SATURDAY'S GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 2, 3 July 1922, Page 4

SATURDAY'S GAMES

PETONE BEATEN BY MARIST

PONEKE'S NARROW SHAVE,

Marist 11 v. Petone 0. Poneke 8 v. Selwyn 0. 'Varsity sv. Oriental 3. • Berhampore 14 v. Old Boys .0. Athletio 14 v. Wellington 0.

Weather and grounds were all against good football on Saturday, and naturally the scores were not high." Marist answered the expectations of their sup- * porters by defeating, 11-0, Petone minus the two Nicholls, who were representing the North Island at Auckland. Poneke defeated Selwyn by 8-0; 'Varsity just got home from Oriental, while Berhampore and Athletic had no difficulty in their games against Old Boys and Wellington. As the competition now stands, Poneke are in the lead with 17 points, 'Petone have still 15, Marist are 14, University, Athletic, and Berhampore are level with 12 points, and the rest are Oriental 8, Old Boys 6, Selwyn 4, Wellington 0. MARIST BEAT PETONE. Marist added another trophy to their record this season by defeating Petone at Athlotic Park on Saturday by 11 points to nil—a really substantial victory when the stats of the ground after lieavy overnight and moi-uinpr rains is considered. Poneke, on the neighbouring field at iNewtowu Park, could not even do so .well against Selwyn. It is true the Petone team wa« weakened by the absence of the NichoHs brothers, Mark and "Ginger," but all the same the win was most creditable to Muriel, who had all the best of the game. Thus .the Green and Whites continue their triumphant career with successive victories over strong opposition, and now stand third on the list of the senior championship (with 14 points to their credit, only one ibehhsi Petone, who still retain second. ?laee: The game with Petone at (; the 'ark was played in the mud, with -•a fairly strong northerly broezo blowing, of which Potone were unable to take advantage in the first spell, which ended scoreless. The second hslf of the game went entirely to Mariet, who scored three good iti-ias, one'of which was converted. The ■honours of tlis day fell- really to the Marisb forwards, who went through the fotone paclt like clippers thronph a fleece, while tile Mariatstackling—always their steonijQst quality—-was as effective (MS usual in nipping any retaliatory rushes ifrom the suburban team well in the ■budi Two of the tries came'mainly from the efforts of the forwards and one from ft vory fine individnal effort by Tancred, which ended by Mahoney crossing at the corner and running round to score behind the gold posts. This last was converted by Murphy, and plated the issue 'beyond any doubt. The weather itself justified tho Management X'ommfttee in ■plajnng the match, but the ground waa in shocking condition half-way through, and 001-ours were soon lost in the mud. Tho attendance was estimated at about 4500. , The teams were :— Marist.—Griffin, Mahoney, Tanored, Creed, Murphy, Markham, M'Cleary, Connop, M'Rae, Boyce, .Troy, Hopkins, P. Suflivan, ;Grotty, B. Sullivan. ... Petone—Cowic, Hamilton, Corner, Thomas, E. Ryan, Udy;';Doc" Nicholls, .Fitzgerald, Griffin, Parker, Price, Priest, Ashton, Polo, Wylie. ■ Marist won the toss, but chose to take the first spell against the wind. This, policy paid, for the wind strengthened in the second spell. Tancred exchanged places with Mahonoy, going out on the wing. Petone with the wind in their | favour early attempted their passing I game, and a very pretty rush went i right out from "Doc" Nicholls to Udy j to Ryan to Corner to Hamilton, but the ■pace? on. the heavy ground was too slow, and "Hamilton was pinched out when it came to the final dash. The attack continued until M'Cleary finally forced behind the scrum on the line. Then for the rest of the spell' the game was more even than-the advantage of the wind ■presupposed. Marist were .often in Petone territory, principally through forward close dribbling rushes or quick following up. An opening made by .M'Cleary behind a scrum near the Petone dine was spoilt by Markham dropping, his ipass. Marist attacks . continued, and good work by both divisions nearly bore fruit. M'Cleary from a scrum on the Petoue lino almost sidled his. way ojver.. iAt this point Petone was penalised, and Murphy came near to success with the kick. Half-time went with Petone in danger from a finely judjjed line-kick by Murphy, which landed just near the •corner flag. Petone 0, Marist 0. Tho last spell was wholly Marists's. The wind had freshened, and the play was encumbered with a wet ball and a muddy ground. Marist went to the attack right away, and penned Petone in their own quarter for minutes together. Scrums and line-outs in the Petone 25 followed in succession. But' for .the splendid defence notably of Eddie Kyan and Cowie, a score would have come much earlier. Petome had the misfortune to lose Udy, who had to leave the field through injuries received. Love, ijun., came on in his place. . Finally, from one of many scrums near the Petone i line, tho ball came out on the Blue side, but the kick to the line was- charged down, and from the rebound Troy and Boyce rushed the defence, Troy scoring amid much enthusiasm from the team. Murphy could do nothing with the kick. Marist 3, Petone 0/ . Exhorted by their barrackers, Petone woko up to the danger of defeat, and for a time play was slightly more even. Passing tactics failed through the Marist ■tackling, and forward the Blues were overshadowed Then Mwrist came back, and, following up a kick rat>icHv, Troy upset Cowie.before the full-back could get the ball away, and in the dislocation of defence Tancred side-stepped his way "through the Petone- team, and sent the ball away to Maboney on the other wing. The latter, scooping tip +,lie ball, made a brilliant solo run and scored a try under the bar. This time Murphy made no mistake, and Marist were now 8 -points ahead. It seemed as if immediately | afterwards Connop had scored from an linterceptod pass, but Tfcncred failed to take a-.difficult pass, and the chance- went by the board. However, the Greens were, not to "be denied, and just before the close of the fame Bovce topped off a very fine forward rush and scored altruist ] without opposition. Murphy found the kick from so far ont too difficult, and the Tarns ended with the score : Marist 11., Petona -0. Mr. T. A. Fletcher was referee. 'VARSITY v. ORIENTAL. 'Varsity and Oriental met at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, but the game was not a classical one, and ended in a vie tory for 'Varsity, by 5 points to 3. ■ The teams were :• — 'Varsity: Murray, Jackson, Gikner, Malfroy, M'Kay, Aitken, Trapski, M. L. Smith, Scott, Dighton, M'Rae, Thomas, Borden, Burns, Pope. Oriental: Heap, Riggs, Heley, Scott, Carroll, Adams, J. Gilchrist, King, Thorn, Brown, Moffilt, Matthews, Muir, Scott, Pringle. \ 'Varisity kicked off and Oriental attacked, but the pressure was not strong

