EXCITING RUGBY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17679, 2 September 1929, Page 5

EXCITING RUGBY.

THAMES v. AUCKLAND.

VISITORS' NARROW WIN

GOOD EXHIBITION STAGED. Rugby followers had nothing to grumble about on iSaturday when they had witnessed the Thames v. Auckland B match on the High School ground, and, in an exciting game in which the- score see-sawed up and down, got their full money's worth.

Thames opened against the sun and wind, and set up a minor attack, in which W. Pollock was , prominent. In a minute a free was awarded to the homesters, but Winder missed, . and Wales .fielded, whipped out to Cammick, who drew the opposition, and sent to Goodwin. The winger laid his ears back and scaled for the line, to score handily. Wales' kick was short, and Auckland were three points up before Thames knew they were playing football. Auckland 3; Thames 0.

After this sensational start, Thames settled down and Keane, the Auckland rover, who had not quite sized up the NeAV Zealand rules, was penalised for offside play, the kick putting the Blacks on / the offensive. This was changed when Auckland, hooked from a scrum arid Rae worked the blind side to send Falwasser away. The Maori All Black twisted' his way through the Thames team until he struck Brunton, who laid him low almost on the Thames 25 line. Here the ball went out and from the lineout W. Percy broke through, dribbling back to halfway. 'From the line-out Dufty received and short-punted, setting Thames, up, and the movement looked full of promise until 'Wales checked, it and sent across to Goodwin-.■'<■' He in-passed and the leather swurtg across the line of White backs until Harrison intercepted and- sent Buchan away. The winger raced up the line with Dufty in close> attendance, but threw away a certain try when he . slung the leather aimlessly in the air, and Gillespie cleared.

Play returned to' the Auckland 25 with solid forward clashes, in which Brunton, Strange and Kinlock were the most prominent for the homesters, and Peacocke nad Satherley for the visitors. From the scrum, Auckland hooked and Falwasser looked as if. he would get right away, but was soundly tackled by Wells in the centre of the field. Dufty secured and cut through, to be tackled on the Auck- ; land. line. Strange burst his way through from the scrum and scored. Winder put the locals' nose in front. ,' Thames 5; Auckland 3. ', j Auckland staged an invasion from .the kick, which was short, and the •leather came out to Falwasser, who ..his way, through until by Wells. FroriV the resultant ruck Lomas " and Kinlock took play back right into the Auckland 25; where the Thames pack made several bold rucking efforts, led by Brunton, G. Percy and Strange,' but the Auckland lock, Kahu, got the leather and using every pound of his 17 stone, swept the Thames defence info shreds until Buchan came across and brought him down with a low tackle. A free saved the locals, and' Kinlock followed up fast to see Gillespie clear coolly. After an exchange of kicks between Gillespie a n d Cameron, Wells opened a, movement, and,' with 3yds. ■to go and an open field, Harrison bungled his pass and the chances-went begging. The change-over came with the ball in midfield and the score:

Thames 5; Auckland 3. Matters were quiet for the first few moments of the second spell, both sets of forwards exchanging sallies in the centre until Dufty stab-punted and the ball was gathered by the Auckland pack, who swept down in a body, Stewart going right oh to score. Gillespie added the major points. Auckland 8; Thames 5.

This put the locals on their mettle, and a nice movement started by W. Pollock saw "Wells go through, only to lose the ball when he had crossed the chalk mark. The Auckland'pack took charge of things from the line-out, and sent Cammick away, but the move was checked by Moran. Scrambling play followed for a while, with Thames doing the bulk of the attacking, only to find a solid defence in "Gillespie, who was very safe. However, they were finally rewarded when Wells secured from a ruck and sent to Moran. • He used liis speed and, shot through, punted, and went for the line. The bounce beat him, but W. Percy had followed fast and scored. It was Moran's try, but he could not convert it.

Thames 8; Auckland 8. This put some heart into the Thames team, who had the advantage of the sun, and they commenced the "up and under" game, one particularly suited to their pack. After several exchanges this had its result, Dufty finding a gap in the Auckland backs and Wells, Cameron, Kinlock, W. Percy and W. Pollock followed up fast for the latter to notch a nice try. Winder missed. Thames 11; Auckland 8.

Open play by both sets of backs marked the conclusion of the half, and lemon-time came with Thames right over the Auckland line, the ball just beating W. Percy to the dead-ball line.

