Thames—Almost

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 787, 7 October 1929, Page 8

Thames —Almost

AUCKLAND BADLY FRIGHTENED Curtain Falls on Season TAKING tilings too easily nearly caused an Auckland Rugby rep. team, quite strong on paper, to go down to Thames on Saturday. Thames, after being beaten by Technical Old Boys a week before, played a game out of the box and gave Auckland some anxious moments, particularly in the last quarter.

The Karoe was played at Thames before a good crowd in perfect weather There was little inspiring Rugby in the first quarter, but it looked like Auckland al! the way. Better combination and a burst of energy by both forwards and backs put the visitors further ahead in the second quarter, and at half-time they had a lead of 11' points. Thames then clapped on the pace. The local inside backs realised that the famous Auckland combination was networking as well as it might be and commenced some fireworks of their own. Thames forwards, too, head by Lomas, commenced to get a little more ball from the scrum, and showed the visitors some points in the loose. FAILURE ON DEFENCE In the last quarter particularly, Thame., looked likely as a winner. The Auckland insides failed badly on defence and it was only goad work by L. Hook, playing in the unusual position of full-

back, that saved the day. With the exception of one or two startling efforts, Auckland’s tries were mainly runaways and solo efforts. It is interesting that the Auckland backs were composed entirely of Ponsonby and Grammar players. Corner, behind the serum, whipped

the ball out in style, but found the attention of the Thames forwards embarrassing at times. Jamieson and Carnmick were weak on defence and they failed badly in their attempts to stop the ugly rushes in the second half. On attack the five-eighths were better, though Carnmick was inclined to overdo the stab-kick. Lucas was not up to his usual form as centrethreequarter. There were times when ho fooled the opposition completely, but it was not long before the Thames players steadfastly refused to be fooled. Lucas was, however, the centre of attack, and one movement he engineered left the Thames team gaping as 11 men handled before Anderson went over. HOOK IMPRESSIVE Of the two Oram mar wingers. Bell and Menzies, the latter was perhaps the better. Hook was impressive at fullback. His handling was safe and ho robbed the Thames forwards of the ball in great style as they swarmed down on him. He frequently dashed up to start movements among the backs, and there, the fact that he is not it regular fullback was apparent, for, instead of dropping straight back, he stayed in the movement, with the result that the Thames defence occasionally changed suddenly to an attack of an alarming nature. Solomon, rover, was the best for-

ward on the ground. He fed his backs consistently and was a tiger in the loose as well ns upsetting the Thames backs to some purpose. Though weight enabled it to win most of the scrums, the Auckland pack was sluggish. Stacey and Peacock were its most energetic members with Anderson and A. Knight showing up now and then.

(I. Pollock and Lomas were the best of tho Thame.' pack. Pollock is a fine forward, on the ball all the time, and a warrior iri the tight. Kinlocli followed up fast and tackled well. A bright pair of five-eighths was the basis of the Thames attack. Both Wells and Dobson are young players and should go far. Dufty was a sound centre and Vloran, a speed-merchant with determination, was tin; better of the wingers. Harrison at fullback was inclined to be casual. Mr. H. O. Brownlee, the referee, missed quite a lot but wa.s strictly impartial and kept the game as fast as the last match of the season could be expected to be. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GRAMMAR DOWNS PONSONBY

In the first clash between the finalists for the junior championship, « grammar Old Boys defeated Ponsonby by it margin of two points, 36 points to 14. in a bright and strenuous contest at the Showdgrounds on Saturday. The pace and vigour infused into the game, which produced many sparkling flashes of spectacular ( t*ack play, taxed the condition of the teams to the utmost. . Grammar’s victory'was due principally to the fact that it adopted a more open style of play, compared with Ponies, who relied too much on their splendid forwards. Overweighting the Grammar forwards in the

scrums, Ponies, due to the smart hooking of the opposing front rankers, secured no more than their share of the ball. It was in breaking away from the lineouts and smashing through the ruck in dashing bouts of short passing, however, that Ponsonby forwards shone, more than one try being registered from these movements. Galluher, Bryson and Newdick were conspicuous throughout the day for their great dash in opening up these desperate sorties. The sJonsonbv backs did not show up to much advantage as an attacking force, though they had many good chances of proving their ability. Apart from the fact that Grammar’s tackling was determined and deadly accurate, Ponies’ rearguard lacked a fiveeighths, who had penetrative ability to create scoring openings. Conway, at the base of the scrum, gave a bright exhibition, and Hook on the wing, was the best of the others. Opening up the game at every opportunity, Grammar backs though combining well, did not carry t.heir movements through convincingly; the inside backs seemed too eager to send the ball to the wings in preference to making openings by straight running. Frankham, at half, was the soul of the Grammar attack and defence. He varied his work well. Lendrum was a good pivot at centre and directed the attack with fair judgment and with solid straight-run-ning dashes. He was inclined, however, to kick too far in stab-punting. Garlick, speedy winger, provided the crowd with plenty of excitement with his dashing runs. He completely outpaced the opposition in one 70yds. gallop to score a spectacular try. At considerable disadvantage in weight, the Grammar forwards acquitted themselves very creditably in th€> tight work, though overshadowed in the loose. Pollok showed wonderful form in breaking away from the lineout and coming through the ruck in dribbling rushes. He undoubtedly was the best forward on the ground. He was well supported throughout by Young and Scarborough.

Though getting on toward what is usually regarded as the veteran stage in Rugby, A. Lomas, of Thames, is still a great forward, and against Auckland on Saturday he led seme fierce loose rushes that tore holes in the defence. Stacey was one of the best of an unenterprising Auckland pack.