A CLOSE FINISH.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20422, 26 September 1938, Page 2

A CLOSE FINISH.

WHAKATANE MAORIS V. THAMES

Saturday’s Rep. Rugby.

ONLY ONE POINT DIFFERENCE

INTERESTING CURTAIN-RAISER. After being 11 points down in the first spell, the Whakatane Maori Rugby team made a strong recovery in their match against the Thames reps, al Rhodes Park on Saturday, and at thu call of time they had scored 13 points in the spell against three scored by Thames, the final tally being 14 points to 13.

Thames carried on a steady attack for the first-quarter of an hour, play being all in Whakatane territory. Local forwards Avere too fast for thu visitors, as avus exemplified Avhen San derson and Maxwell broke through at half-way Avith the ball down. San-

derson carried on, outpacing the opposition and Story, moving fast, topped off for an unconverted try.

A knock-on by Ake after Schofield made a good break up the line, lost

a certain try.

Open play by Thames had them up on the Whakatane line again and Hamilton cut through nicely. Percy’s kick rebounded off a post infield. —Thames 6, Whakatane 0.

Just on half-time Schofield paved tho way for another try, making an opening on the touch line and kicking on. Story, Avith the pace clapped on, rushed through, collected and Avent over unopposed. Ake raised the flags.— Thames 11, Whakatane 0.

Well on in the second half, Whakatane, throAving the ball about Avith more abandon, caught Thames unprepared and the Avinger flashed over for a converted try. —Thames 11, Whakatane 5.

Continuing the pressure, the visitors held territorial advantage and a penalty near halfway Avas successful, reducing the Thames lead to three points. Rushing Whakatane back, Thames made ground, and in an open attack Gregory, avlio replaced Davis (retired with an injured arm) Avent over near the corner. He missed with the kick. —Thames 14, Whakatane 8.

Fast attacking srav the A'isitors score again close into the posts and the extra points Avere added, leaving the score. —Thames 14, Whakatane 13. INTERESTING GAME. PARNELL FIFTHS WIN. In the curtain-raiser, the Parnell fifth-grade team defeated the Thames thirds by 6 points to 3 after an in teresting tussle. PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

SEYEN-A-SIDE CONTEST,

The Cornwall Cup, presented by Mr. J. Alwinger for competition between

primary school seven-a-sidc teams, was presented to the Central School, tho competition winners. Mr. J. W. Arbury, Union president, made the presentation to the team captain.