FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5012, 11 August 1926, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

PEACE CUP MATCH. OPPORTUNITY THROWN AWAY. Haurajii Plains failed, to take advantage of an opportunity presented to win the Peace Cup from Thames on Saturday last and the game resulted in a win for the holders by 12 points to 3, The heavy i ain of the previous few days made the playing field very wet and slippery, but this appealed to hinder the Plajns men less, than the home team, despite the ( fact that only on one occasion this season has football been played on the Plains on a wet ground. In addition, a. veiy strong wind was blowing diagonally across the field. This combination of circumstances, decided, the style of play and. made the result more the effect of luck than good management. The Thames team was the heavier, and had all the advantages of experience, training, and coaching thought necessary; to enable it to hold its trophy against the challenges of the provincial country teams, whereas the Plains team was without the services, of E. Costello, O. Cleave, and R. McPherson, who are away with the Thames Valley touring te.am, and. of the fifteen players selected for the match only ten put in an appearance. Some of the missing players, were ill. but only two of them notified the union of their inability to play. Three emergencies were played and two players were picked up in Thames to make up the fifteen. These men did not have football boots, and several members had not played football , for s.ome weeks.

The game; was a mud scramble from start to- finish, and/here was not the difference in the teams indicated by the scores. In the tight play the home team showed to advantage, but the challengers were superior in the loose. The honours, went toi Thames in the firs.t of the game, but in the last half-hour the Plains forwards were much the stronger and kept their opponents defending, even though the latter had the wind and light in their favour. Play w-a,st clean and hard. The referee, Mr W. J. Meredith, of Aucklnad, had causq to caution a player of each team for the manner in which elbows were used in the line-outs, and’ towards the end of the game C. Clark was ordered off for alleged striking an opponent in the face. M. Haywa.rd, captain of the Thames team, and A. Lomas, the other party in the alleged offence, interceded with the referee., with the lesjilt that the suspension' was removed. This very slporting action on the part ‘c4f the Thames players was the subject of more applause than any of the tries, se.cured, and at a function after the match it was referred to in very complimentary terms.

The teams took the flield as follows, :— Thames. —L. Mcßae, H. Doiiiicllj» B. Harrison, F. Moran, A. K. Lockett, J. Pratt, E. Kelly, A. Lomas, Kelly, H. Ensor, J. Strange, M. Hayward, J. Benney, W. Pollock.

Plains. —E. Johnston, G- Buchanan, C. Stretton, D. Molesworth, E. Smart, S. Chapman, B. Nola.n, H. Duncan, T. Alderson, R. Steedman, R. Spencer, D. Hutchinson, C." Clark, Madgwick, P. Clark.

Plains wen the toss, and elected to play with the wind. Play centred ih midfield, and a free kick at goal did not give Plains a s.core. From a throw-in the ball went to Thames territory, a force following. Securing from a scrum Thames carried to hallway, and from a penalty kick Hai iison carried to the visiters- .twentjfive. Breaking from a line-out the. forwards carried on to the line, Buchanan forcing. A free kick to Thames followed the drop-out, and the ga.in was consolidated by line play until Johnston put the home team on the defensive by a fine dribbling rush which'the forwards carried on to tire Thames Quarter. After a s.crum Thames followed up a free kick, but the rusJh was stopped by Smart. Returning to the attack, Thames worked into the visitors’ territory, but after a penalty to each team play went to the other end 'pit the field. Molesworth almost scored with a kick, and close play followed near the posts until Thames (fenced. Play remained in the Thames end until the forwards, broke away for J. Kelly to score, in the corner. The try was not converted. Thames 3, Plains 0. Terminating play in Thames’ territory Lomas secured from a line-out and with Pollock and Benney gained 30 yards in a passing bout. A free kick to Plains gave little relief, and when the quarter ended play was near the corner flag.

The second round opened with Thames attacking, but Johnston cleared. In the ensuing line play Thames gained much ground, but failed with a passing rush. A long kick was missed by Molesworth and Johnston and Thames scored. The kick failed. Thames'6, Plains 0. Almost immediately afterwards the Thames forwards broke away and another score resulted which wasi unconverted. Thames 9, Plains 0. Close play followed in neutral territory, Plains gaining nothing with free kicks. PClark sent the ball to Thames’ quarter, whore play remained until removed by a free kick. From then on to half-time the gam® was restricted to ne.uVral territory.

Thames opened up the second half by attacking, only to be driven back to midfield. From a throw-in Plainscarried to near the goal-line, where open play ranged. An attempt at g“-al with a free kick by Johnston was marked and play returned to neutral territory. secured from a line-out and carried to Thames’ line, a force resulting. Thames w'e.re kept defending, and though they gained

giound from the line-outs they were overpowered in other departments of the, game.

The final quarter was opened by Thames with determination. From a throw-in following the kick-off the backs got going and Harris,on scored a try which was not converted. Thames 12, Plains- 0. Another attack was relieved by Buchanan, but with lihe play Thames worked back again to the visitors’ end; only td lose the advantage in open ploy. No score resulted from a free kick at goal by Plains, but ground was gained by other penalty kicks and forward play. Kelly relieved for a moment, but Johnkto-n s.ent Plains back on the attack for another force. Lomas broke through a,t the head of the home forwards, but the visitors soon reversed conditions. From a throw-in PClark secured and dived over to score for Plains. C. Clark failed tel convert. Thames 12, Plains 3. Play went to the visitors’‘ quarter for a few minutes, and then swung to the other end of the field, Thames being on the defensive when time was called. Mr W. J. Meredith, of Auckland, was referee.