FOOTBALL.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15907, 20 August 1923, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

THAMES 20, COROMANDEL 6. Despite the wet ground a fair crowd journeyed to Parawai to witness the Peace Cup semi-final between Coromandel County and Thames. The game was not a brilliant, one, although fairly fa»st. During "the game, G. Buchan, of the Thames team, had his ankle broken.

Thames kicked off facing the town, with a strong sun in their eyes. Hook made a nice opening, and Smith earned on. The return kick rebounded off Harrison and play settled in Coromandel zone. Thames were penalised, but with the return the Blues were at Coromandel’s 25. The Blues set a strong offence and Coromandel were compelled to force. With the drop-out the Whites (Coromandel) took play to Thames territory, but Pollock, with Hook backing up, carried play back to the White’s 25. With a loose rush the White reversed the ipjosiition, but the Blues took play to neutral ground. A rebound off Buchan and the Blues took play to the White’s 25 and carrying on compelled Coromandel to force. Tatton sent the drop out into touch. R. Smith made a dash down the line and effecting a great pick up, took play to the White line. Coromandel gained a few yards, but offside play spoilt, Buchan goaling. Thames 3; Coromandel 0.

Play was in neutral terrii’tory when Thames were penalised, and Coromandel assumed the offensive. Another free kick to Coromandel, and Steedman had a good but ineffectual shot at goal. Harrison kick behind and two scrums followed. McCollum cleared, but Coromandel came back, kicking too hard enabling Thames to force. Play remained in Thames ground, where Strongman), then Goudie marked, but Coromandel secured no material advantage, Goudie’s shot falling short. Stewart cleared and Smith and Lomas’, getting the advantage of the bounce, took play to halfway. Lomas broke away and made a good opening. Pollock joined in and when near the line a pass, too low, came out to Lomas and a try was lost. A scrum ensued, and the Whites were penalised. Play swung infield, and Hook, knocking on, spoilt agood chance. Thames got the ball from the scrum and Harrison scored in a good position for R. Smith to convert. Thames. 8; Coromandel 0.

Coromandel held the advantage following the kick off, hut a free kick to Thames enabled them to get back to halfway. Coromandel were not be denied, and came back. Kennedy broke through, and from a scramble Strongman scored. Moran failed with the kick.'

Thames 8; Coromandel 3. Change over sounded directly after.

Coromandel attacked with the return of the kick off, and had Thames busily defending. Pollock cleared to the 25. A free kick to Coromandel and Steedman had an unsuccessful shot at goal, Thames forcing. Play went to halfway, following the drop out. Coromandel claimed a scrum, but for an infringement were penalised. An exchange of kicks and play went to Blue territory. A free kick to Thames enabled Coromandel with the return to get to Thames 26. Tatton minted upheld and the Blues took Play to the Whites’ 25. A nice passing bout by the Blue backs and Coromandel were lucky to get. a force. A free kick to the Whites followed the drop out, but the advantage was lost by a breach, and Thames had a free kick. Moran made a nice opening, but another breach enabled Thames to get back to halfway. Pollock got clean away and led the Blues to the line, Moran saving.| A free kick to Thames and Moran snapped a good mark. The Blues came back and from a mark Tatton had a fruitless shot at goal. A good return of the drop out was sen! into touch at halfway by Kennedy. With a loose rush the Whites swept up to Thames line. Harrison saved, but the Whites were not to be denied, and Strongman scored in the corner. Moran failed with the kick. Thames 8; Coromandel o. Following the kick off play seesawed about in neutral ground till Thames were penalised. Play was in Blue territory as half-time soundthe return of the kick-off, Harrison made a nice opening and fumbling enabled Thames to get to the line. 'Following a scrum play swun 0, infield and then over to the other line. Play swung hack again. Paul missed his pass and a scrum P n the line followed. The ball came r „t to Hook, who scored, but failed with the'shot at goal. Thames 11; Coromandel 6. Hook returned the kick off an «,„d tacldins by R. *«M stworf the

play by the Whites and Buchan had a shot at goal. The ball rebounded and in trying to make an opening Buchan went down with a 'White player on top. A distinct crack was heard, and Buchan had to be carried off with a broken ankle, K. Lockett replacing him. Good work am on t the Thames backs, and Coromandel were compelled to force. The Blues came back and a good opportunity went a-begging through Mc-

