THAMES V. AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 181, 1 August 1892, Page 3

THAMES V. AUCKLAND.

?/ins by Sixteen to Seven.

-, - annual foobball match bebween repre"! ntatives of the Thames and Auckland' ?L played at Epsom on Saturday afterlast, when there were close on three thousand spectators present. The Leather was favourable for a good display of Ru Bby Same* the ground being in good order for fasb play, and there was n wind; the only drawback being the "fcrong sun, which at times interfered with th» backs when they were catching the ball. It was generally expected thab the local team would gain an easy victory, and the Auckland team were evidently of the same opinion, for in the first part of the game .heir play was very P oor> and the visitors claying excellently and well together, had all the best of it. Up to within twenty minutes ot the call of time it looked as if Thames were going to win, bub the Auck]anders pulled themselves together, and making the play fast and open, rapidly -cored sixteen points, and when the whistle sounded Auckland bad the advantage by J6 points to 7. T. B. O'Connor was incapacitated from playing, and J. W. Williams took his plßoe' THE TEAMS. The following were the teams :— Thames (blue).—Back : R. McGregor, ilst Three-quarters : E. Gibbons, list 81b; E. Koefoed, list; E. Bestic, 10stl2Ib. Halves: G. G. Paul, list; D. Mc Williams, 12st81b; J. Lang, 123t51b. Forwards: D. Stewart, 15sb; H. Brownlee, 12st 101b ; J. O'Sulhvan, llsb 121b; E. Twohill, 12st; Roto, 12et; M. Mullins, list 101b; A. Billine, list; W. Cullen, 103t 121b. Auckland (blue and white). —Back : F. Peace, I2st 6ib. Three-quarbers: R. ; Masefield, 12sb 61b; F. M. Jervis, llsb 301b; T. Roberts, l'2sb. Halves: W. Elliott, 12sb 41b ; A. Braund, lOsb 21b ; W. Rhodes, 14st. Forwards :H. Dacre, 13st ; C. Marshall, 12sb 41b; R. Maynard, 13sb lib; M. McMillan,l2BbSlb; E.Montgomerie, 12st 101b ; F. Murray, 13st; J. W. Williams, 13st51b; C. Pennalligen, listslb.

The Taranaki team arrived on the ground just) after the play started.

FIRST SPELL. A. Braund captained Auckland, and D. Stewarb the Thames. Messrs O'Brien and Chapman acted-as line umpires, and Mr J. G. Lecky as referee. Thames won the toss and chose tho western goal. Auckland, with the sun in their faces, led off at 5 minutes past 3 o'clock. Paul returned, and the Thames forwards carried the play to Auckland's 25, bub Braund and Jervis cleverly returned to the'centre. Marshall gob away, and afber some nice passing between Jervis and Roberts the ball was carried to the Thames' 25. From the throw-in Koefoed punted and Masefield marked, and the ball was placed for Pennalligen, but Sullivan charged ib down. McGregor was applauded for two nice returns. Roberts "punted hard, and Thames were forced. D. Stewart kicked oub, and Braund returned to the centre. Elliott mado a nice pass to Masefield, and the latter with a strong run made his way to the Thames 25, where Paul grassed him. Cullen was instrumental in carrying the play to the 50 flag. Twohill followed up fasb and spoiled Peace's return, but Masefield with a judicious kick returned the ball to the centre. McVVilliams, Stewart and Billing made a nice passing run to Auckland's 25, bub the Auckland forwards returned to centre, and Lang made a good run along the line and passed to D. Stewart, who evaded Peace and scored a try for the Thames, amidst immense- applause. Paul took the luck, and although he made a spiondid effort, just missed the goal post. Thames 2, Auckland nil, ac the end of bhe first 20 minutes' play. Play was resumed, and an Auckland rush was stopped by Koefoed marking. Several packed scrums ensued, when McMillan got nicely away, and Montgomerie had a clear run in, but passed to Rhodes, who was downed by McGregor, and almost immediately afterwards the Thames were forced twice in succession. Masefield returned the kick-off, and Auckland forwards made a sweeping rush right up to the Thames line, where Elliott and P-oberts made frantic efforts to score, with the result that Thames was forced again. Alter the kick out the Thames bac&s indulged in somo nice passing, and brought the play up to Auckland territory, where Peace relieved by a long kick, and play centred, till Roberts by a another long kick sonb the ball back to the Thames 25, From a Thames rush, Jervis made a hasty {»oc, but was unsuccessful. From the kicked', Jervis took the bail on the Auckland sido of the half way and made a wonderful shot at the goal, just missing the post. Murray marked the kick-off, and Pennuiiigan tried at goal, but the ball 'ell short, and Gibbons returned to centre, where loose play followed. Some good passing took place between Jervis and Maseiicld, but did not gain much advantage. Montgomerie made a good dribble, and Gibbons returned ib, when Masefield replied with a strong fending run, knocking two of his opponents over, when he was brought down by Gibbons. Twohill led a fine rush, and play was brought to Auckland's 25. Thames again made a good forward rush, headed by Sullivan and Cullen, which caused Auckland to force down, and time being then called, the first spell ended