enough to make an impression on' the Green defenco. Play' came back to halfway, from where Adams got going. He sent on to Heley, who knocJied-on, however. Oriental came at the attack again, but Murray saved. 'Varsity were dangerous once, but lnck was with Oriental. Adams had an unsuccessful penalty kick, and then the Oriental back division got going. Scott very nearly got in at tho corner, but- Murray upended him. Soon after this 'Varsity forced in tho nick of time. There were a few exciting moments ■ close to tbe 'Varsity line, when suddenly Mjalfroy intercepted a pass and broke away down the line. The ground was very heavy, and Malfroy was thrown out by Heap midway be-, tween half-way and the Oriental twentyfive. PJay which followed was not of a very interesting kind, the principal incident being the missing of an easy penalty kick by Adams. 'Varsity now took a hand at' attacking, Jackson being prominent in the play, which was of a fairly open character. Oriental had luck ■with them, however, and were able to bring off a counter-offensive. There was no score up to half-time. Oriental opened the attack in the second spell, but there was nothing of special interest until Jackson broke away from his own twenty-five after taking a pass from Gilmer, who intercepted. Jackson put in a great run down field, and scored behind the'posts. Thomas converted. 'Varsity 5, Oriental nil. Oriental attacked again, and Riggs tried hard \o get through at the corner, but he was pushed back. Gilchrist had a kick from a mark in tho 'Varsity twen-ty-five, and mado a poor attempt. A spectacular passing rush by the' Varsity backs gave promise of another score, but Heley broke »up the movement in the Oriental twenty-five. The Oriental 'tackling was pretty sound in this spell, and saved tho side several times. Varsity, however, continued to do the major share of the attacking, and. three times in, quick succession Oriental forced, Heiey once kicking into dead territory. At'■ last Oriental's persistency was rewarded. The forwards got possession /in the 'Varsity twenty-five, and Mmr passed to Moffitt, who was grassed., lhe balKwas kicked across the line, and Brown fell on it without loss of time. Adams's kick just missed. 'Varsity 5, Oriental 3. There was no further score. Mr.O.. H. Cleland was l^feree. BERHAMPORE v. OLD BOYS. In a fine forward game at ■ Wakefield Park Berhampore defeated Old Boys by 14 points to 0. Play was even in the first spell, and the Berhampore lead at half-time was only 3, a try secured by. Standen, but not converted by Watson. In the' second half the Berhampore pack was seen to greater advantage, and the backs also improved. A fine passing rush started by Hester wont from Howell to Waters and on to Riddiford, who scored. Hester converted. Berfiampore 8, Old Boys' 0. Short passing among the forwards in a determined rush led 'to a pass by Standen to Howard, and so on to M'Herron, who scored. Heater failed to convert. M'Herron, in. another forward rush, added the fourth try, not converted, and the game ended: Ber-hamppre-14, Old Boys 0. Mr. J. King was referee. ATHLETIC v. WELLINGTON. At Kelburn Park Athletic defeated Wellington by f 14-0 in a game that was mostly a forward scramble. Dnncan scored the first tiry,-which Gibson failed to convert. Then Ballard added another, and M'Cabo failed'with the kick. Duncan scored the third try from a forward rush, and this time M'Cabe converted. Half-time. Athletic 11, Wellington 0. The second spell was a mud Wamble, in which neither side had much advantage. Hosking secured another try near the corner, and Ryan failed with the kick.. This was the final score. Athletic 14, Wellington 0. ' Mr. E. Perry was referee. PONEKE v., SELWYN.-

