FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5297, 9 July 1928, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES. RESULTS AT A GIANCE. BIRCH CUP MATCH : Thames) 21, v. Paeroa 3. CLUB COMPETITIONS : Ngatea 17, v. Wa.itakaruru 5. Kerepeehi 3, v. Plains West 0. JUNIORS. West, 3, v. Suburbs 3. THIRD-GRADE. Paeroa A 9, v. Paeroa B. 6. Ngatea 18, v. Turua 3., SCHOOLBOYS: Turua 12, v. Ngatea 0. BIRCH CUP MATCH. THAMES DEFEATS PAEROA. The Paeroa representative, senior Rugby fifteen journeyed to Thames on Saturday afternoon when, the return match for Birch Cup was played at Rhodes Park, Parawai. Playing conditions could hardly have -been worse, as heavy rain and a strong, easterly lyind prevailed throughout the afternoon. The playing area, much of which is newly-made ground, wks very muddy, ami caused heavy going, and the new bail became sodden and slippery, making it difficult to handle, while the strength of the wind made kicking with accuracy almost impossible. 'A" large crowd assembled to witness the match which, considering the conditions, was a. fair display of Rugby. Although Thames gained a comfortable win by 21 points to 3, the game was 'more even than the scores indicates. The home forwards were a hefty lot, and the going suited their weight, which was far in, excess of the Paeroa pack. The backs were more evenly matched, but the heavier Thames forwards were mainly responsible for the scoring. The tea;ms were as follows :— Thames.—C. Cameron, F. Moran, B. Harrison, ,L. White, T. Dufty, A. Gorbey, W. Savage, W. Pollock, A, Lomas, R. Smith, C. Abraham, <M. Haywar,d, W. Percy, G. Pollock, J. Strange.

Paeroa. —R. Rare, J. W.atene, K. Lockett, J. Maloney, F. Boyer, L. McRae, L. C. Masters, L. Nield, J. Duncan, E. Johnson, F. Fitch, W. Southby, M. Poland, A. Hamilton, G. Morrow. Dufty kicked off for Thames, and Locket returned the ball to the home team’s twenty-five. A loose rush followed the line-out, Hamilton breaking away and dribbling the ball across the field, where it went out at the- corner. Abraham was penalised in the lineout, but Mcßae failed to score. From the drop-out Southby received and shoi't-punted for Masters to carry on, but he was pushed outi at the corner. Nield gained possession from the lineout and pasged to Watene, to Lockett, who was offside, and Dufty cleared well down the_ field. Hamilton and ’Fitch to'ok play into Thames territory, where Cameron saved fre m a dangerous position by marking. A series of scrums followed in m'dfield, and finally Masters sent a. long pass to Mcßae, to Boyer, to Malo.ney, who made a good run but was collared near the line by Savage. A five-yards scrum resulted in- Southby being penalised, and Gorbey found the line. The quarter ended with the honours to Paeroa. With the wind behind it. Dufty’s kick-out went to Mcßae. In a scramble Thames was awarded a free kick, but Percy failed to score. In die loose rush that followed Pollock was penalised and Nield cleared. Lockett broke away with the bail at toe and took play in Thames’ line. The defenders worked back again, and a scramble terminated in the ball going out near halfway. At this stage Moran changed positions with Cameron. In tight play Pollock was penalised in his own twenty-five, but McRae missed; with the kick. A scrum in midfield saw Gorby kick up the field for Strange to secure and pass to Smith, who dived over the line. Savage fajled to convert. Thames 3, Paeroa 0. Smith ajid Lomas returned play to Paeroa’s territory, and! after tight play the visitors forced. Harrison tilien made a good 1 run into Paeroa’s twenty-five before passing to Moran, who scored between the posts and later converted his try. Thames 8, Paeroa 0.

lOn resuming after half-time Master,, marked the kick-'out, but his kick was markecl! by Savage, wlio found the line a.t Paeroa’s twenty-five flag. From a scrum the ball shot out. to Gorby, who passed to Lomas, to Dufty, the rush being stopped by McRae marking. Poland essayed a dribbling rush, and in loose play near halfway Savage was penalised and Southby kicked a good 1 goal. Thames 8. Paeroa 3. Shortly afterwards Fitch retired and his place was taken by N. Neil. From a. scrum in midfield Maloney broke away and covered.-a, lot of ground, but Cameron negat’ved tlie effort with a. mark. A bout of fast forward play ensued, with Hamilton and Southby prominent, but Savage relieved to the line in his own t.wenrylive. Johnson received In the line-out. but his pass to Morrow was forwa.nl* Dufty’s kick was returned by Johnson, and in tight play Thames had to force. The Thames forwards made a combined movement, and as a result, of good play Strange scored. Moran failed to convert. Thames 11, Paeroa 3.

Although the light was failing, the final quarter produced the best football of the match. From the kick-out Boyer broke away and entered Thames territory, where the ball passed through the hands of Hamilton. Southby, and Neil. What looked like a certain try was saved by Abraham marking on the line and clearing to halfway. Good parsing by the Thames backs followed the line-out, the ball going from White to Gorbey, to Harrison. back to White, to Dufty, who carried on to score near th© corner. Savage converted. Thames 16, P.aei’oa 3. Mcßae followed up the kickout and took play into Thames’ territory. In close play Nield was pushed 'out at the corner. Boyer received from the line-out and sent on to Hamilton, when Savage was caught offsfde. but Sduthby’s kick failed. Lomas

dribbled the ball into Paeroa’s.' twentyfive, where Masters cut in and cleared to the ilialfway flag.' Thames gained the advantage ta a. number of scrums, and Rare eventually forced. Hayward returned to file attack, and after some tight play Percy crosed the line near the posts. Smith con-* verted. Thames 21, Paeroa 3Mr H. G. Brownlee was referee. VISITORS ENTERTAINED. At the conclusion of the match the Paeroa team and union officials were entertained to dinner at the Warwick Arms Hotel by the T.hameis Union. The president, Mr J. W. Danby, presided. The generous hospitality an<l friendliness of the Thames Union was fully appreciated by t‘he visitors, and after ample justice, had been done to the repast a lengthy toast-list was enthusiastically honoured.