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Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28999, 14 September 1959, Page 15

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Papanui Beaten In Final (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 13. Papanui was beaten, 39-14, by Western United, of Auckland, in the final of the New Zealand club championship at Carlaw Park on Saturday. Western United scored nine tries, six of them converted, to Papanui two tries and four penalty goals. Papanui lacked sufficiently fast loose forwards and penetration in the five-eighths and on the wings. Its defence, too, varied strangely from .the solid tackling at the start of the game and for about 15 minutes in the second spell, to ineffectual grabs around the shoulders and head. Western's play was often brilliantly fast and stylish. In the second half its switching of play in a non-stop movement that led to G. Clarke scoring his second try would have aroused wonder even from a French side.

One of the most conspicuous players was the Papanui centre, Jim Bond. He side-stepped frequently around the usually good defence of the Western captain, T. O. Baxter. As the game went on, however, his support from other players lessened, even if Bond’s energy did not.

As in the game the previous week. Papanui started very purposefully, and the crowd of 5000 saw the forward G. Bond attempt a 53-yard kick at goal in the opening minute. It fell just one foot short. Jim Bond set the crowd roaring with a bewildering run from half-way that sent the wing, R. Kinston, sprinting for the line. The tackle by D. Moselen, the Western fullback, rolled Kingston on the ground a yard from the line, but the World Cup forward. K L Pearce, dived across. Auckland Gains Control The Auckland team started to gain control, and although Bond and Pearce kicked penalty goals. Bond from 50 yards or more away, the Auckland team led 19-7 at half-time With the score at 24-11, Bond having kicked two more long goals. Papanui looked much more solid in its play Then the Kiwi forward R D Hammond picked up a loose ball and was under the Papanui posts from 20 yards out before the defenders had time to spin around John Bond, the former Kiwi forward. limped painfully at times, but managed to cover an immense amount of ground on cover-defence. Pearce also, with his powerful fend, ran well and frequently, and G Bond put so much effort into his running and tackling that it was a wonder that he had breath left for kicking. Papanui badly missed its Kiwi player and captain. N. K. Roberts but even with his presence it is unlikely that the Christchurch team could have withstood Western United. Webber. Clarke and Kem each scored two tries for Western United, and others were gained by Hammond, Moselen, and Rakena. Raisbeck kicked six conversions. Pearce and Harding scored tries for Papanui Pearce kicked one penalty goal and G. Bond three.