FINAL VICTORY.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18627, 10 October 1932, Page 3

FINAL VICTORY.

THAMES FORWARDS EXCEL

Brilliant Recovery Staged.

WEAK AUCKLAND SIDE

SATURDAY'S REP. RUGBY. The Rugby season concluded on Saturday with the return match against Auckland at Rhodes Park. The game, while most interesting, was not marked by much high-grade play, mistakes being all too frequent, but though it Avas evident the visitors were not taking the game too seriously, the Thames forwards desei've great credit for the way they battled along to final victory under the handicap of weak support behind the serum. Billing, as halfback, was hopeless, and it was only when Arthur was moved up and Billing sent out to the wing in the second half that Thames made any headway. It was a great recovery, due almost entirely to the work of the forwards. The teams were: —

Auckland. Colebrook; Milliken, Fletcher, Stewart; MuMhill, Vear; Kirk; Locke, Williams, Brebner, Stone, Brown, Barker, Sherwood, Smith. Thames. —Savage; Maxwell, Arthur, MeMahon; Garvey, T. Dufty; C. Billing; Winder, W. Pollock, Gordon, J. Strange, Snow, A. Cameron, Abraham, G. Percy.

The Play

Auckland were awarded an early penalty, from which Vear goaled. Auckland 3, Thames 0. Garvey kicked through and a hot rally on the Auckland line ended in a force. The visitors, passing neatly, swept up-field, and Thames were lucky to force. The visitors, aided by the wind, kept Thames defending till Cameron headed a rush and Dufty marked, but his kick was wide. More passing and a penalty to Auckland saw Vear goal again. Auckland 6, Thames 0. Savage made a good run, but his pass went astray. Efforts to open up the game met with solid tackling, and Thames could not break through. Winder missed a penalty, and Stone led the visitors back, but Pollock broke aAvay, Colebrook retrieving. Tackling spoilt some snappy Auckland passing, and Winder raise the siege, hard kicking forcing the visitors. Dufty started another rush, offside nullifying. A nice line kick by Fletcher had Thames desperately defending. The local forwards, with loose rucking came back, and good passing carried play to the line. Strenuous work ended in a drop-out. Combining well, the forwards attacked again, but Mulvihill cut through

nicely and the ball went out to Stewart for a sprint along the line and a try in the corner. Stone failed to convert, and the half-time scores were: Auckland 9, Thames 0. Thames Get Busy. Resuming, Thames bustled the visitors, Garvey just missing a try. A penalty kick .was missed by Winder and then a passing bout ended in touch close to the line. A scrum went down and the ball came clear for J. Strange to dive over. Winder missed the goal. Auckland 9, Thames 3.

With the ball at foot, Thames pen-

ned the visitors on defence. A high centre by Arthur was followed by a scrum, in which Auckland were penalised, and Dufty goaled. Auckland 9, Thames 6. Fast play followed, two movements by the visitors ending when the wings were forced out, and another bright movement by the visitors had Thames hard defending. Cameron, Pollock and Dufty made a great

breakaway', but Maxwell knocked on. From the scrum the ball went out to Fletcher, who put on the pace, but Savage stopped him on the line. From a melee Stone dived over for a try, which Vear did not convert. Auck'and 12, Thames 6.

Spurred on by this reverse, Thames carried play to the visitors' line, Colebi ook being lucky in avoiding a penalty for hanging on. Further attacks broke down.badly, till Pollock headed a rush, and short

passing in the forwards ended in Percy scoring. 'Strange failed with the kick. Auckland 12, Thames 9. Fumbling by the visitors had them in trouble, Smith clearing nicely. With play at the 25, Pollock sent on to Percy, who dummied his way over. Dufty missed the goal. Auckland 12, Thames 12. Auckland tried a trick with the kick-off, but BiUing spoilt it, and Garvey carried on, a loose rush ending in Abraham scoring in the cornel Savage's attempt at goal was good but unsuccessful. Thames 15, Auckland 12. Auckland swept to the attack and weak tackling let them up to the line. From a scrum, Dufty and Cameron sent play over the 25. Auckland launched another attack,

which Garvey broke, and time was called with play in Thames' territory. Thames 15, Auckland 12. Referee: Mr J. Buchan. The Junior Matches.

The curtain-raiser resulted in a defeated Ponsonby third intermediate by 9 points to 6. Paulsen, Campbell and Thorn scored for the winners, and Cammick and Pearman for the losers. Referee: Mr F. Vedder. On No 2 ground, Ellerslic comfortably defeated a light Thames third-grade team by 15 points to 5. Referee: Mr E. Griffin.

MEMORIAL FOR PALMER. MR. CAUGHEY PRESENTS CUP. (Special to Star). AUCKLAND, Oct. .0 Mr Marsden Caughey, father of the 1932 All Black, has donated a cup to the Auckland Rugby Union, to be known as the Palmer Cup. Its probable allocation will be for an annual match between the senior champions of Auckland and Wellington.