FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5016, 20 August 1926, Page 3

FOOTBALL

NORTHLAND DEFEATS VALLEY.

INTERESTING GAME AT TE AROHA

In the presence of between 1500 and 1700 people the Thames Valley touring team* was defeated by the North Auckland repres,antatives at the Hearies Memorial Park, Te Aroha, on Wednesday afternoon, by 8 points to pil.

; The weather was fine 'and there was- an almost total absence of wind. The field was soft and boggy in a fe.w peaces but a heavy coating of sawdust assisted to prevent a quagmire. The rajnks of both (eamsi had several defections owing to colds and minor injuries, and the two teams having done a considerable amount of 1 travelling it took the players a little while to strike true 'form on the field. .The game thoughout Was fast and open, and there were several brilliant bouts of Rugby. The Northlanders were the heavier teem, and they found the pace s.et by the Thames Valley players tried them out. The scores do not.in any way-give a correct indication of the game, and it was generally agreed that the home team was very unlucky not to have scored on severa,!, occasions. The following took the field :—

Thames Valley.—McLeay, ■ Towers, Stoupe, Cleave, Malt, Arkle, Gilpin, F. Goldsbury, Patterson, Young, McLaren, Peacocke, Taylor, . Robinson, Keohan. .

North Auckland—Wade, Simonsen, . Wiilson, Findlay, Gould, Baddeley, Seymour, T. Donaldson, Fletcher, Hayward, J. Donaldson, Wa,tson, Sowman, White, Webber. _ Northland kicked off facing the sun, and from the return kick J. Donaldson passed to Baddeley, who made a good run before transferring to Findlay to score near the'corner. • Webber failed to convert. The score. Was registered within two minutes of the start of the game. Northland 3, VaJSey. ff. The kick-out went to the side-line, from which a scrum was ordered in Northland's twenty-five. Baddeley cleared to half-way. In a rush Seymour made a great run but was forced out. From a scrum a breach gave Taylor a charice to clear. The ball went to McLeay from a line-out and he passed to A'rkle, who found the Tine near Northland’s twenty-five. Arkle secured from the throw-in and passed to Stoupe, to. Cleave, who mulled. In tight play Goldsbuiy marked and sent to Findlay who transferred to Baddeley to find the line near half-w’gy. Goldsbury sent Gilpin a,nd Towers away, the latter being forced out near the corner. The throw-in went to Gilpin, to Stoupe, to A'rkle, to Cleave, the' latter knocking on. 'A! breach gave Taylor an unsuccessful shot at goal. Valley attacked strongly, but a pretty passing rush lyetween Malt, ♦ Stoupe, A'rkle, Towers, and ba’ck tol Stoupe Was negatived by a breach and Wade cleared. Hayward and Wade set off 'from a line-out, but Goldsbury intercepted and cleared. Baddeley put in a good run and attempted a dropkick, which went wide. The 3pe!l end* ed with the honours to Northland. In the opening stages after the change-over Wade, failed with a penalty kick. Several line-outs- foloWed in Valley’s twenty-five, Baddeley finnb y kicking to the dead-ball line. In tight pay Baddeley sent out to Sowman, who made a. great run but was brought back for an infringement. From the scrum Sowman sent to Simonsen, who dived for the line, blithe also was brought, ba’ck and Taylor cleared -to neutral territory. Spectacular play followed when Patterson broke away with the ball at toe. Taylor snapped up the leather and sefat to Malt, to Arkle, who carried across to Cleave, but the latter lost the, ball near the cottier. A scrum, followed the line-out, and Gilpin sent Arkle, Stoupe, and Towers away, but Goldsbury knocked On and Wade cleared with a; long kick. .Northland took play into Valley’s territory, where off-side play by Stoupe gave Webber an unsuccessful shot .at goal. To relieve the pressure. TaylOr broke away and passed to Patterson, who put in ■•a Ibng run before, transferring to Stoupe, but a breach spoiled the effort. ■ The spell ended with honours even.

iOn resuming after hajf-time McLeay and Towers changed places. The kick-out was secured by Malt, who initiated a dangerous rush by passing to A'rkle, to Stoupe, to McLeay and back again to Stoupe, but the latter stumbled »nd knocked on. 'A scrum inside the visitors’ twtenty-five followed and A'rkle sent out near the cottier. McLaren received from the line-out and dived over, but was brought back. From the scrum McLeay secured and also crossed the line only to be brought back, after which Baddeley cleared. Towers fielded the 'clearing kick 'and returned to the attack, but his, pass was 'forward. The defenders were penalised in’-the scrum and Towers : JoUnd the line near the corner. Baddeley led his backs out, and play went to the other e?nd of the field, a force resulting. Valley then attacked and 'Gilpin was just beaten for .the ball. Thames Valley dominated the quarter.

From the kick-out in the final round Northland attacked, Tower’s marking and sending down the line with a long kick. Following a s’erum 'Seymour marked in a goold position, but his, kick was blocked by McLaren. 'Tight play broke up when Baddeley made a dash, but the chance was •spoiled by Wade obstructing and. Taylor ’cleared. Simonsen returned the balb to McLaren, who found the line, in Northland’s territory. The visitors advanced from the line-out to Valley’s posts, where a scrum Was ordered rfom which Gilpin marked. Taylor headed for neural territory, and with Gilpin, Malt, Arkle, and Stoupe reached Northland’s twenty-five. However, Baddeley secured and sent T. Donaldson away. Donaldson put in a good run before giving a long pass to Sowman, who crossed the line near the comer. Webber converted. Northland 8, Valley 0.

Brilliant play followed the kick-out. -McLeay delivered to Goldsbury, who made a strong run and beat all opuosition, but in diving over the line he lost possession of the halft. The kickout was followed up and play entered

Valley’s territory, a penalty lelieving. Havward received injuries and had to retire. Gilpin headed a rush in which Malt, Arkle, and Stou.oe took part, but Simonsen intercepted a pass and reversed the proceedings. Towers checked the advance and cleared to midfield. Goldsbury terminated tight pJay with a good run, but Malt failed to take his pass and a force resulted.

The Norhtland hacks combined in a passing bout but Goldsbury intercepted and found the line at half-way. Keohan retired and was, replaced by Orimmins. In a passing bout Goldsbury, Stoupe, Arkle, and McLeay were partners, but the Latter mulled hispass and the final opportunity to score was lost!, time being called with play in the visitors’ territory. Mr A. W. Dunsto’n was referee.