WAIHI OUTED.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 2 August 1937, Page 3

WAIHI OUTED.

PEACE CUP SERIES

For Thames.

CHALLENGING TEAM

W* BIKOH CUP RETAINED,

By three tries, the first of • which ■was converted, to nil, Thames, the Peace Cup holders, successfully defended the trophy against Waihi, the second challenging team this season. It was evident early in the game that the visitors were not up to the Thames standard, and by half-time, with Thames 11 points up, Waihi's hopes were at a low ebb.

Even though the opposition was weak, the Thames boys showed a marked improvement, a result of systematic training and coaching, and two of the three tries came from welljudged back movements. Thames forwards were too heavy for the challenging vanguard, and were their masters in the line-outs and scrums. Had » Thames played with the same sting in the second spell as that characterising the first, the score would have been increased. There was another very large "gate" at the Park to witness the Cup and other games. The teams were:—

Thames—W. Savage; R. Dovell, B. Davis, J. Ake; G. Solomon, C. Hamilton; A. Cleave; J. Poland, A. Story, E. Eussek, H. Way, M. Hartnett, G. Percy, A. McLoughlin, E. McLoughlin.

Waihi —B. Walford; P. McConnell, H. McNamara, T. McNamara; L. Hearn, D. Ainsley; A. Dunstan; E. Johns, C. Jarvis, C. Hughes, S. Wolfenden, S. Walford, G. O'Neill, K. Hughes, (i. Pennell.

Eeferee. —Mr. G. W. Henderson (Auckland).

The Play. Waihi's kick-off wont to Hartnett, who solo-dashed through the opposition to their 25. Here Way gave the spectators a thrill whcnjhe essaypd. a "pot" from the touch-lino. It was a near thing. Hearn, Ainsley and McNamara were in a rush, and slow tackling by Thames let them through to the line, but Davis cleared and the Thames forwards swept down to Waihi's territory, where Cleave fed his backs. Ake attempted a field goal, the ball sailing outside the posts. Several assaults were made by the local backs until Jarvis relieved to the 25. K. Hughes and Pennell broke through from the line-out and McConnell and H. Mc-

Namara were prominent in a rush to Savage, who speculated. The ball did not go out and Akc, backing up well, lined at halfway.

Then came Thames' first try from a pretty movement. Cleave swung the ball away from the line-out. It travelled along, Davis snapping up a pass from his toes, and going on, sent to Dovell, who made a good run to flash over. Savage goaled from an angle.— Thames 5, Waihi 0. Thames had all the territorial advan-

tage now, and it was nearly another try as the backs swept across the goalline, the ball hitting a Waihi player in a pass and a force resulting. Waihi had to force again soon after.

K. Hughes retired injured at this stage and was replaced by J. Jesney. Several penalty kicks came Waihi's ■way, the Thames forwards being too eager. Waihi gained little advantage from them. Two back moves by Waihi took play to Thames' 25, but there was no penetration. Davis and Ake rushed down the lino to put Thames on the attack again. Ako was surrounded near the 25, but threw a long in-pass, but it was knocked on. Hamilton tried a "pot," but the ball hit a Waihi player. Thames pinned the challengers on their line, and "finally Dovell forced his way across at the corner. Savage missed a difficult kick narrowly.—Thames 8, Waihi 0.

After a spell of roving play, Dovell sent a long kick down to 11. McNamara. He mulled badly and failed to mako any ground, kicking out at the 25. Thames backs went away from the lineout, and' a fine rush saw Solomon go over near the corner. Savage missed the uprights by inches.—Thames 11, Waihi 0".

Scoreless Spell. It-was expected that Thames would rattle* on a few more points after the change-over, but they did not eventuate. There was a slackening in Thames' attack, and Waihi consequently showed up to better advantage, although their standard was below that needed to carry the Thames line. Waihi forwards were breaking away more often, but poor baching up and uncertain handling lost chances. Waihi were on the Thames 25 when Hcarn dashed through and missed a field goal from right in front of the posts. Waihi kept up the pressure until Solomon, taking the role of a for-

ward, dribbled and kicked the ball past four men before it went out at halfway. Savage came up into line from i long kick, but held on too long when woll supported. Johns, who injured a hand, was replaced by Orowther. An exchange of kicks resulted in McConnell intercepting a pass and go'ng through', poor attempts being made to tackle him. Savage also failed to grass him at the 25, blit Solomon and Cleave nailed him. Carrying on, Waihi failed to press home for advantage from a lincrout at the corner, the local pack breaking through easily. Thames now invigorated their play, and Cleave, Solomon and Dovell had a rush, but good tackling kept them out. Right on time Thames were down on Waihi’s line and went very near adding further points. However, full time was called without alteration in the scores: Thames 11, Waihi 0. BIRCH CUP. RETAINED BY THAMES. The Thames B team defeated Coromandel at Rhodes Park on Saturday by 6 points to 3 after a drab type of game. T. Abraham kicked a splendid penalty goal for the winners, and D. Elisor secured a try. Coromandel scored an unconverted try. The No. 3 ground, on which the gamo was played, was puggy and in places very soft. THAMES JUNIORS TOO GOOD. The Thames juniors representatives had a field day, wearing down their lighter Technical Old Boys (Auckland) opponents, to win by 20 points to nil, on a soft ground.