FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5165, 15 August 1927, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THAMES VALLEY V. KING COUNTRY

MATCH ENDS IN A DRAW.

A wide and keen Interest was taken in the meeting of the Thames Valley representative football team and the King Country touring team at the Paeroa Domain on Saturday afternoon. Followers of Rugby were present from all parts of tlie district, and it is estimated that the crowd was between 600 and 700 persons. By great good fortune there was no rain during the progress of the game-, although heavy rain fell during tlie morning and there was also a heavy shower shortly before 2 p.m. So as to obtain the driest playing area possible-, the field was moved farther over and occupied the hockey grdund. Even there the ground was saturated, and soon cut up with the traffic on it. Such condition- made the going heavy for the players and the ball slippery and difficult to handle. The match was a very even go, and the result was in doubt up to the call of time. There were many exciting incidents, especially in the last quarter, when the scores stood at nine all. Both sides made strong attempts to gain a victory, but without success. The home team fielded the heavier side. Considering the conditions that obtained, the spectators were treated to an interesting period of football. The following were the teams : —

King Country (blue and green). — Full-back, J. Coogan ; three-quarters, R. Wineberg, C. Haddon, Kino ; fiveeighths, D. Findlay, A. Hill ; halfback, C. Nichol r rover, K. McKay ; forwards, Eden, Foster, Skelton, Eady, Hislop, Brown, Ebbert. Thames Valley (blue and gold).— Full-back, F. Thornton ; three-quar-ters, S. Goldsbury, Black. Faulkner ; five-eighths, G. Towers, Saunders; half-back. Mcßae; rover, F. Goldsbury ; forwards, Williams, Craig, Rolleston, Riddle, Mulgrew, R. Smitn, Walters.

Thames Valley won the toss and Nichol kicked off for King Country for Goldsbury to find the line at halfway. A penalty to Thames- Valley gained little ground, and from a lineout a passing movement by King Country was initiated, but the tackling was. too solid, and in loose play Thames Valley carried into King Country’s twenty-five. Rolleistoiv headed a loose forward rush which was stopped by Coogan marking on the line. Open play about the visitors’ twenty-five line- terminated in a penalty against the home team. Faulkner and Black made a run down the line, and offside play by Nichol gave Black an unsuccessful penalty kick. From <a line-out at halfway F. Goldbury dribbled down tlie field, the ball going over the line for a force. Play hung in King Country’s territory, and from tight play near posts. Mcßae sent out a long pass to Faulkner, who scored unopposed. F. Goldsbury failed with the kick. Thames Valley 3, King Country 0. Following the kick-out Ebbert headed i usli to the- home team’s twentyfive flag. From the thr.ow-in Smith kicked down past halfway, King Country clearing. Play hung in the visitors’ territory, where Thornton received and made a good run. He was well supported, but liis pass was forward. The free kick was returned by Thames Valley and King Country agajn forced. Pressure- was immediately applied by the home team, and Towers marked on the twenty-five line but failed to score with the kick. Play was tight about the halfway line for the remainder of the quarter.

From a scrum near halfway shortly after the opening kick in the second round Mcßae received, and the ball, travelling along the backs, was- carried into King Country’s territory. In a loose rush the defenders returned to the other twenty-five, where, from a scrum neiir the line, Thames Valley cleared to -halfway. From a throw-in the ball went out to Black, who carried into King Country’s territory, where a knock-on spoiled an opportunity to score. In tight play near the posts Mcßae snapped up the ball and sent put to Towers, to Fflulkner, who cut in nicely and scored. Towers failed to convert. Thames Valley 6, King Country 0. The attack was immediately resumed by Thames Valley, and in a tight scramble, near the corner Williams dived over the line. Mcßae failed to convert. Thames Valley 9, King Country 0.

Following the kick-out a loose rush by King Country was sustained until Eady scored a good try in the cornea-. Kino failed with the kick. Thames Valley 9, King Country 3.

