PETONE CHAMPIONS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 50, 28 August 1922, Page 4

PETONE CHAMPIONS

A STIRRING PLAY-OFF

PLAYER ORDERED PROM THE FIELD.. Poneke and Petone have fought another of their many battles on the Kugby field, and in this instance the suburban team have earned the honour of champions for the season. The extent of interest in the play-off for the championship accounted for a very fine spectacle at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, a, crowd estimated! at 16,000 encircling the playing area, with the densely packed tiers of the western bank as a striking Eet-off. The attendance was a record for club football; in fact, everything was worthy of the occasion. Feeling was in Poneke's favour, and when the game wag under way the Bed and Blacks, playing against the strong sun, indicated that; there was reason for the confidence placed in them. That, however, was only up to a point. Condition told its, tale, and in the second' spell Poneke's dash faded away,.although a strong defence was maintained. Petone played above the average of thei^ performances during the season, and, although they did not succeed in penetrating the Poneke defence, goal-kicking gave them a victory to which they were justly entitled. The game was keen and 'fairly attractive during the first spell, but the quality of play depreciated in the second half, when kicking was rather overdone. There was also a regrettable termination the contest, the referee having occasion to order the Poneke captain, B. Algar, from the fields Special praise for Petone's success is due to H. E. Nicholls, who played one of his best games of the season, and " Doc." Nichojie, who was always a thorn in Poneke's side. Mark Nicholls added to his goal-gicking achievements by contributing the major portion of P^etone's score—a fitting finish to his association with the game in Wellington. . , The teams were:— Petone: Cowie, E. Ryan, "Doc." Nicholls, Corner, M. Nicholls. Udy, H. E. Nicholls, Fitzgerald, Griffen, A. Thomas, J. Ashton, Priest, Springer, Arthur Parker^ Albert Parker. Poneke: E. Cluistophersonj J. Tun■nington, B. Algar, J. M'Arthur, A. Morris, P Tilyard, J. Tilyard, E. King, J. Shearer, Parsloe, Calcinai, MacDonaldy Bowie, S. Shearer, D. Slater. FIRST SPELL. Loss of the tow caused Poneke to face the strong sun during .'the first spell. The incidents of the game started with the kick-off, which was made from the line' dividing Nos. 1 and 2 grounds (when games are played east and west), instead of from the half-way. Shortly after the fetart Poneke were penalised, and the kick placed Petone in an attacking position. Pressure by the forwards was about to be supported by the backs, when F. Tilyard turned the direction of play and P, Algar assisted in placing Petone in their own half. From a bout of loose play. Ttmnington secured the leather and centred, with the result that Mark Nicholls fielded and started a passing rush in which "Doc."' . Nicholls--snd Corner were the other par-1 ticipants. Algar stopped the advance by tackling Corner, but he was temporarily incapacitated..,, After, the brief stoppage on thai^ account-IL' E. Nkholls and" Corner were instrumental in making further progress for Petone, .and when Nicholls kicked to the centre Poneke's line was in danger. Defence was quickly changed into attack, and during the play between the forwards near half-way Calcinai received" a slight injury. Petone's defence received its first severe test when a kick by F. Tilyard was, followed up .smartly.' A relieving, kick by Cowie went out near the corner flag, and from the line-out S. Shearer got across, but was called ' back. Ryan saved further .trouble by marking a centre kick by M'Arthur. With play in midfieW, each side was penalised, -King making a rbut unsuccessful attempt to goal' Poneke. The interruption of a passing movement by the Poneke backs led to p. rush by Petone, M. NichoJU starting and Corner, carrying on. The latter lost a likely chance to ecore by failing -oto' pick up the ball. Soon afterwards H, (E. Nieholls and . Corner engnared in a, dribbling rush, which develop-" ed into a scramble between the forwards, and fronT that the Petone backs handled the ball neatly, but made np progress. Effective defensive work drove Petone back, but per medium of "Doc" Nicholls and Ryan, with others assisting, they came again, Arthur Parker going close to the objective. In", the ensuing play the Poneke forwards showed solid driving force, arid, aided by kicks by the backs, they carried play to the Petone twentyfive, and eventually compelled the Blues to force. Further relief to Petone was gained in a similar way shortly afterwards. During . the^ aggressive work Bowie, S. Shearer, and Calcinai received nasty knocks.' A retaliatory dash was started by Ryan, and by means of passing went down close to Poneke'e line ? a' ■halt being called on account of an in? fringement. The scene of action went bad? to midfiekl, where Udy was copspieuous with a strong effort to.break through, bub he was penalised for hold-, ing on. The. penalty was the fore-' winner to an interchange of kicks, which had a somewhat sensational termination. Tunningtqn, near halfrw#y, fielded^ a kick froni Marl? Nioholk, and set out* to make his way through the opposition. He dodged through in fine style, swerving, side-stepping, and "dummying" effectively until near the line. He then sent the ball out tq J. Shearer, whg, with good judgment, passed to Bowie, and the last-named dashed over to scare. King was sure with the kick. Poneke led, 5-0. That caused proceedings to become more livejy, _ with, Petojie the aggressors. "Doc"' Nicholls, Rysfl, ahfl Udy' were the principals in attack, but found, the opposition impenetrable. A penalty against Poneke gave M. Nicholls a chance to goal, but his kick was poor. He made amends a minute or so later with another free kick frpm a more difficult position, landing a good goal,. Poneke 5 ; Petone S. Subsequent play\ was of » ptrenuous nature, up and down the field. Poneke were h&vmg the, best of the deal until a loose rush by .Petone placed the Red and Blacks back near their goal line. It was then that H. 'E. Nicholls fed his backs very well, but. the mode of penetration finally resulted in a force down.<From the drop-out "Dpc." Nicholls secured ,the ball and immediately sent it sailing over the goal—a splendid drop-, kick. That was the surprising termination of the first spell. • Petone ...•..-.. 7 , ' Poneke v.. 5 SECOND SPELL. The change over did not seem to be of any advantage to 'Poneke, as they were-unable to make much headway from the start, and were soon occupied in stalling off persistent ' advances by Petone. The latter indulged ill a 'good deal of kickjng in their attacking work, and seldom lost any chances to claim marks from Poneke's relieving kicks. Corner and Albert Packer each had a shot at goal .without; result. In- the course of Petone's attacks H. E. Nicholls, working round from a scrum in Poneke's twenty-five,- made a short .kick to the line, but the ball went a little fop far

