OTAHUHU TRIUMPH IN KEENLY-FOUGHT GAME

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 105, 5 May 1945, Page 1 (Supplement)

OTAHUHU TRIUMPH IN KEENLY-FOUGHT GAME

Otahuhu v/as most impressive in defeating a by no means weak Ponsonby team. Decisive factors in the win were th egreater combination shown throughout by Otahuhu backs and forwards, and superior all-round defence. There was plenty of weight in both packs, but the Otahuhu men, displayed more speed and were persistent in their attacks to the last whistle. A surprising feature of the game was the inability of the Ponsonby back line to function, the players gaining no advantage when the ball was passed from one to the other, and making Roy Nurse's task on the wing'a difficult one. However, it was a keenly-fought game, and Ponsonby was perhaps unlucky not to have crossed the line more than once. The first points were kicked by H. Brady, the strongly-built Otahuhu right wing, who was outstanding in the backs throughout. He kicked two penalties and was prominent in several of the rapid Otahuhu movements that kept Ponosnby back on their own line. In the forwards, Seymour gave an excellent exhibition, his powerful kicking gaining a good deal of ground for Otahuhu. The first, try was scored by Wellm, after he and Brady had broken through the Ponsonby team in a fast run. Nordgren missed "a penalty for Ponsonby from a handy position, and the score at half-time was Otahuhu 7 Ponsonby 0 Fumbling' still marred the Ponsonby backs' play on resumption, and they were kept well in check by their faster-mov-ing opposite numbers. Otahuhu went further into the lead when Keat kicked a penalty. The Ponsonby half, Brimble. gave a couple of good passes from the base of the scrum, but the ball did not travel far. Next try to Otahuhu was largely due to J. Speedy, who broke away upfieid, was tackled, but passed to Wellm, who scored. Brady missed the kick from in front. Otahuhu 12, Ponsonby 0. Roy Nurse was the best of the Ponsonby backs, but he was well-marked by Brady. In the Ponsonby forwards Iladley. Hardwicke and Mitchell worked hard. Neither full-back was impressive. Tittleton (Ponsonby) being at a disadvantage in the matter of weight, and Paltillo kicking and handling rather poorly. Midway through the haif, N. Johnson, stolid Otahuhu forward, was taken oil injuredThe Otahuhu attack, however, persisted, and in a brilliant weaving run, Brady crossed to score, Seymour converting the try. Bailey and Hardwicke attempted to score for Ponsonby in determined rushes, but were held back until Allen, the halfback, ran swiftly from behind the scrum and passed to Hardwicke, who scored Nordgren converted, and the game ended: Otahuhu 17 Ponsonby 5 Mr. K. Rowlands was referee.