FOOTBALL SEASON

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8670, 18 September 1934, Page 3

FOOTBALL SEASON

SATURDAY'S INTER-UNION MATCH THAMES VALLEY DEFEATED WIN FOR BAY OF PLENTY The Thames Valley Rugby football fifteen suffered defeat on Rugby Park on Saturday by 11 points to 9 after a rather tame exhibition. Neither side displayed much combination in the back division, the passing being spasmodic and not sustained, but the Bay forwards were perhaps a little better than the home vanguard, particularly so far as loose dribbling rushes were concerned. Heavy rain commenced to fall half-way through the first spell and this, with the ground already inclined to be soft and muddy in places, was not con-

ducive to fast open play or accurate handling. RUN OF THE PLAY The Bay of Plenty kicked off. Keenan receiving and finding touch at half-way, Johnson pulling up another Bay attack by punting to the line. Play remained in neutral territory between the forwards till a long kick by Graham was misfielded by the Bay fullback, letting the Valley men inside the quarter-mark. A penalty taken by Burgess missed the posts, the Bay of Plenty kicking back but Keenan and Burgess got away down the side-line till the latter was tackled in possession. A second penalty kick taken by Burgess a few minutes later found the bar —Thames Valley 3, Bay of Plenty 0. The Bay forwards packing round the ball, they pushed their way through to the home quarter, Newth attempting to kick and follow over the line, but Johnson picking up and punting clear. The Valley backs threw the ball about in the Bay’s half and Keenan, following a short punt over the line, scored an unconverted try ■ —Thames Valley G, Bay of Plenty 0. The Bay forwards were playing better than the home pack and a concerted rush carried them through to the Valley goal-line' for a scrum, a penalty to the defenders clearing however, but Farmer received and attempted to drop-kick a goal, but being bumped as he kicked, the ball failed to rise. The Bay passed across the field, but a poor transfer by Farmer spoiled, Burgess kicking clear, a forward rush then returning to the home quarter, Brodrick pick-

ed up and dashed over to score a good try, Davis failing to convert— Thames Valley 6, Bay of Plenty 3. The Valley, using line-kicking, penetrated to the opposite goal but the Bay hooked from a scrum and were away with a rush to the home end of the field, a lucky line-kick by Fulton pulling them up. Frequent linekicks kept play around half-way with little incident of moment till Pollard got away and transferred to Keenan, the latter dummying through but being unsupported, lost the ball when handy to the posts. Keenan, Fulton and Burgess handled the leather, the latter being- pushed out and a penalty kick taken by Williams failed to find the posts and was forced down by the Bay as half-time sounded.

THE SECOND HALF The second spell commepced with forward play at half-way, Sinclair (Bay) Anally following a punt through and beating the home fullback again kicked and followed over the line to touch down, Davis converting the try—Bay of Plenty S, Thames Valley 6. The Bay pack, wtih play on the side-line and lineouts frequent, gradually worked to the home quarter,‘'Newdick kicking through for a further line-out close to the scoring mark, from which the Bay received and Kelly passed to Farmer, to Sinclair, who went over the line but was held up before he coudl touch down, the defenders getting the ball from the scrum and kicking back the length of the held with the forwards in pursuit, a forcedown resulting. R. and E. Howell started an attack which took the Bay to the home corner for a line-out from which' Walford and MahderS cleared. The Valley attempted two or three passing rushes, but the handling was poor and they did not get far. Then, kicking hard and following up, the Bay went to the scoring line, but Kelly forced down. Johnson found touch in the Bay quarter with a long p.unti but the defenders got possession from the throw-in and R. Howell kicking and the pack following to the Valley quarter, the forwards scrummed till a free kick dislodged them, E. Radford and Williams heading 'the home men in • a counter-attack. Keenan and the two Radford bothers were again at the head of a Valley rush, Keenan picking up when near the line and going over for a try which Burgess failed to -convert —Thames Valley 9, Bay of Plenty S. A scrum at half-way saw R. Howell and Rhodes get away but Manders tackled the latter and the Valley cleared with a free kick. Tight forward play in the home quarter followed till the Bay hooked and Howell passing out to Kelly, to Farmer, to Sinclair, the latter went over in the corner, the kick failing—Baj' of Plenty 11, Thames Valley 9. Another rush led by Newdick and McKinney carried the Bay men back to the scoring line, Newdick taking a penalty kick which failed and the home pack returning to neutral territory before time was called. ■ Mr A. Eklund was in charge of the game. ' -