PONEKE IN PREMIER POSITION

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 33, 8 August 1921, Page 3

PONEKE IN PREMIER POSITION

PETONE FALL TO 'VARSITY

.SENIOR GAMES PLAYED IN RAIN,

Rain on Saturday interfered with the Rugby competitions, and, except for a junior trial game, only senior matches were played. These games had.a considerable bearing on the championship, Poneke and Petone having d!rawn level on the previous Saturday. P«tone were up against a hard proposition in 'Varsity, while Poneke were drawn to play an easier team, Wellington. A win by 'Varsity would give Poneke the championship (unless, of course, another series of matches was decided on), and that is what happened. 'Varsity played a. great game in the mud at Athletic Park, and accounted for a weakened Petone team —weakened by the absence of a number of the usual players, including the Nicholls brothers, Riddell, Corner, and Albert Paiker—by a margin lof 11 points. 'Varsity, who were without Aitken, gave a great display in the mud, the forwards battling along in fine style, and /the backs offering material assistance by opening up' play individually. The day's play demonstrated that 'Varsity, with the usual team throughout tho season,, would have occupied a much more prominent position on the championship ladder. The largo crowdl of spectators at the Pa.rk was kept intorestod from start to finish of the game, and in Jackson the onlookers found a player who was always worth watching. During the game he scored two tries, one of-, which was the result of a brilliant singlehandied diadi from half-way. Hutchison also attracted a good deal of attention, and Siddells was instrumental in stemming numerous attacks. On Petone'* side, E. Ryan did a lion's share of tho work, and had wry bad luck in not scoring at least one try. All players were coated in mud, and in the second spell it was difficult to determine greon from dark blue. Even so, play never slackened 1, and interest was held until the final whistle. "Varsity, 14; Petone,

Poneke encountered fairly strong opposition from Wellington at Lyall Bay, and it was not until well into' the second spell that the Red-and-Blacks mad© their position, secure. They won by 12' points to 3—and advanced to premier position in tho championship. Oriental, who have kept well up with the leading teams, had a hard fight with Borhampore on' No. 2 ground at the Park. A win by, 13 points to 11 p'lacea .them on equal terms with Petone.

Marist had n. fairly easy win over Selwyn at Lyall Bay by 14 points to nil. Points in the championship are as follow :—-Poneke 22, Petone 20, Oriental 20, Berhamporo 14, Athletic 13, Marist li, 'Vairsity 10, Selwyn 6» Wellington 4. Th« Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union will decide to-mor-row night whether Poneke are to be declared winners of the'championship without the playing of another set of fixtures. Details of Saturday's games are as follow :— 'VARSITY, 14; PETONE, 3. 'Varsity were forced soon after the kick-off, but Siddells and Jackson, with two kicks, quickly brought the game into Petone territory. From a scrum Hutcheson neatly feinted and then threw a long pass, which Ryan intercepted to prevent a try. After five minutes of 'Varsity pressure,' Petone forwards broke through, but a kick with too much power gave a force. Then Green (Petone half) made ground, and from ' a scrum near the line Ashton dribbled over and scored. Ryan missed the kick. Petone '3-^O. 'Varsity had a great chance almost immediately following the kickout, but Dickson, on the wing, weakly refused a pass. Ryan's defence at this stage was very sound. Then Maekay had a penalty kick, with which he just failed. Again 'Varsity charged for the Petone line, arid, from a scrummage, Trapski picked up to score, only to be penalised. Not to be denied, 'Varsity hammered away, and again a chance from a passing rush went astray through Dickson. Finally, Jackson scored a spectacular try. Taking the ball at the halfway, he galloped for the line, and, outdistancing would-be ta-cklers, ran round and scored behind the posts. MacKay converted the try, 'Varsity 5—3. Petone forwards took play into: 'Varsity territory, bnt a useful rush was spoilt by offside play by Ashton. More back play' put 'Varsity on the 1 offensive, and Hutcheson came Away with a pretty cut-in. He lost the ball. Once more a passing rush started, and the ball came to Dickson ) who retrieved his earlier mistakes by running from the twenty-five, fending off G. Parker and scoring. The kick was too wide. 'Varsity B—3. From the kick-out Petone put in a dash, but Hutcheson brought them back with a good kick. Again they went up the field, though not for long. When halftime was sounded 'Varsity were in the opposition, twenty-five. Play at the opening of the second spell hovered around halfway until the* ball came around the blind side to Jackson. He made a good run, and was nicely tackled by Cowie when within striking distance. Petone were aggressive temporarily, and twice Siddells was called upon for quick work, and, despite the rain, he handled the ball well. Cowie marked just outside the twenty-five without benefit,' the ball falling short, and Trapski returned to the twen-ty-five. The Greens attacked from this out, and Petone were scarcely again in the hunt. Hutcheson and Dickson both brought off pretty dribbling rushes, the latter taking the ball practically the length of the field l and compelling Thomas to kick behind to avert disaster. Siddells, in characteristic style, initiated a pretty rush, which failed of results through Jackson being unable to hold the greasy ball. From the scrum the ball came along to Trapski, who sent it to Jackson, and the latter got over 'at the corner. The kick was unsuccessful. 'Varsity 11—3. Jackson was all but over from a dribbling rush a moment later, but could not touch down. Again 'Varsity set the ball going from a_ scrum, and Hutcheson got over. The kick was charged down. 'Varsity 14—3. Petone showed dash in the last stages, and, Siddells miskickiug, Ryan went over, to be called back for a knock.-on. Siddells cleared from the scrum. The game ended without further score. • Mr. 6. Bradley was Teferee. PONEKE BEAT WELLINGTON. Although beaten by 12 points to 3 by Poneke, Wellington did not disgrace themselves. The match was played at Lyall Bay. and rain fell during the greater part of the game. Play in the first spell Was conspicuous for the good showing made by Wellington, who allowed Poneke to cross their line but once. Poneke v/ere the first to score. King picked up in the Wellington ' twentyfive and ran down the line, and when near the corner passed to M'Arthur, who scored. King's shot at goal missed. Close on half-time, Wellington evened the score per medium of Scott. Getting possession in tbo twenty-five, Scott ran right through the Poneke team and scored a brilliant try. ' Tull took the kick, but missed., I'oueke, 3; Welling-