After the Lemons. When the lemons had been discarded, the game commenced with a series of forward clashes in the centre of the ground, play being uninteresting for a spell. Auckland gradually worked, the game down "into the Black ground, where a promising Auckland back movement was checked

by Moran. Finally the pressure was eased by Dufty, who transferred the venue to the Auckland zone, Cameron following up to catch Weir in possession; a free helped Auckland, and a moment later Faiwasser secured and made an exhibition of the Thames tackling, going through the bulk of the team (11 in all), easily eluding the, loving neck-cuddles with which they endeavoured to stop him. G. Pollock eventually decided that a low tackle would be worth trying, and Falwasser's career stopped—after he had gained 50yds. Thames secured from the scrum and G. Percy, Brunton and Kinlock took play within 10yds. of the Auckland line, where Thames were awarded a free. Winder failed, but Thames still kept up the attack until Canimick relieved with a cut through which took play back to halfway. After a period of desultory play Strange initiated a nice, movement. He sent to Cameron, who cut through and raced Harrison into position. However, Harrison was not on speaking terms with the ball that day, and made a dismal mess of his pass, Thames again missing- a try. Gillespie forced and the kick was marked by Wells. "Up and under" was the cry, and Faiwasser secured, sending to Kahu, who' bulloekdfd his way through until stopped by Brunton, who was shaken for the rest of the game. Harrison dribbled up -and Thames were awarded a free in a handir position, Dijfty raising the flags with a lovely kick. Thames 14; Auckland 8.

With visions of victory in their eyes, the locals started to keep the game tight, the balance of the spell being confined to midfield rucking. Auckland woke up in the last quarter and started to play a very, open game, the whole back division participating in a nice passing bout, which only ended on the Thames' line when Buchan stopped Goodwin. After a ruck, in which Auckland secured, Rae opened up the game and the ball swung right across the field for Fal' wasser to score*. Keane converted.

Auckland 13; Thames 14.

This made things very interesting, and the barracking rose to a yell when, on the resumption, Auckland were off like a shot and Gillespie ran up to Goodwin, who was almost over. Cameron secured and kicked a long ball, which Gillespie fielded and ran up to Cammick. The five-eighth simply left the Thames backs standing and scored. Keane missed. >

Auckland 16; Thames 14.

This was football, and the crowd liked it, but they were to have yet more, for the Whites started back movement after back movement, only to come up against the solid tackling of Wells, Dufty and Buchan, whilst Winder, though outpaced several times, crowded the opposing wingers into touch when they were off. The Thames pack came to the rescue, for Thames was penned in its 25 fighting, • desperately, and a sortie, led by Kinlock, W. Pollock and X«omas, took play back to midfield. Here Rae marked, and things looked bad for Thames when Harrison speculated wildly at a rolling ball, but Dufty came into the picture by nipping up, cutting\through and stab-kicking over Gillespie's head, enabling G. Pollock and W. Percy, who followed fast, to beat the fullback and Pollock to score. Winder missed. '. . ' .

Thames 17; Auckland 16. Excitement rose to fever-heat and the public, were rewarded by seeing the nicest bit of work of the day. Auckland had been pressing and Goodwin had gone over, only to be recalled for putting his foot out. From the line-out the ball went right to Cammick, who ,shot through between Cameron and Dufty, drew Harrison, and sent to- Palwasser. He drew the wing and passed out to Wales, who had come round very fast, and the five-eighth scored a nice try, juet beating G. Pollock, who seemed to come from the clouds. It was a perfect movement, and, as it proved, the match-winner. Keane missed with the kick.

Auckland 19; Thames 17.

For the rest of the game the Auckland backs staged attack after attack, but found the defence solid, Thames occasionally varying the play by for-* ward rushes. Mr G. Buchan was the referee.

THE CURTAiri-RAISER.

A DISAPPOINTING GAME

After so much had been heard about them, the Thames public were expecting great things of the unbeaten Newton third-grade team, but the Thames juniors gave them a sound hiding to the tune of 14 to 3." Throughout the game, both back and forward, the locals held the upper hand, the redeeming feature of the visitors being the fine game played by their fullback, Todd, who got through a power, of work with practically no support. The Newton half also showed form. Scorers for Thames were: Strange, Costar, Vedder and Clarke. Vedder converted one try, and C. Campbell scored for Newton. s Mr H. G- Brownlee refereed.