score. Shortly afterwards King Country set off down the field in a loose rush, but Pattenson nipped in and gained control, returning with the ball at toe and crossed the line between the posts. Mclnnes was following in support, and scored, but in diving on the ball he struck the post and was knocked out for some 'time. Taylor converted; Thames Valley 8, King Country 6. In close forward, play the home team had the advantage, ’ but the visitors returned the ball to midfield from a line-out. Cotter opened up for Rolleston to make a run down the field, only to be collared in possession. Following a period of fast open play in neutral territory the King Country backs received from a line-out, and all the men handled the ball for Hobson to score in the corner. Sibley’s kick was unsuccessful. King Country 9, Thames Valley 8. The opening kick in the last round was returned by Jacob to the halfway ling. In close forward play Thames Valley gained ground, eventually be-

ing awarded a penalty under the posts which Taylor converted. Thames Valley 11, King Country 9. The. game opened, up and became very fast in neutral zone. Nicholls and Lee put in a nice passing run down the lihe, the opportuntiy being lost when the former was. brought down with the ball. Byers marked in loose play, and from near the halfway flag he placed a splendid goal. Thames Valley 14. King Country 9. Nicol indulged in a speculator which did* not conic, off as intended and made an opening for the visitors, but the luck w'a.s with tlie home team and the ball rolled out in the corner. Play went with a rush to the other end of the field, relief coming to the defenders with a penalty. Haddon received from a scrum and made a fine run up the field before passing to Carlson, who was collared with the ball. Play travelled rapidly up and down the field until Nicol intercepted and made a dash for the line. MeLeay supported and received a pass when nearing the corner; the ball being immediately returned to Nicol for him to score. Taylor’s kick from the twenty-five flag was unlucky, the ball hitting the post, and the game ended, Thames Valley 17, King Country 9. Mr A. W. Dunstan was referee. The teams were the guests of. the Te Aorha Orphans’ Club in tlie evening, and spent an enjoyable social hour or two. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. The curtain-raiser to the King Country v. Thames Valley match was played by the Piako and Paeroa third-grade representatives, and after a good game Paeroa won by 11 points to 3. In the first round Leach (Paeroa) made a bad kick for the line and W, Reed scored. In the second quarter Conolly scored and Keaney converted for Paeroa, making the scores 5 to 3. No points were registered in the third quarter, and the final round was well advanced when Keaney added three more points to Paeroa’s score with a penalty kick. Shortly afterwards Keaney retired with a badly sprained ankle. Just before time C. Neil put in a great run down the line from halfway and scored a try which Leach failed to convert, the game ending, Paeroa 11, Piako 3. Mr O. Barker was referee. ■FOOTBALL TRAINING. All the Paeroa senior representatives arc asked to assemble at the Drill Hall on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. for practice.