A short period of loose play in neutral territory terminated in a rush by the visitors) which readied the line for Haddon to score in the corner. Tlie kick by Kino was again unsuccessful. Thames Valley 9, King Country 6. Qn resuming after half-time Thames Valley attacked, the movement terminating in an unsuccessful drop-kick by Black. Play became ragged about tlie half-way line for a considerable period, during which much kicking took place. From a scrum in midfield tlie Thames Valley forwards carried into King Country’s territory, but from a throw-in the opposing forwards rushed to tlie other twenty-live. In loose play Saunders lucked down the, field and Smith, who followed up well, gained possession and found the line near the corner A kicking bout followed. King Country gaining the advantage with a line kick past the twenty-five flag. Another period of ragged play ensued until Findlay made a good run up the line, the ball being sent out in touch. From a scrum at halfway the visiting backs mulled tlie bah and allowed Faulkner to intercept and carry down to the corner, where a King Country player committed a breach. The early part of the last quarter was a repetition of fhe previous? one, iind play was ragged in midfield, with much kicking. In loose play Coogan intercepted, a pass and put King Country on the attack. A scrum was ordered near the line from which King Country hooked and Nicol sent out to Hill, who cut in nicely and made a good opening for Wineberg to score near the corner. Wineberg failed to

convert. Thames Valley 9, King Country 9. Play then livened up considerably, and Thames Valley went on'the attack, the visitors eventually forcing. From the drop-out play was fast and open in neutral territory, Haddon and Coogan doing a lot of good work for King Country. In a determined rush down the field by the visitors Smith made a good save by passing back to Thornton for him to clear. The game ended with play in King Country’s territory. Mr A. W. Dunstan, of Waihi, was referee. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. As a curtain-raiser to the representative match the East and West juniors played on the No. 2 ground. The game was keenly contested, and was a fast and even struggle, resulting in East winning by 6 points to 3. For East S. Williams kicked two penalty goals and R- Alp scored a try for West. Mr J. Rackham was referee. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. On the arrival of the King Country team at Paeroa on Friday evening they were met by His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) and Messrs' J. W. Silcock find W. D. Nicholas, president and secretary, respectively, of the Thames Valley Rugby Union. On behalf of tlie residents of Paeroa the Mayor extended a hearty welcome to the team, and trusted that they would enjoy their brief stay in the town and go away with a good impression of the place and of its residents’ hospitality. A welcome was also extended by Mr Silcock, who said that his union had been looking forward with pleasure to meeting the- King Country representatives again. Last year’s Valley touring team had very -happy recollections of its match with King Country. Ho trusted that the visitors would enjoy themselves, and that fine weather would prevail and the better team win.

The hearty welcome wijs replied to by Mr C. Otto, manager of the team, who expressed pleasure at visiting Paeroa and • assured those present that his men were looking forward with keen anticipation to again playing a Thames Valley fifteen. The visitors were then driven from the railway station to their hotel. In tlie evening they were- the guests of the jOhinemuri Club and the Thames Valley Rugby Union at the pictures. On Saturday night the visitors, and members of adjacent unions, were accorded a complimentary dinner at the Criterion Hotel by the Thames Valley Union. The large dining-room was suitably decorated, the blue and gold (Thames Valley) and green and blue (King Country) colours being tastefully arranged by paper streamers.

After dinner the visitors were the guests of Mr P. J- • Jennings, proprietor of the Aurora Picture Theatre, while some members of the tsam availed themelves of the hospitality extended by the Ohinemuri Club members.

Yesterday afternoon the team was taken for an enjoyable drive to Waihi and district. The team left Paeroa this morning, *

by the express, en route to Taumarunui, where a match is to be played on Wednesday.

Before departing, the manager, Mr C. Otto, on behalf of the team, expressed pleasure at having visited Paeroa, and seen something of the district. He expressed grateful thanks for the unbounded hospitality extended to the visitors, and also the many courtesies accorded them. The Thames Valley Union could rest assured that the King Country team appreciated the good sportsmanship of the local players and were taking away with them happy memories of their visit. An exchange of hearty cheers followed as the team drew out from the station.

MATCH AT ROTORUA. THE THAMES VALLEY TEAM. At the conclusion of the match on Saturday tho? selectors,- met and chose the following players to represent the Thames Valley against Bay of Plenty at Rotorua on Saturday ne-xt: — Full-back, S. Goldsbury (Piako). Three-quarters Faulkner (Waihi), Black (Waihi), C. McNeil (Paeroa). Five-eighths, G. Towers (Piako), Hell is (Waihi). Half-back, Mcßao (Paeroa). Rover, J. Price (Waihi). Forwards, Williams? (Hauraki Plains), Craig (Waihi), Rolleston (Waihi), McPherson (Hauraki Plains), Walters (Waihi), Mulgrew (Hauraki Plains), and R. Smith (Paeroa). Emergencies: Back, McQuartcrs (Piako) ; forward, McLaren (Piako).