to be of any value—touch-in-goal. Poneke'* endeavours to turn the tide were not of much account. There was not the same sting in their/play as had been the case in the first spell, and the inside backs, notably, F. Tilyard, generally made the mistake of giving the ball to.the opposing backs by indulging in short kicks rather than getting the ball out to the wings. The result was that Petone were able to some extent to close up the game, and/kicking became the main feature of play. During 'a long period in Petone's favour, M. Nicholls had two opportunities to goal, but missed both. When at length J. Shearer, Slater, and Bowie made appreciable headway, Petons had a turn on defence. Morris worked his way close to the line, and in holding up his ■progress Petone were penalised. 'This looked to be a certain three points—and the lead—for Poneke. but King was a, trifle inaccurate in piloting the ball. Ensuing play was of an even character. It had one outstanding incident—the referee wag temporarily disabled through collision with a player. After King had' failed with another attempt to goal, from just inside half-way, Petone brought further pressure to bear. • Again meeting a solid defence, they resorted to "potting" as a means of improving their tally, but without result. In the closing stages an unfortunate incident took place. Algar, after making a dealing kick from near the Poneke line, was tackled by Corner. The latter, it js alleged, was kicked, and Algar was ordered off. Meanwhile the play had gone back to half-way, but the referee awarded a free-kick to Petone at the spot at which the incident had occurred. M. Nicholls goaled. 10-5. Give and take play followed without further result, and the keenly contested final ended:— • Petone 10 * Poneke 5 Mr. H. Leith controlled the game.