RAKED FORE AND AFT

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 187, 7 May 1934, Page 11

RAKED FORE AND AFT

Poneke Fail Against Athletic Raked fore and aft with and against the wind, Poneke were never in the bunt, with Athletic at Newtown Park, and were beaten by ten points (a penalty goal, a field goal, and a try, all scored in the first spell) to nil. To lovers of good Rugby it must have been most disappointing to see the promising Poneke side put up such a poor display. On the other hand, Athletic supporters were most enthusiastic over the form shown by their team. Athletic won the toss, and, taking advantage of the conditions, they outplayed the opposition in tactics from start to finish. The scrummaging of the winning side was a feature of the game, and seldom were they beaten for the ball. They also controlled the line-outs and loose rucks and hunted as a pack from start to finish. Considering the conditions, the Athletic backs also played fine football, their safe handling and clever kicking particularly among’ the inside backs proving altogether too much for Poneke. The losers appeared disorganised. .They lacked combination forward, while definite weaknesses in handling among the rearguard let the opposition through time and again. On their form against Poneke, Athletic should win a fair proportion of games during the season. Playing great Rugby from the kick-off the Athletic forwards raked the field. They hooked the ball from a ruck to Tindill, who found a gap as the Poneke backs swung out to defend and shot through for ten yards to' touch down. Jolly’s kick fell short. Stone, Quaid, and Barrett figured in a Poneke rush which finished under the Athletic posts, but high punting repulsed the attack, and after another forward rush the ball was heeled to Tindill, who kicked a field goal. Athletic kept the pressure on and Jolly added another three points from a penalty for obstruction in the line-out. At half-time the score was: Athletic 10, Boneke 0. Poneke set up a series of attacks in the second spell, using both the line and the punt down the centre of the field, but the fine fielding and solid tackling of the defence kept the line intact. Athletic made two sorties into the Poneke twentyfive and were unlucky not to score on both occasions. Mr. J. Moffit was referee. A FIGHTING FINISH Wellington Fade Away A fine battling finish by the packmen and the thrust of Lilburne and Killeen saw Hutt defeat Wellington by 14 points to 6 and take top position in the first division. The match, originally set down for the Hutt ground, was transferred to Petone. Wellington should have ended up in a much better position, as for the whole of the first spell and a considerable part of the second they had much the better of the game territorially. They seemed to lack, particularly in the van, the extra thrust and initiative jvhich would have enabled them to turn this advantage to most use. When Lilburne and Killeen took time by the forelock' in the second spell they ripped holes in the Wellington defences. The handling of this pair, and also of E. Neal, left, little to be desired on the day, and had Spencer’s form at half been more reliable they would have been even more dangerous. The Hutt wings, Nees and Ball, took a full share of-the work, and Jarman, as full-back, although overshadowed by Cresswell, played a dogged game. The Hutt forwards adapted themselves well to the conditions, Stevenson shining also in a number of spectacular solo efforts. Coulstou, until he had to retire, injured, and-8.. Neal were always in the picture. Kilby played a battling half-back's game for Wellington, and although Page was particularly closely watched, his spectacular cut through came off more than once. Minns, on the wing, had little play made for him on the dny, but he revealed himself when occasion demanded as just as dangerous a straight runner on sodden turf as on dry. Cresswell’s fine line work hurled back Hutt invasions many times. Newman, centre, Pryde, wing, and King, second five-eighth, completed a back line which would have acquitted itself much better on a dry day. Had all the 'Wellington forwards played with the dash of Uarl.von and as doggedly as Ilingston. Wellington might have finished in a better position. Newman kicked a penalty goal and Pryde scored a try for Wellington, and ■Wilson, Killeen and Nees scored for Hutt, Lilburne converting one try and kicking a penalty ’ goal. Mr. A. C. Kitto was referee. WRONG TACTICS Eastbourne- Fail Again A score of 14-11, by which Marist beat Eastbourne, at Eastoourne, suggeslo a cloise game, while the tact that uie winners' total included only one try as compared with the losers’ three tr.es lurlber suggests hard luck lor the beateu team. The scores, however, are misleading iu this respect, and al no, stage or the game did Eastbourne play like winners. At the same time Marist did not display tqich marked superiority as to prevent Eastbourne, had they played up a little better, from succeeding. There was a continual light rain which kept the surface wet and made the ball greasy. This made accurate handling very difficult, and neither side adapted themselves to the tactics which were called for on the day. Eastbourne more particularly failed in thia respect and carried on to the end with fine weather tactics in movements among the back» that broke down early with monotonous regularity. The backs .stood fur too deep, and at intervals too wide for the passing and catching of a greasy, heavy ball to be carried out with any degree of accuracy. On the other hand Marist stood well up to the limit allowed by the rules, and were able not only to operate handily on attack but gave the Eastbourne backs no quarter when it was their turn with the ball. Marist had the advantage of the southerly wind in the first spell and secured all their points in this half. They gave Eastbourne a taste of their own medicine, the scores consisting of McGreevy's try converted by Ericksson, the latter also kicking three penalty goals. He had only one unsuccessful attempt and two of his three penalties were excellent efforts, especially the last from near the touchline. and his conversion of the try was also a very good kick. Marist’s forwards displayed too much “ginger” for Eastbourne, being superior in practically all departments. O'Connor behind the scrum also completely overshadowed his vis-a-vis, Wiggs, being responsible for a lot of good work and initiating the movement which led to McGreevy's try. Eastbourne’s only score in the first half came at the end of a loose rush in which J Dellabarca was the prime participant. Dellaharca. however, was unable to secure the ball over the lin£. his mate O’Farrell falling on it. As the kick was in front. Fuller had no difficulty in putting it over, though he had previously failed earlier from a fairly easy penalty. In the second spell Eastbourne forwards began to secure the ball from the scrummage with striking success, but their backs were unable to make much use of their opportunities, the defence of Marist’s inside backs, particularly that of Robins, being too solid, while the Eastbourne passing was slow and inadequate. One try did come their way from a rush, but it could have been stopped without much difficulty, as also the second by Clayton, after a loose rush, both in the corner and on the same wing, whore Cullen’s defence was glaringly weak. Fuller was having an off day with his kicking. Mr. B. Matthowa was referee.