FOURTH VICTORY.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 23 August 1937, Page 3

FOURTH VICTORY.

PEACE CUP MATCH. Thames Defeats Plains. BETTER STANDARD NEEDED. liOOAL FORWARDS DISAPPOINT. k Although Thames held the Pence Cup Rhodes "Park on Saturday against Hattraki Plains by 24 points to 11, tin. biggesi margin this season, the holders' dis-piay, apart from one or two movements, was far from the standard of which the team is capable, With the exception of the second try, a worthy piece of combined work, the side's game was scraggy. . Throughout the first spell, Plains showed up well and just before halftime had a single point lead, when the scores read 11 to 10. The visitors faded in the second half and it was not until then that Thames widened the breach.

Childs was the mainstay of the challenging team, and had he been playing infield instead of on the wing, his penetrative powers would have troubled the local team much more. As it was, he was well marked by the time the leather reached him, and he was given very little room in which to work. Most disappointing on the day were the Thames forwards. They were beaten for the ball in the line-outs, especially in the first half. In the scrums, too, somethifig was lacking, while in the loose co-ordinated effort was wanting.

Tackling was not all it should have been Oh either side. If Thames hope to stop Maniapoto next Saturday they Will have to go low. The teams were: —

Thames.—Savage; Do veil, Davis, Hay ward; Solomon, Hamilton; Ake; Poland, Story, Kussek, Strange, Hartnett, Percy, A. McLoughlin, E. McLoughlin. Hauraki Plains.—Hay ward; Childs v Olsen, Shilton; Harwood, Parfitt; Hamilton; McDuff, Pulman, Mahunga, Kotara, Chandler, Roberts, Donaghy, Thompson,

Referee: Mr. J\ A. Malcolm (Auckland).

Run of Play.

Several scrums followed, the kick-off by Thames, whorplayed with the sun in this spell; the holders wjeije penalised for lifting. Childs played-the line but gained little ground. However, the Plains forwards, y loosed it/through to Savage, who speculated to touch rather luckily. There was an exchange of kicking and play was dull, ranging between the 25's with no decisive moves.

Down on Plains' 25' Ake marked but his attempt at goal was poor and the visitors rushed the ball to halfway, Hamilton, Harwood and Parfitt being in the van. Davis turned the tide and sent a strong kick down to Hayward, who fumbled badly near his line. The Thames boys were right up on him, aiid Dovell claimed the first try. Hamilton added the points. Thames 5, Plains 0.

The prettiest piece of work of the whole match followed from the kick-off. The ball travelled along the Thames back line to Hayward. He in-passed to Solomon, whose forcing run down the lino took the play inside the 25. In again the ball went to Hayward, and Ake collected to top off a splendid move. Hamilton raised the flags from in front of the posts. Thames 10, Plains 0.

For Plains, McDuff, Donaghy and Kotara carried the game down inside Thames country. Thames was at sixes and sevens, and let play go to the line, where a hectic sortie was dangerous for the holders. Twice Childs secured but was held up inches out. A scrum on the line and the visitors pushed over and Roberts went down in the tight for a try. Hayward failed with the angle kick. Thames 10, Plains 3. The challengers were on top at this stage, holding Thames on the defensive. The home side lacked combination, the handling was uncertain, and the Plains forwards were getting right on top of the local pack. When the locals got out into open ground, Hamilton and Solomon handled from a scrum, but Olsen intercepted and sprinted for the line. Savage had no pace for him and Olsen touched down under the posts but failed to convert with an easy kick. Thames 10, Plains 6.

Hayward, Plains fullback, r«tir«d injured a little later and was replaced by R. Shilton.

Thames took a hand at attack, hut tlio backs were combining poorly. The ball had gone loose at halfway, and Childs, ever on the lookout for opportunities, gathered in and cut away clear of Thames. He transferred to Olsen at the 25 when about to be taken, and Olsen dashed over amid wild enthusiasm from Plains supporters. Donaghy goaled to make the scores read: Plains 11, Thames 10.

The visitors' lead was short-lived. Solomon followed up fast and secured possession to sprint down the line, lie in-kicked and Story gathered to go across. Solomon missed with the kick and half-time came with the scores:— Tt.amejS \'->, Plains 11. i'iav ranged indefinitely between the 25 until Solomon broke away from a Plains attack on Thames' 25, and with ♦he ball at toe started a long run for the line. A scrum was ordered, but neither he nor Shilton heard the whittle and they had a great "duel," Solomon eventually getting the ball over the

line and touching down, ,only : to; find his work had been in vain.

From the scrum, Hamilton worked

the blind side and Childs received to sprint, over, but it had boon a forward pass. Thames were attacking strongly and Solomon took a "pot," but missed nar"owly. A scrum followed and in a back rush Dovcll got over in tlio corner. Savage failed with the kick. Thames 16, Plains 11. The Plains boys were tiring and Thames continued to- hammer on the

tine. Solomon was within striking distance, but held on too long when well supported. Plains, however, Were penalised in a scrum under the posts, but Hamilton missed a simple kick. The challengers went away splendidly in a rush, Pulman, Donaghy, Parfitt and Olsen taking part, but they were stopped near Thames line and the holders forced the opposition back arid soon had

:iem bottled on their own line. DoV'ell

made two attempts to go over, but was forced out. Russek was held up on the line, and then Ake threw put a long pass and Parfitt broke through to re-

The next excitement came when Hay

ward made a dash up the line, to go over after running from nearly halfway. Savage missed a difficult kick. Thames 19, Plains 11. The holders, although having the best of things now, could not seem to strike my combination. From a scrum 10yds. out Hartnett forced his way over and Percy added the final points. 7 Tha"mes 24, Plains 11.

;sacred;'heart win. annual school game. The curtain-raiser was provided by Sacred Heart College (Auckland) and Thames High School first fifteens, the visitors running out winners by 23 points to 8. Sacred Heart backs were too speedy for the local boys and most of their points resulted from combined back movements. The solid tackling by some of the Thames boys was a feature freely commented on. They could teach the seniors a thing or two in this direction. SURPRISE WIN. MATAMATA BEAT MORRINSVILLE. In a Peace Cup elimination game Morrinsville on Saturday, Matamata scored an unexpected victory over Moiv rinsville by 6 points to 3. Following the Finlay Cup game, when , Morrinsville trounced Matamata by a big margin, Matamata's chances in the elimination game were not considered too rosy. MANIAPOTO BEATEN. MATCH AT TE KITITI. At To Kuiti on Saturday, the Hamilton reps, defeated Maniapoto by 14 points to 11. Maniapoto meet Thames for tho Peace Cup next Saturday.