Thames 2 points Auckland nil. SECOND SPELL. After the usual interval, D. Stewart started the ball rolling for Thames, and play centred, till Masefield made a strong, fending run. Roto replied with a splendid dribble which Masefield stopped. Fast forward play of a give and take nature followed in mid-field till Billing led a fine dribble to Auckland's 25, but Elliotb reburned bo cenbre. A series of uninteresting packed scrums followed in fronb of bhe stand, bill Jervis made a run along tho lino and passed to Elliott, but bhe ball was thrown on. Thames proved thoir superiority in the scrums, and carried the ball to centre, amidst applause. Murray got away from the lino-out, and passed to Jervis, who made another grand por, but amidst the most deafening cheers the ball struck the bar, and McGregor relieved his line. Auckland made strong efforts to Seore,biit the Thames th.eo-quar.ers were equal to the danger ■'-.''! play once more centred, Both teams wero ran on their metal. Lang with a dodgy run evaded the Auckland back, but Jervis brought bim down from behind. Auckland forwards, with a sweeping Charge, carried the play to Thames 25, where Gibbons relieved his line by kicking, but Peace returnod the ball into touch near the Thames goal line. Thames, however, by fine play' on bhe part of Lang brought the play to centre, but the Auckland forwards were nob bo be denied, and rushed bhe ball up again. Thames replied with a sweeping rush, Paul dribbling th_ ball nearly the whole length of the field, and Sullivan picked up and passed to Stewart, who scored an easy try. Paul took the kick, and, amidst much applause, added the three points. Thames, 7. Auckland, nit. Paul returned Pennalligen's kick off, bub Elliobb sent the ball up again to Thames 25, where Pennalligen got under weigh and .passed to Marshall, who scored right behind the past. Pennalligen took the kick at goal, but Elliott hold to the ball and mulled it. Thame?,7 ; Auckland,2, Soon alter the kick-but, Elliott started running and passod to Braund, who in turn

transferred it to Rhodes, and the latter forced his way across and scored near the post. Pennalligen was successful with the kick, and the scores were even. Thames, 7 ; Auckland, 7. Stewart kicked off and Jervis made a nice return. Elliott, Jervis, and Masefield by judicious passing carried the ball to Thames' 25, where Cullen picked ib up and getting an opening ran right through the Auckland backs, and touched down behind the line. The ball was ordered back to the centre, however, through Masefield being obstructed by Paul, when the former was endeavouring to catch Cullen. Play centred for some time, and was chiefly confined to the forwards, till Marshall and Murray made a splendid rush, and, kicking hard, Elliott scored Auckland's third try. Pennalligen made a good attempt ab goal, but failed—Auckland, 9 ; Thames, 7. From the kick-out the Thames forwards made a grand rush, and play was carried to the cenbre of the field. Elliott gob away and passed to Jervis, and the latter to Masefield, who made the best run of the day, being well collared by McGregor. From the throw -in Marshall passed to Rhodes, who ran right behind and scored Anckland's fourth try. Pennalligen again missed at goal. Auckland, 11 ; Thames, 7. Stewart kicked out and Marshall immediately broke through the scrum, and assisted by Rhodes, mado a grand rush across the line, where Rhodes secured Auckland's fifth try. Pennalligen increased the score. Auckland, 16 ; Thames, 7. Stewart kicked off, and the Thames forwards made a telling charge, which looked like scoring, when Peace stopped progress and kicked to centre, and time was called immediately afterwards, the score standing Auckland ... ... ... 16 Thames ... 7

The Thames men wenb to pieces during the last ten minutes of the game, and the Auckland men ran over them. The Thames men played grandly during the firsb parb of bhe game, and were loudly applauded for bheir combined play. For the visibors, E. Besbie played a splendid game ab three-quarter, his fine defensive work and quick punting being very good. McGregor at full back was sure, and made few mistakes. He proved himself a rep. worthy of the posb of honour. Gibbons, Paul, and Lang were also very noticeable, and made several brilliant runs, while they also kicked well. All the forwards worked well together, and, although they were lighter than the Aucklanders, more than held their own in the packed scrums. D. Stewarb was cerbainly their beab matt; he was always to tho front, and made himself very conspicuous by his clever line-oub work. Brownlee also played a dashing game, and proved himself a really good man. All the others worked and played excellently, aud are to be commended for the plucky struggle which they made.

The play of the Auckland team was very disappointing. The vanguard division were all at sixes or ab sevens and devoid of combination, which, of course, threw the work on tbe backs. The three-quarters, Jervis especially, were inclined to get too close to the scrum, and at times played in a lino with the halves. In the firsb spell, Braund and Elliobb did mosb of bhe work, their comrades mulling many opportunities. In the second part of the game, Masefield and Jervis, fed by Braund and Elliott, played well together, and made several good runs, while Rhodes exerted himself and was seen to advantage. The play of the local forwards was anything but good, till towards the close of the game, when they livened up, and made several sweeping charges which the Thames backs were powerless to obstruct. Marshall, Murray, Montgomerie, and McMillan are bbc mosb worthy of notice. SMOKE CONCERT. The Thameß team were entertained at a smoke concerb ab the British Hotel on Saturday evening, when a number of the Taranaki players were also presenb. Mr A. E. Devore, the President of the Rugby Union, occupied the chair, and in proposing the health of the visitors, congratulated them on the marked improvement they had shown in their play. In responding for the Thames team, Mr McWilliams said they were well satisfied and very pleased at the result of the game, for they all expected to be beaten by at least thirty poinbs. He trusted that the Thames would even make a closer game nexb year. In the absence of Mr A. Braund, tho captain of the Auckland team, Mr W. Elliotb replied in appropriate terms to the toasb of the Auckland team. The usual toasts were proposed and responded to, and songs and recitations were given during the evening by several gentlemen. The Thames team lofb for home in the s.s. Ohinemuri on Sunday morning.