SATURDAY'S GAMES

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 22, 26 July 1920, Page 4

SATURDAY'S GAMES

PONEKE'S CLOSE CALL

WELLINGTON'S FIRST WIN.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS. Poneke, 6; Berhampore!, 5. Petone, 33; Athletic, 7. Oriental, 6; 'Varsity, 0. Wellington, 18,- Selwyn, 8.

The first appearance of Berhampore on Athletic Park against Poneke on Saturday afternoon resulted in a close game, in which the debutants justified their promotion. Poneke managed to get home by one point. Petone piled up a big score at Petone against a weak Athletic team, bereft by siokness or absence of half its regular players. Wellington secured a well-deserved and substantial victory—-the firat of the season—against Selwyn. Oriental defeated 'Varsity by 6 points to nil, after a clo3& contest. Both these latter matches were played at Lyall Bay. PETONE'S EASY WIN. Athletic could only muster up a soratch team to meet Petone on the suburba-a ground. E. Roberts was away with the New Zealand team, Byrne has gone to Nelson, and Blaekmore, Hull, Thompson, Osbom, M'Caiiey, Spencer, Cain, and Ryan were absent through sickness or injuries. Consequently Petone had a walk-away victory. The Blues were in great scoring form, and tries were notched by Ryan (2), Hamilton, Thomas (2), Ashton, B. Thomas. M. Nicholls placed six goals out of the seven. M'Ca.be scored en© try for Athletic, which Hugh failed to convert. Hugh potted a nice goal from the field. The score was 33 points to 7. Mr. 0. H. Cleland was referee. WELLINGTON BEAT SELWYN! Wellington, who have been improving every week, brought their long career of 1 defeat this season to at least a temporary close by a fine win over Selwyn at Lyall Bay by 18 points to 8. The gam© was fast and open, the sandy turf having stood the rain well. Cooper scored for 'Wellington soor- after the .start and Tull converted. Wellington 5, 'Selwyn 0. Wogan registered a try for Selwyn and Shearer converted, equalising the score. Shearer put S,elwyn ahead 8 to sby a penalty goal. Scott turned the tables with another try for Wellington, not converted. B—B. Sutherland added another try for the Yellow and Blacks, Tull converting. Wellington 13, Selwyn 3. This was the score at halftime. The second spell was hotly contested. The Yellows attacked vigorously and Tull scored from a passingriuh, and converted his own try. Wellington 18, Selwyn 8. The final stages were even, and no further score resulted. PONEKE'S NARROW.'WIN. For their first appearance at the. Athletic Park, Berhampore were matched against Poneko, and, although the form fell a good deal short of that shown m previous matches, they created a very favourable' impression, exhibiting distinct ability in loose forward work and in tackling.' The veteran team won by the narrowest of margins, and in this they were somewhat fortunate, for during the closing stages the Light Blues kept play dangerously near to the opposing fine. The game, was not productive ot much spectacular football—-due to the greasy state of the ground—but there was plenty of incident, tho manner in which fierhampore's try was obtained being the brightest bit of work of the match. Occasionally the Poneke backs opened out, but 'those of such efforts which appeared likely to end in a score were spoilt by selfishness. Forward work was mostly the order of the day, the Light Blues having a slight advantage over the veteran team's pack. It was during numerous bouts of close play that a good deal of "extra" work, not in conformity with the Rules of Rugby, was noticeable, almost invariably on the I part of the Red and Blades. In the firat spell three Berhampore players (including Walters) were .injured, and this necessitated a rearrangement, and for a period the team appeared to be disorganised. But for* this the result might have been different, for Poneke have played many much better games. Until half-way through the first spell play was chiefly marked b,y forward scrambles, and was mainly " confined to Berhampore's half. The Light Blues then made ground by loose rushes, and when a scramble was in progress in Poneke's twenty-five, Gray picked up the leather and cleverly dodged through the best part of the opposing team to score near the posts. Morrison converted. S—o After this Poneke changed the scene of play, maintaining pressure on the Blues' line. Eventually C. Tilyard dived over from a scrum, falling on the leather just- before it went into touch. Malm failed to convert. S— 3. The remainder of the spell was in Poneke's favour, but they could not penetrate a sound defence. During the spell Walters and Miller were injured, and were replaced by Bell and Helliwell (who was afterwards also hurt). Good passing bouts by Poneke early gave them an advantage, and an infringement by the Light Blues enabled W. Christopherson to 1 kick a foal. . 6-T7.S. The Blues were aggressive ut could not manage another score. Mr G. Bradley was the referee. ORIENTAL DEFEAT, 'VARSITY Played a^ Lyall Bay, the contest bewteen Oriental and 'Varsity did not produce much good football, neither side showing- much combination. There were times, however, when play "was keen, and.in this respect the Oriental forward's showed up. During the first spell there were many advances by either team,, bub at half-time no score had been registered. Early in the second spell the "magpies" attacked strongly, but were send baok 'to their own half, where 'Vansity were awarded a free-kick. The shot at goal failed. Oriental then returned, and [ it was not long before Gilchrist • opened i the scoring account by an unconverted try. Later a goal by Capper added' I three more points. Efforts by 'Varsity ! towards the close were unsuccessful, and the game ended : Oriental, 6; 'Varsity, nil. Aitken and Siddells were injured during play, and had to retire.. Mr. A 0. Kit't'o was the referee. '