ATHLETIC AND PETONE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1935, Page 13

ATHLETIC AND PETONE

The match between Petone and Athletic at Petone was a rugged, keenlyfought game between very evenly, matched teams. On the play, the fast Athletic forwards shaded the Petone pack but the Petone backs got into more effective action on several occasions. Both of Petorie's tries were scored as a result'of good back play, while Athletics scores came as a result of loose rushes by the forwards. The teams were as follows:— Athletic— Mclntyre; Jack, Thomson. Upchurch; Pelham, Tindill; Karsten; Wyeth, Cooper, Watson, Coutts, Wells, Berry, Wales, Boyd. . Petone.—Edwards; Cleland, Potbury, McGurk; Pollock, Hudson; Spence; Whittington, Pickard, Reid, Palmer, Sundgren, Lamboum, Clayton, Abrim. Conditions were excellent, ■ with a well-watered ground and little sun when Athletic kicked oft. -Athletic, pressed for a time, but the ball went out to Potbury, who sent McGurk down the line into Petone territory. Though good work by Mclntyre averted a score, Petone held an advantage for some time. The fast-breaking Athletic forwards hampered the Petone attack, and at last took the ball back into Petone territory. At this stage Lamboum beat the Athletic pack at its own game, and initiated a strong attack. From a scrummage close in, Spence passed to Hudson, whose return pass enabled Spence to get across near the posts. Edwards converted. Just prior to this Thomson left tha field with a leg injury, and he was not replaced until the second halt, when Evans came on. A dangerous Athletic forward rush, headed by Wyeth, started the second spell. Karsten and Tindill had now exchanged places, and both got in good work at this time. Wyeth got very close to scoring before he was forced out. Minutes later Petone had to force. Following the drop-kick Petone showed as pretty a piece of passing work as had been seen. The ball went from Pollock to Hudson, and across to Whittington, who crossed the Athletic line near the posts. Edwards had no trouble in converting. The hitherto unlucky Athletic team kept up the pressure, and worked into the Petone twenty-five. From a loose rush, Wales, a new figure in the Athletic side, who had been playing a fine forcing game, picked- up the ball and dived across the line. Jack had no trouble in converting. The Athletic back line continued t6' miss chances through dropping passes, but the forwards had the edge on Petone. Whitlington leu the field with a knee injury, and was replaced by Pescini. The steady Athletic attack continued until there were but a few minutes to the whistle. Another loose rush gave Wells his chance to snap up the ball and dive through the opposition over the line. Jacks kick evened the score, and the whistle blew shortly afterwards on a drawn game, 10-10. Mr. J. S. King was the referee.