REP. RUGBY.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18279, 31 August 1931, Page 3

REP. RUGBY.

THAMES v. AUCKLAND. Locals' Good Showing. I 1 V 1 - FINE FORWARD (PACK. WINDER'S GOAL KICKING. Thames representatives surprised their supporters and thrilled the very small attendance (the smallest this season) at Eden Park on Saturday when they played the annual match v. Auckland. The Thames pack had an even break with the Auckland forwards, who were not, however, •at full strength, but the Thames backs, with the exception of Dufty, were not in the same class and the score of 28 to 17 is on the flattering side*. The feature of the match was undoubtedly the goal kicking of Winder whose boot was certainly most valuable. Taking a line on the team all through prospects look a bit more rosy for Saturday next, but it will be mainly on the forwards that reliance will be placed.

. The Teams were: — Thames (blue and black).—Fullback, Buchan; three-quarters, White, Watene, McMahon; five - eighths, Adams, Dufty; half, Arthur; rover, W. Pollock; forwrads, G., Pollock, Darrah, Strange, Winder, G. Percy, Abraham, W. Percy. Auckland (blue and white).— Fullback, Davies; three-quarters, Milliken, Caughey, Stewart; fiveeighths, Jamieson, Haslam; half. Conway; rover, Solomon; forwards Hadley, Heywood, Finlayson, Knight, Anderson, Satherley, Bunting. Thames won the toss and Dufty kicked off from the Dominion Road end against the wind. Thames invaded the home area but Miliken relieved with a 'fine liner to the Thames 25. McMahon saved with a fine punt. W. Pollock headed p Thames forward rush to the Auckland zone and play settled in neutral territory. Then, from a set

scrum, the Auckland backs got go- . ing, Milliken gaining forty yards. Thames was hard pressed and Auckland camped on their line. A scrum infringement gave Auckland a sitter in front of the Thames goal but Davies missed. Again Thames was penalised and the Auckland pack made things lively, the ball going to the line, where a iree m gave Winder a kick, but he failed to find touch and the Auckland backs looked dangerous. Arthur relieved to half way and the

two Pollocks and Winder chased the leather to the Auckland zone, where the Blue and White backs functioned and a knock on saved Thames when the line was near. 'Strange took the ?\ball at' toe and White got dumped as }Jb® went down to a rush. He re--sumed and a passing rush started by :• Solomon, to Conway, *to Haslam, • saw ; a simple try behind the posts Aucklapd had drawn first, blood. The ''kick'by .Davies was charged by G. ;;Pollock. Auckland 3, Thames 0. From the kick off Thames was -awarded a penalty' and Winder • goaled a beauty. He had earned his place and the applause gave him encouragement for he began to play hard and showed up several times in the next few minutes. Auckland 3, Thamse 3. ! From a line-out at half way Auckland knocked back and Conway went through, sending to Caug/hey, who shot clean through the ■defence to score. Davies goaled. • • Auckland 8, Thames 3.

"' Satherley and Hadley headed a fforward rush which took the leather ito the Thames zone, and McMahon jjust put Milliken into touch on th" J line. A penalty to the Thames tea.. :saw each side endeavour to ope; i things up, but faulty handling made ifor breakdowns. Watene showed ► out in a movement which was fruit '. less, owing to a knock on. The" . the Thames pack took the ball to : the Auckland 25, G. Pollock anil 'Strange - being prominent; Winder >was all but over but Anderson relieved. A "scrum in front of th? ; stand saw the maul collapse an<l j Hadley knocked out and taken oil' .with a neck injury. Newdick took 1 his place. A kick by Da vies set /Auckland in a good position and tthough he was badly obstructed, the Iball went out and from the lineout travelled across the Auckland rearguard for Caughey to notch his second try. Davies kicked a beauty. Auckland 13, Thames 3.