.Poneke defeated Selwyn by B^o, after a thoroughly gruelling game in the mud, for which Newtown Park in .wet weather is notorious. Greasy ball and heavy ground notwithstanding, the 'play was fast and not uninteresting. ; .The teams were:— ' ' ... ''{ ; -v; ■- „'-.. ...

Poneke (red and black).—Full-back, Christopherson; three-quarters, .Tunnirigton, B. Algar, and' M'Arthui ;[ fiveeighths, F. Tilyard andjJ. Tilyard; half, C. Tilyard; forwards, Pointon, Tynan^ M'Donald, Booker, Parsloe; Slater, Shearer and Kennedy . •

■ Selwyn (green and black).—-Full-back, Harrington; three-quarters,' Kent, M'Breaty, and M'Lay; five-eighth's, Wogan and KersMaw; half, M'Quade; forwards,, Rose, Reeves, Hearle, Burke, De Clifton,. Peacock,. M'Donald, and Desmond.

Poneke played "thi first spell against the wind, and Selwyn were able to take the offensive. Be Clifton and Rose led a formidable forward rush, stemmed only by stout defence on. the,line, where Christopherson saved. Eventually the Poneke forwards began to work the ball up the field, and from a scrum near the Green line C. Tilyard secured and dived over near the corner flag. Christopherson's kick into the wind fell short. Poneke 3, Selwyn 0. In the second spell Poneke, with the wind, made the pace with their forwards, and a series of dribbling rushes gave Booker a chance, which he took, of breaking through and scoring near the posts. Christopherson converted. Poneke 8, Selwyn 0. Selwyn made a gallant effort in the closing stages of the ligame, but were unable .; to alter the score. , •■,' Mr. R. Evenson refereed. ! LOWER GRADES - Junior. : Hutt 3, Athletic 0. , '.. __■ Intennsdiats. ■ ' ... Selwyn A, 20; Technical College Old Boys, 3. ' ■ . Wesley, 6; Poneke, 3. Eastbourne, .12; Onslow, 0. Wellington, 14; V.M.C.A., 8i / Third, Class.' Y.H.C.A.. 7; Eastbourne, 0. Hutt 5, Wellington-0. . Fourth Class. Athletic, 17'; Old Boys, 0. Hutt B,.Upper Hutt 3. ' ' . Sixth Class. - Scots College, 13; Eastbourne, 5. Hutt won \ from Institute by default.