TROPHY RETAINED

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19634, 22 July 1935, Page 11

TROPHY RETAINED

PEACE CUP MATCH. ■ . . I STRONG CHALLENGE BY THANIEB. , ! MATAMATA’S SIX-POINT WIN. j Tho first Peace Cup challenge matoh of the season was played at Matamata on Saturday, when Matamata, the holders, defended the trophy against Thames. Despite the Incessant rain and very heavy ground the play was fast and exciting and the large attendance witnessed a fine game. There was little between the teams and with the play mostly confined to the forwards the gam® the hard and willing throughout. There was not six points between the teams and Thames wore unlucky In not scoring on several occasions. Nevertheless Matamata would have been very unlucky had they lost the match. The teams were:— Matamata.—F. Saxon; A. Lowry, D Carlson, J. Swap; W. H. Carlson, W Carroll; J. Cole; J. Delaney, A. Howard, J. Sharp, J.. Barbalich, M. Simpson, A. McLeay, W. Halford, H. Blackett. Thames.—-N.• Pearson; R. Dovell, W. Savage, R. Rare; S. Goodwin, G--Coxhead; L. Mcßae; M. Watene, A. Story, E. Russell, 11. Hammond, K. Strang, T. Abraham, C. Abraham, R. Alexander. Matamata kicked off and forced play out in Thames’ twenty-five. The fast Thames’ forwards, however, caught Saxon in possession shortly afterwards and Story and Watene carried play into Matamata’s twentyfive. \ Mcßae short punted from a scrum but Pearson marked and play centred at half-way. Getting the ball from a set scrum Cole fed his backs and Carroll out in nicely.. He passed inside, but an infringement spoilt a promising movement. From the scrum Thames hooked, Mcßae dummying weir to send Coxhead away. The | five-eighth cut through fa3t but Saxon i relieved with a fine line kick. The Matamata backs then raised tho crowd on its toes when they comoined ■smartly, but W. Carlson w'as caught in possession when attempting to cut through and Pearson found the line well up-fleld. The play was ha>'d and willing in Thames’ territory, but the defence was very solid. Matamata’s Fine Score. Matamata then staged a smart attack • and were rewarded by a fine score. Cole fed out smartly from a set scrum on Thames’ twenty-five line. The ball was neatly handled by Carroll, W. Carlson, D: Carjson and Lowry, the speedy winger running strongly to dive over at the corner. W. Carlson’s kick just missed. Matamata 3 Thames 0 •Retaliating strongly Thames forced Matamata on the defensive. They were awarded a free kick but W. Savage’s kick fell short. A fine line kick toy Lowry placed Matamata in an attacking position again, tout offside play again spoilt a promising movement and Thames rushed play to Matamata’s ■ twenty-five. Line-out followed line-out near Matamata’s line but the defence was solid. Story then dribbled through and looked likely, but. Carroll came back and’forced in time. Keeping up the pressure by bustling forward tactics, Thames kept Matamata" bottled up but eventually Cole succeeded with a long line-finder and play reached half-way. A strong struggle for forward supremacy saw Thames again the aggressors, but they could not penetrate the solid defence. The game was hard ‘and willing and twice the referee stopped pro- j ceedings and warned the 'players. Carroll and W. Carlson were in- j strumenlal in giving Matamata the advantage, but Story broke clear with \ the ball and covered 30 yards before toe was tackled by the fullback. T. Abraham dribbled the ball on but D. Carlson ran back and found the line. Rare then made progress down the side-line for Thames, but W. Carlson secured and kicked soundly. M. Simpson was replaced by Fitzgerald In the Matamata at this stage. Keeping up the pressure Thames sent the ball back and Goodwin cut in well. The Matamata forwards were right on to him, however, and the movement broke down. Mcßae and Rare utilised the blind side to make further progress, but Carroll was safe and shortly afterwards the Matamata backs operated to gain 30 yards. Story and the Abraham brothers led Thames to the attack again, but a free relieved Matamata.

9 Thames 1 Strong Bid.

Tho holders were kept bottled up near their line l'or the remainder of the first .spell, Dovell, Goodwin and K. Strange, all being close to scoring for Thames. The half-time bell relieved Matamata from a difficult situation. Thames were the first to attack on the resumption but Cole nicely fed the blind side and Lowry covered 40 yards to place Matamata in a handy position. The holders, however, could nol . retain their position. Story, K. Strange and T. Abraham led the Thames’ forwards back to foreign territory. The play raged between Malamata’s twenty-five and the halfway, Carroll often being applauded for fine saves when Thames looked dangerous. In another Thames foray the visitors were unlucky with the bounce of the ball and Swap forced down. Shortly afterwards W. Carlson broke away and with his brother and Lowry in support the Matamata supporters were hopeful. The tackling was solid, however, and Coxhead found touch well down. Carroll saved twice more in quick succession and then McLeay, Sharp and Fitzgerald pushed Matamata to the fore. The attack ] was sustained but Rare intercepted a ' pass from D. Carlson to Lowry. Ho dropped tho ball, however, and lost a good opportunity. The Lead Increased. Fitzgerald again placed Matamata close and Carroll came through fast. Pearson secured and found the line! however, and Thames held their own

for a spell. Matamata would not be denied and after several unsuccessful sallies from five-yard scrums they were awarded a free kick, W. Carlson kicking a splendid goal from the sideline. Matamata 6 Thames 0 Stung by this further reverse Thames battled strongly but McLeay, Fitzgerald and Howard took play back to half-way. Pearson cleared with a speculator shortly afterwards. Fielding a high punt well Pearson ran his backs into position and opened up a great movement. Both Goodwin and AV Strange made ground but Rare was forced out. The excitement was intense when Mcßae and Rare worked tho blind side again, but to no avail. After several further attempts, however Thames at last got over. Mrßao dummied from a scrum, and sent to Goodwin, who cut through neatly to score. Story’s kick just failed. Thames " Matamata 0 Attacking immediately Matamata were handy and Just before time they were awarded a free kick, W- Carl3on again kicking a fine goal. The final scores were: — Matamata “ Thames * * J Mr 11. G. Carter, of Hamilton, was the referee.