Thames staged a brief attack but lack of knowledge of the rules saw them infringe twice and an exchange of kicks 'between Davies and McMahon left play in midfield. Auckland went away and Conway would have scored but the ball hit the post and bounced back and Winder

cleared to the 25. Scrambling play

in" neutral territory sent Auckland . away from the serum and Milliken was all but over. A howl arose : from the* Thames supporters when ' Thames was" rightly penalised for an i infringement in their own 25. How»ever, they cleared and the leather •stayed on the Thames side of half--way. Then came a fine movement. <G. Pollock sent to W. Percy, to iDufty, to Arthur, who cut through to Watene, to White, to Strange, who scored. Winder missed.

Auckland 13, Thames 6.

. In revenge the Auckland backs got moving, Caughey and Milliken getting away, but Strange, G. Pollock and Abraham reversed the movement, only to find Davies safe. Mid-

field play ensued. But Thames was not done with and Dufty broke through, sent to Adams and he drew

Davies, to send G. Pollock away. He outpaced the opposition and scored a fine try. Winder made no mistake and added two more points. Auckland 13, Thames 11...

With only two points the difference Auckland pressed and woke up a bit but Thames hooked from a scrum. Dufty came fast and sent them to the line where Caughey just got up to save. A penalty to Thames in front of the posts saw Dufty raise the flags and put Thames ahead as the whistle went for halftime.

Thames 14, Auckland 13

On the resumption Auckland went straight through and scored, Satherley touching down from a line-out movement. Davies, after the charge had been disallowed, goaled. Auckland 18, Thames 14.

Darrah made a lot of ground from the line-out but though Auckland returned, Buchan cleared and a wrestling match on the sideline fol lowed by a set scrum saw Thames hook and Dufty find the line. Thames broke away and Davies tricked G. Pollock when ho was caught in the in-goal area and cleared. Thames hooked but the ball got lost in the five-eighth line. Solomon breaking away. A penalty for Thames from half-way saw Winder kick a magnificent goal. Auckland 18, Thames 17.

Jamieson went right through the Thames backs and found the line. Auckland attacking; a free against G. Percy saw Davies narrowly miss. Auckland, with forward rushes took the leather to the Thames line where a set scrum Jet McMahon kick for the line. G. Pollock took play to the Auckland 25 but a free for offside relieved and short passing bv Knight, Satherley and Bunting took play to the Thames 25. A free to Thames iet Winder find the line well up. The Auckland backs handled for Haslam to short punt and the game went back to neutral ground. Both sides were trying to open up the game but handling was poor and infringements frequent. A penalty at halfway saw Winder fall short, but Davies sent down a fine liner. An exchange of kicks ended at half-way. Both packwere tiring and Thames backs staged their first nice movement, started by Dufty McMahon being pushed out on the line. Thames kept U" the pressure till a free gave relief when Solomon was caught attending to Arthur, and the kick set Thames on attack again. From a ruck Thames got going, Watene, Dufty and Adams handling in turn, to have Auckland defending. Thames secured from a line-out and Arthur. Dufty and Adams handled, the latter sending out a poor pass, intercepted by Anderson. A knock on saved Thames and from a serum infringement Winder hit the cross-bar the ball rebounding into play. Then came a sensational try. Haslam started off and the ball travelled right across the Auckland backs: Buchan was badly out of position, and though McMahon came across. Jamieson scored under the posts Davies adding the points. • Auckland 23, Thames 14. Thames attacked with vim and G. Pollock went off injured. Russell took his place. Auckland commenced to chuck it about and Solomon and Milliken each "went for the doctor," only to be pushed into touch. Then the Auckland backs showed their real paces and after a bout of reverse passing CaugFey put on his third try. Davies made no mistake. Auckland 28, Thames 17. Midfield forward struggles ended in McMahon getting away but losin" the baOI and the game ended with no further score. Mr A. E. Austin was referee. JOHNSTON CUP DOST. In the Johnston Cup match at Rhodes Park on Saturday, Paeroa defeated Thames by 19 to 13. For Paeroa, Pivott, Holes and Mead scored tries, Alps converting two and kicking a penalty. For Thames Ladner, Lefevre and McMillan scored, while Maxwell converted two tries. Third Grade. Thames 3 (try by Barbalich), Plains 0.