SOUTH TRIUMPH.

Franklin Times, Volume XXI, Issue 69, 15 June 1931, Page 5

SOUTH TRIUMPH.

IN A WET-DAY RUGBY MATCH.

THAMES OUTPOINTED

KEENLY FOUGHT CONTEST.

HOME BACKS SUPERIOR

Conditions overhead and underfoot on Saturday were about as had as it was possible to have them, hut notwithstanding there was a £24 gate at the first representative Rugby match of the season at Pukekohe when South

Auckland met Thames. Visitors were present from all quarters of the district which was striking evidence that

there is still great interest in the National game despite the de-

pression. It was fine when A. Lomas led the Thames stalwarts on to the rain-soaked field, followed immediately by George Lawrie and the pick of South Auckland. Both teams received hearty applause from the packed stand. Soon after the kick off rain commenced to fall and it fell for the greater part of the game. In spite of the adverse conditions the play at times rose to an astonishingly high standard, the participants giving

an indication of what might have been expected had ideal conditions prevail- J ed. Soipe of the handling bouts were brilliant, particularly when Thames scored a sensational try and when South Auckland added its final points. The first half was much in favour of the home team, which was continu-

ally on attack, and had ill-luck in not scoring at least two tries. At the opening of the second spell Thames had the best of the argument, but towards the dying stages South Auck-

land clearly demonstrated their superiority. The better team on the day took the honours. The pleasing features were the promising showing of the home backs, and* the great battle waged by the home forwards against

the weighty Thames pack. It was a wretched day on which to .judge players but it can he said* with con■fidence that every South Aucklander justified his inclusion.

TJie Teams. The teams were: — South Auckland (black) : J. Ilira. F. Costar, M. Wallers, M. Stephens, G. D. Lawrie. (capt.), J. Wood, Rae, R. Guise, R. Fulton, A.* Atchison, E. Lee, Kerebs, Stanford, Dunn, C. Baker. Thames (blue and black): Hool, White, Buchan, McMahon, Edwards, Dufty, Savage, W. Pollock, Lomas (capt.)' , Hayward, Abraham, .1. 'Strange, Percy, Kinlock,' G. Pollock. Edwards and Hool were injured and

the vacancies were filled by Yeddar

and K. Strange. The former played behind the pack, Savage went to first five-eighths, Dufty to second fiveeighths. "When Hool went off Buchan went to full back and Strange played at centre three-quarter. South Auckland defended the Queen ■street goal and the home skipper set the game going. Thames were penalised, Guise just missing the posts with a kick from near half way. An exchange of kicks followed the drop -out and eventually Fulton dribbled through to put the blacks on attack, but a free to Thames retarded progress. The South' pack were now warming up and a rush in massed for-mation-ended in the visitors’ twentyfie, by Stanford knocking on. From the scrum the ball was sent out by Baker and Walters accepted the pass, cut in, and was almost across, being tackled on the line, losing possession and Thames forced. Edwards received a head injury and required attention. Thames, led by Lomas and Strange, launched an at lack, Lawrie •saving and the South pack came away from the line out in full cry, in a rush that had Hool guessing. A scrum was set and South won it and the backs bandied, Stephens just missing a score. South were soon back again and from ruck play Rae secured and dived past the scrum, banded the ball to Stanford, to Stephens, who dashed for the line, and was grassed a few feet'shod. Thames conceded another force from subsequent play. Edwards went Off and Yedder came on, the visitors’ rearguard being rearranged. The home team was going great guns at this stage and had Thames desperately defending. Then followed a sensational movement. Wood cross-kicked and McMahon gathered in and set sail for the goal line. He ran up to Hira and then transferred the ball to Buchan, who was supported by XV. Pollock and G. Pollock. When overtaken Buchan sent it to W. Pollock and on to G. Pollock who capped il off with a great try near the posts. Buchan failed lo -convert.

