Petone beats Linwood

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33498, 1 April 1974, Page 24

Petone beats Linwood

,Xt Press Association’ WELLINGTON. | Petone illustrated its great depth when, for the second successive year, it won the champion-of- j champions Rugby tour-, nament yesterday. It beat Linwood. 26-«, in the final, and did it so convincingly that little doubt was left of Petone’s claims of being New Zealand's top club side.

On Saturday, in the semifinals, Petone struggled to beat Green Island, the Dunedin champion, IM.

But the side against Linwood yesterday had allround dominance, the forwards and backs! combining in a thrilling display. SKILL LN LOOSE Petone won little ball and relied mainly on the skills of its loose forwards to prise the ball from rucks and mauls. It gained capital from Linwood’s mistakes and these were principally made in mid-field, where K. Gimhlett made many runs on his own and was snared by the covering forwards. The ball often went from rucks to Petone’s back-line. Linwood’s points were scored by the centre, P. Jellyman, who kicked two penalties in the second half after missing three earlier attempts. McCORMICK SMOTHERED

Linwood’s redoubtable fullback, W. F. McCormick, offered most penetration but his bullocking runs were smothered by solid tackles. For Petone, J. P. Dougan, J. Brown, G. Skipper and V. Winitana scored tries, and R. Cleland kicked two penalties and two conversions.

In its semi-final on Saturday, Linwood beat Manukau (Auckland), 22-16. Jellyman got 14 points from a try, two conversions and two penalties, and T. Mitchell and I. Mallard scored tries. In the early game yesterday, Green Island beat Manukau, 15-14. P. Blake and P. Mitchell scored tries for the Dunedin club, and D. Laws kicked a penalty and two conversions.

For Manukau, A. Marks and G. Linn scored tries, and R. Whatman two penalties.

Rugby l*«gu«.—Featherston Rovers beat Leith, 21-14. in a Rughv League Cup semi-final In Leeds.

Road race.—The Commonwealth Games 10,doom runner, K. Ryan lOu air aka) beat the six-vear-old record of 49:30 to win the Ow airaka 10-mlle road race at the Lovelock track, Auckland. Ryan's time of 48:3S was more than a minute better than that set by J. Julian in 1968.