Collum kicking. Kennedy marked, but play returned to White territory. Kennedy punted high upheld and Elliott made a bad miss. 'Harrison cleared but flagrant offside by Paul spoilt, and wjth the free kick Coromandel were in Thames territory. A free kick to the Blues saw Coromandel press with the return. Elliot cleared, but K. Gorrie made a dash down the line. The Blues gained a few yards, but Kennedy marked and had an unsuccessful shqt at goal. Nice work by Hook and Harrison saw play return to halfway. A free kick to Thames and the Blues assumed the offensive. Hook broke away and punted high. Stewart carried on, but Pfrllard snapped up a mark. Pollard marked again and found the line near half-way. A nice passnig bout by the Blues and Morrissey centred only to see offside spoil. Thames came back and R. Smith made a nice opening for Hook to score in the corner. No goal resulted. Thames 14; Coromandel 6.

Change over sounded as the kick was taken.

With the return of the kick off, rthe Blues broke away with a loose rush, Kennedy marked. Lockett crosskieked and nice passing between Lomas, Harrison and Hook, and Thames were nearly over, a Blue player being pushed into touch in goal. Pollock took the drop out, and went right to the line, having bad luck in not scoring, Coromandel forcing. The return of the drop out was fumbled by the White, and the Blues pressed. The Blue backs got out of position and J. Hovell broke clean away and. led a spirited rush to Thames 25. Over-anxiousness spoilt and Thames were awarded a free. kick. Thames got to halfway. Securing from the lineout nice work between Hook, Harrison and Lockett ended in Harrison scoring. Tatton failed with the kick. - Thames 17; Coromandel 6. Hook punted the kick off high andthe Blues were at the Whites’ line. Kennedy cleared and kicked upheld. Hook crosskieked and Paul secured, but with a try at his mercy lost possession. The Coromandel forwards bunched and carried play to halfway, but the Blues came back with a nice passing bout, Paul being bumped out at the corner. Thames kept throwing the ball about, nice openings being spoilt by low passing, till from a scramble Hook scored. R. Smith failed with, the kick.

Thames 20; Coromandel 6.

Lockett crosskicked on receiving the kick off. Paul missed a pass, but Thames went to the line, Coromandel forcing. The Blues came back, and good work between Pollock and Stewart was spoilt by the former kicking too hard. Again Coromandel forced. Tatton took the drop out, but kicked instead of passing, the ball going into touch near the 25. A free kick to Thames and Hook had an unsuccessful shot at goal, the Whites forcing. Following the drop out good work by K. Lockett, and the Blues pressed. A free kick to Coromandel enabled them to clear to Thames territory. Another free kick to the Whites ended in a fruitless shot at goal. Harrison’s return was fumbled by Hovell and R. Smith following up well, led Thames to the Whites’ line. Coromandel cleared and within a few minutes had threeJree.. kicks, but Thames always had the upper hand, the game ending with the scores. Thames 20; Coromandel 6. Mr F. Vedder was referee.

SCHOOLS AT PLAY. On Saturday about 75 school children both primary and second ary accompanied by their head master, Mr. G. H. Taylor, ana several teachers, journeyed from Paeroa to try conclusions at basketball and football with the local High School and the South School. "The Paeroa High School boys played the Thames boys in the morning on the High Schoo ground. The local boys proved tostrong though the team was on y the school’s second fifteen, Paeroa suffering defeat by 18 to nil. Through the kindness of mr. Ho’At, principal of the High School, all the basketball matches were played on the High Schoo ground. Four games in a played, two between the two» H X Schools and two between and Thames South primary. In local teams were aeain too strong, Paeroa being able to claim a draw only in one game, that against t * Thames High School B team. The ether games resulted as lot