ton, 3. When the second spell opened, Poneke attacked hard, but Wellington extricated themselves from their predicament, and a strong forward rush, headed by Tull, was made to the Poneke line. Wellington very nearly struck home, but M'Arthur was handy and saved nicely by kicking to touch. Play shifted to balf-way, and then Poneke got possession. The ball passed from Tunnington, to B. Algar, to F. Tilyard, to Christophersor, who touched down. King failed ,with the kick. Poneke, 6 ; Wellington, 3. Shortly afterwards, 0. Algar broke away on the side line. He was supported by B. Algar, who passed to F. Tilyard, and the latter scored. Once more King's kick at goal missed. Poneke, 9: Wellington. 3. Wellington made several incursions into Poneke territory, but finally, when play was in the Wellington twenty-five, M'Arthar bea,t Scott and scored a somewhat easy try after a fast run down the line. King failed to convert. There was no further score, the final result being Poneke, 12; Wellington, 3, Mr. A. Smart was referee.

ORIENTAL DEFEAT BERHAMPOBE.

On No. 2 ground at the Park Oriental and Berhampore fought out an interesting contest from which the "Magpies" emerged with the advantage of a goal irom. a try—two points. There was very little between the two teams, and, in ■spite of the conditions, the game was not left entirely to the forwards, liarhampoTe particularly showing an aptitude to work in the open. This, however^ cost the' Light Blues defeat, 'a smart interception giving Oriental a try (which was converted) early in the game when play- was mainly in Berhampore's favour. .The second spell saw the Oriental pack in its true light, and, by strong forward rushes, a good lead was gained. Berhampore rallied towards > tha close and notched two tries, but neither was converted—anil thia enabled Oriental to be bracketed with Petone as runners-up in the championship.

When Berhampore wore in good scoring positions early in tho game, Gibson essayed two fruitless "pots" at goal. D. Puller also had an unsuccessful kick from a mark. Berhampore were having the best of matters until a passing rush waa intercepted, and tills enabled Maxwell to score for Oriental. Armstrong landed an easy goal. s—o. In subsequent rushes by Berhampore, Walters, Matheson, and Hickling did good work, but their efforts had no result until Matheeori, fielding the ball in mid-field and cleverly "dummying" past three opponents, scored a nice try, which. Fuller converted. The same player showed some fine foot-work in subsequent play,, and ,was unlucky in not scoring. There was no further score when half-time was sounded. On resuming, the Oriental forwards rushed the opposing line, and, in a scramble over the line, Wilson was awarded a try, which was not converted. Then Oriental and Berhampore in turn kicked the ball too far over the line, after which another melee on the Light Blues' 'goal-line ended in Maxwell scoring. Armstrong converted. 13—5. Berhampoxe were next placed in an attacking position' by Gibson intercepting. After a kick at goal had failed, a strong rush ■ from half-way ended in Walters getting, across. The kick failed. 13—8. It was not long before a, similar movement was capped by Matheson.' Fuller made a fine but unsuccessful attempt to convert. Even play followed, and when time was called the scores were: Oriental 13, Berhainpore 11. For the winners Heley (full-back) saved trouble on j numerous occasions. ' Mr., J. King was, the referee. ; 9ELWYN DEFEATED BY MARIST. Playing at Lyall Bay, Marist had a somewhat easy win over Selwyn by. 14 points to nil. The game was not of a brilliant description, ■ and play was principally confined to the forwards. Tries for Marist were scored by Markham, M. Mahoney, and Troy. Murphy converted the try scored by Mahoney, and also kicked a penalty goal. Mr. J. Moffitt was referee.