FOOTBALL.

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18431, 27 August 1917, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

During; this season a football tnatoh tat Thames is a novelty 'because all tlhi-o best players have gone-, to the ftron't, so )v!hon four teo<inis an-ived from AvicklatM.f'. by 'Fridiay night's steiamer iim/ther mote sthau passing interest wias maindfested in the visitons. SaturUsiy - afbeaiboou being line (tihait is, fine compared to what we Ibave had in weaitiher of laite) a great many enthusiasts journeyed to* •Dodd's paddock, Piarawai, to witness the maitches under League rules. The curtain ■ raiser, as it wener, was played between >the junior players of the Gnaifton A'lhletio Club and^ the

Thames Old Boys No. 4 team, and proved! an, initeresitmg content. McGregor captained! the Gralton loam and 'Meredith, the Thames Old' Boys. Tihe Grafiton, 'team werei: lhaaidiiCiapped through hiavwig to piaiy 'with one man ehoi't. The field was in'a Shocking stiaite and' tihe young 1 players hoon showed signs of the heavy going, but they manfully stuck, it out to the finish. The first spell saw Thames Old Boys team leading 1 by 6 to nil, tries having been scored by Meredith a,nd 'Read. After fcfhe spell Graf ton ibetgian to force tihimgis and' after - a Bevei'e tussle secured two tries, for wlhicih Seageir and Campney were responsible, making the game 6 all. Oantell later on scored for thoi Th.iam.es Old Boys team and the maMi ended in tiheir favour. Mr. Fieldang had charge.-of the whistle. PON6ONBY V. THAMES OLD

BOYS NO. 2.

This match, wais between two teams wlhiclh had recently fought out' the grade clbampaonship in Auckland. Bosworth captained the Ponso-D'by team and Newduck the Thames Old 'Boys No. 2 'team. Owing to the bad state of the field, fast play was impossible, nevertheless a very interesti<ng and hard) fought game, resulted in the Thames. Old Boys winning by lil to 6. The/game had not been in progress long before it was seen that bath teams were about equal, al-

(thougih in the. first half Thames Old Boys seemed 1 to sihow more combination than their adversaries. At tliis stage of fohe game Thames Old 1 Boys were leading by 8 to nil, tries having' been secured by Matthew who also kicked a goal and Caropney who did not convert. After half-time, the Ponsonby boys iseemed to get going better-.andi made thei.pace very will* ; ing, tfe'r^uit^'tJh^ifc'it'tobk their opponents all their time to stop" them' on, rnjore tihan, one ' occasion,, f.'oni scoring. . Aiffcer many aittemptß 'A\ . Rae slippedl 'over the line iaaid 'regis*tered the first try for the. Hue and jiblaok, but has attempt to Stick' & \ goal iailed tiaidly. "" Froni tiiie kick 'off, Ponsonby into the enemy.^ ?26' and)' lorced' th^ccri to tmM; dow& once or twice. From, a nice piece of

. Jas* running and pas'singi Cross got 1 oyer, .jbuffc, Rae's aftltejnpt to, convert 1 failed. Tlhiaimies then beganto rally ■again and isMiesf several" .attempts Smith scored for Thames Old Boysi MaitrtSiew had a shot at the goal hut the- ball being so greasy, place Wok-

ioiig was inisky, and he foiled badly. ■After some hard play on both sides, the game ended, the scores leinsj •Thames Old Boys team, 11, Ponsonby 6. Mr. Fielding was referee.