FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5452, 24 July 1929, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

HAURAKI PLAINS V. THAMES. LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. In return for the matches played at Ngatea last season, when the Thames Rugby Union took its challenge cups on tour, the Hauraki Plains representatives visited Thames on Saturday last and played two interesting games at the High School ground. The scores—23 to 3 and 9 to 3 — are not an indication of the merits of the teams, for in both grades the Plains men fully extended the veteran players of Thames. The play of the Thames backs was an education to the Plains seniors, and it was this part of the team that put up the ■ score. In its forwards Thames had a pack of stars, but with less team play than would be expected. This fault was less apparent in the. Plains pack, and on the day they wse the better of the two. However, while the Plains forwards could take play to their opponents’ territory, they were unable to put in the finishing touches and score. The backs felt the absence of Hedley and F. Costello, for while C. Stretton was almost up to his old form he did not fill the position as the Patetonga player would have done. Catlin was a hindrance. W. Costello and Graham were the pick of the backs. McCowatt and Beasley, of the Plains forwards, were off their game. Blacklaws, a player roped in to fill a vacancy, acquitted himself well, and with M. Martin and A. Fisher, the star forwards, got in much effective close play. The teams were as follows :— Hauraki Plains. —C. Stretton, J. Catlin, K. S. Graham, W. Costello, H. Wright, E. Tierney, W. Marshall, J. McPherson, A. Fisher, K. McCollum, E. Gill, G. McCowatt, M. Martin, C. Blacklaws, R. Beasley. Thames.—A. Winder, A. Morrissey, T. Dufty, T. Morran, A. Dobson, E. Wells, T. Henderson, A. Lomas, R. Smith, W. Brunton, J. Strange, W. Percy, E. Kinlock, G. Pollock. Plains opened with a strong forward attack, and scrums ensued on. the Thames line. Stretton returned and Plains-followed up for a force down. Fast open play remained in Thames territory until Lomas, Smith, and Kinlock in a dribbling rush shifted operations to midfield, where fast open forward play ensued. A passing rush by the Thames backs, Percy. Dobson, Wells, and Dufty, took play to the Plains line, where a force was registered. The drop-out went to half-way and the Plains forwards entered Thames territory. Marshall took a mark but gained no advantage. Play remained in the Thames twentyfive, and was fast and open. The defending forwards broke through, and Catlin had to fipd the line, fhames received in the line-out and sent over the line for Stretton to force. Tight play followed on the Plains twentyfive line, Thames securing from the scrums. Carlin and fdcPherson carried to half way, but the Tham.es forwards gradually gained ground, and a fine passing rush between Henderson.. Wells, Dobson, Dufty, and Morrissey terminated with a score by the lasfmentioned in the corner. Winder failed to convert. Thames 3. Plains 0. The second round opened with' play “hi Thames territory unt>.’ a passing rush’ carried operations to the other end of the field, where, from a liveyards scrum Morran worked through and scored. He failed with the kick. Thames 6, Plains 0. Smith led the Thames forwards on an attack, and tight play ensued on the Plains line. Dufty failed to score with a penalty drop-kick. Wright, McPherson, and Catlin carried play to Thames territory, but a kicking bout terminated •in favour of Thames. In open play -Brunton made an opening for Dobson to score. Smith failed with the kick. Thames 9, Plains 0. Plains advanced, but lost ground when play became open, the ball going to the visitors’ twenty-five flag. . Pollock retired injured and was replaced by A. O’Hara. Strange failed to score from a mark, and Plains worked up the

field with line kicks. These tactics by Thames put Plains on the defensive, but after close play operations shifted to midfield. .

On resuming after half-time Catlin played as rover and McPherson went to strengthen the wing. Plains opened with an attack, Blacklaws failing to score with a free kick. A Thames player stopped a rush with a good mark in front of the goal, but gained little with the kick. Tight play followed in Thames territory. Catlin failed to take advantage of an opening in a good position. Gill opened Plains’ score with a penalty kick. Thames 9, Plains 3. In open play in Thames territory Gill centred in a good position, but Smith marked. Tight play followed. Stretton attempted a drop-kick, but failed. The home team gave ground, and after tight play had to force. Play remained on Thames’ line until as a result of several penalty kicks operations shifted to the other end of the field, where close play ensued before Plains forced. Play became fast and open. McPherson was caught in possession and let Thames through. From tight play Wells dashed away and passed to Dufty for him to score. Thames 12, Plains 3. Play went to the Thames line, where Dufty broke away and passed to Pollock, who ran the length of the field before sending on to Morrissey, who scored between the posts and then converted. Thames 17, Plains 3.

The final round commenced in rain, with the play slow. Martin retired injured and was taken to hospital with a cracked shin, his place being filled by Marshall. A Thames passing rush reached Plains’ territory, where Wright and McPherson saved. Catlin intercepted a pass and ran half the length of the field, but stopped to dodge an opponent and lost a sure try. Play quickly returned to Plains' territory, where more passing rushes took place. Wells and Dobson were responsible for another try. Thames 20, Plains 3. By this time it was too dark to distinguish players or see what was happening on the far side of the field. Play was in Thames’ twenty-five until a long kick put the visitors on the defensive. Smith got the next try, and the game ended with the scores : Thames 23, Plains 3. Mr H. G. Brownlee was referee. THE JUNIOR GAME. A wonderful improvement has been made in the Plains junior team, and the Thames players and spectators were surprised at the standard of play on Saturday. It was an interesting game, and had the play lasted for 80 minutes instead of 60 the score would probably have been a better indication of the merits of the teams. The Thames players were much heavier than the Plains boys, and knew more of the finer points of the game. The play of their backs was more finished, while the forwards bunched together better than did the Thames seniors. All the Plains buys did'their work well, and the selector should have nothing to worry about this week. The teams were :—

Thames. —Doyle. Dovell, Hotham, Wenzlick, Shell Bill, Vedder, Shelley, Trapski, Darrah, A. Darrah, Edwards, Strange, Darrah, Clark. Plains. —T. White, S. Donaghy, L. Coxhead, A. Stanley,’ V. McPherson, L. Hill, R. Troughton, H. Kirkman. K. Caie, J| McMahon, S. Nicholson, W. Dimmock, M. Caie, A. Nicholson, T. Dimmock.

Thames opened up with a strong attack, and close play followed on the Plains line. Thames registered the first score with a penalty kick by Edwards. Plains worked up the field in close forward play, but, the advance was stopped by a mark. The visitors continued to gain ground and a force resulted. Thames had the better of the game for the rest of the quarter. A long kicking bout gave the ball to the Thames back, and a fine passing between Billings, Vedder, Shell, ar.d Wenzlick saw the latter score between the posts. Thames 6, Plains 0. Plains retaliated with a strong forward attack, and play was on Thames’ line, White losing an opportunity to cut in Play swung to the other end and a penalty kick failed. From a scrum the ball went to Vedder, w’ho sent on to Dovell for him to score a nice try. Thames 9, Plains 0.

Early in the second half, after fast, open n’ay, the visitors went on the attack and A. Nicholson kicked a penalty goal. The Thames backs with passing rushes entered Plains’ territory, and after tight play on the line the defenders forced. The Plains forwards, headed by Coxhead, Donagny, and McCollum, applied strong pressure, from which a speculator relieved. In the last quarter Plains attacked - and Thames forced several times. Poor passing by the visitors was prevalent. Play was continually in the. home team’s twenty-five until White failed to field a rolling ball, when operations shifted to midfield. Dimmock led the visitors on another attack, and Thames had to defend for the remainder of the game. Mr F. Vedder was referee.