Thames •* S. Auckland 0 Blacks Hot on Attack. It was the tit'st time Thames h;!d invaded the home territory. Play, confined lo the packs followed in midfield until the hall dribhlcd out and Lawrie set off in a great foot rush thathad Thames guessing, another force result ins'. The blacks wore doing everything hut score. I lira gal hered in a clearing kick, raced up and sen! to Waiters, to Stephens, who stab kicked and White found touch in his own twenty-five. Tight forward play was seen on the far side of the field with neither side yielding until the South pack swept, over Thames goal iine the hall going to touch in goal. The game was very lame, hol.li sides indulging in unnecessary kicking for touch. Play swung across to the stand side and from a line out Atchison broke away and fed the hall •fo Stephens, who short kicked and ■

The Scores Evened. and Go. followed up but Hool saved and the Thames forwards attacked to carry play past half-way. Rae broke away from a scrum, sold the dummy, and sent, a high pass (o Stephens but it was not within reach. From a line out Fulton broke away ball at toe, attended by Guise, Atchison, Kerebs, Stanford and Dunn, in an irresistible rush that ended in Fulton and Dunn pouncing on the hall for a fine try. under the posts. Guise missed a “sitter.” S. Auckland .. ' . . . . 3 Thames’ 3 The hell then sounded for half time.

Thames kicked off and Lee returned the ball to Veddar, who erosskickcd but Ilira. saved with a nice line finder.

The line out saw Baker break through and transfer play to half way. Baker and Stanford gained further territorial advantage but Veddar received from a line out and kicked and W. Pollock set sail for the line but Ilira went down on it and saved. A scrum

was set and Thames infringed, Lawrie getting the line at half way. The Thames hacks were now indulging in long kicking and fast following which had South defending desperately. A

free kick brought relief hut Thames forwards led by the Pollocks and Strange, were now showing improved form and went hack to attack. Wood

saved and then an exchange of kicks ended in Thames’ favour. The blacks, however, were not to be denied and they launched a great offensive, Stephens making a nice side-line dash. Play was confined to the forwards with both packs working untiringly.

The black forwards went through with hall at toe and it swung out to Stephens on the left flank. Reminiscent o‘f the soccer code, Stephens kept the hall at his feet for 40 yards and went over for a great solo try near, the corner. Guise’s kick struck an upright. It was a great effort.

S. Auckland . . .'. . . 0 Thames .. ..

South Assert Superiority. Hool went off with an injury and K. Strange filled the gap. He signalised

his appearance on the field by gathering in a ball and kicked high. Stephens fielded it and set off goalwards hut when blocked short kicked, Thames forcing. South launched an offensive and from a line out Baker

sent the ball to Lawrie, to Walters, to Stephens, who was forced to touch in goal. It was a great piec of play which thrilled the spectators and which deserved poinls. Still in matchwinning mood, South attacked like tigers and Fulton went across the line

but was recalled and a scrum was set, from which Thames forced. Kerebs, Lee and Atchison led the blacks to Thames goal mouth where a scrum

was ordered and Thames forwards cleared to half-way with a foot rush, and G. Pollock kicked past Hira, out the latter ran back, got the ball, fooled his opponents and found touch with a nice kick which earned applause. Thames worked to South’s twenty-five where Dufty marked and found touch, his forwards led by Percy and Abraham, carrying the hall to South’s goal line, but Rae converted defence into attack by engineering a footrush. in which several forwards joined, 'Guise, Baker and Dunn being the most conspicuous. G. Pollock, who was play-

ing a magnificent loose forward game, broke away and kicked past Hira and a great race ensued, Hira going down brilliantly. He was in trouble, however, but Walters, whose anticipation is uncanny, was there to save and be did so like a veteran. The black forwards, in a bunch, brought play back to half way and from loose play Wood streaked up, snapped up the ball, sent it to Lawrie, to Walters, who cut in cleverly and made an opening and timed bis pass nicely to Stephens, who went over for the best try of the day near the corner. Guise could not convert.

S. Auckland 9 Thames 3 The South hacks had another run and Lawrie short punted and followed through to be beaten for a try by the merest fraction. The blacks kept Thames defending until Buchan wilh. a. longe range kick found touch pas! half way. Baker took play back lo Thames territory but, the blues impelled the offensive and play settled at half way where Ihe forwards mixed it willingly for a few minutes. The game ended S. Auckland . 9 Thames ;S Air H. Picydell was referee. COW PETIT! ON RESULTS. .1 uni or and Ihird grade games were played at Pukekohe on Saturday While Slav and Patumahoe juniors played a poinlless draw; High School 9 (tries by Best, Boyce and Deoff Chi tty) heat Ramblers nil; Wesley College 0 heat Old Boys 3: White Star thirds 9, heal, High School A.