PETONE DEFEAT ATHLETIC.

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 49, 27 August 1923, Page 2

PETONE DEFEAT ATHLETIC.

The teanis were*— ---.--•-,—■-■■ ■- —-.-....■ .Pe^—Riddell, Cowie" «i) 0Q » Nich . E.. Nicbolls; Fitzgerald, A. Thomas Ps, ton ' ftl^™ 8' Ij(?ve ' Haddock, 4 Parker, Albert Parker " ■ Athletic.^Brook i Hotkrog, B. Gibson, button; Svenson, G. Gibson; E: Roberts; Porter jM'COTley, Adams, Rya^ Duncan,, M'Naught, Swain) Osborne. Petone won the toss, and played from the south end -with the wind at back and the sun in their faces. The game opened rather scrappjly, gnd' it was some time before any noticeable movement evolved from the confused spasniqdic attack and counter-attack. .Fitzgerald was applauded for some good work in fielding and centreing. 'A rush led. by B. Gibson led to a sharp pnT slaiight on the Petone line pn the \yestern side, Duncan and Swain following up, and Ryan nearly getting over. Petone gained relief through a free kick, Then Petone started passing movements, and the ball travelled freely, if. it, did not get far up the field at first.; The' Athletic defence was good, and the final passes out> to the wing were usually awkward. In one of these movements Albert Parker, Thomas, and Fitzgerald handled the ball with the backs. Athletic, after a spell, regained the halfway, and here, Svenson, intercepting,, executed a splendid solo run which shpuk] have won a try, had he not hit the comet 1 flag in grpunding. In this quarter Porter had two shots at goal from a free kick, no charge being allowed on the first attempt, Neither suooeeded. Thus the game swung inde°Jsively up and down, ajid then sudr denly put of' a Petppe attqck, "Doc" Niehalls, receiving.a pass, and, finding himself shut in by the. ruck, slipped the, ball out to H. E., who coolly, from a few yards away let drive with a dropkick, and potted a pretty goal— * clever bit of work altogether. Pptone 4,. Ath^ letic 0.

The possibilities of the pot have been fully realised at Petone this season and, soon after, a passing . rush.. started by Oowie ran across to Eddie Ryan, who, getting a ground pass too late for a rau in, did the next best thing, and potted another goal. The crowd roaypd. Pfitone 8, Athletic 0, . Athletic', were, disconcerted from these "bolts from the blue," and. fell further.behind when. Mark Nicholls kicked a gopd penalty goal" as the result of a.n infringement by the Blaqks on their own 25 Jine. Halftime followed almoat immediately with the score, Petone 11, Athletic 0. -

The game was not yet. lost, but Athr letic had shaped badly so far. Thay opened the second spell with more dash aijd gave Petope a hot time, Roberts tried a solo run,,but was pushed out into tq.uch t Later Cowie managed to force just in time. Athletics were a]l the while within striking distance, and with anything like prpper handling" of '• the ball,> should, have pulled up points. G. Gibson paid B, Gibson had penalty shots at goal from possible" sites,' but failed badly. ,I}uncan-ha(J an attempt wjjeii Athletiq returned to th,f? attack after being momentarily qn the defence. IJq also failed, being apparently somewhat shaken; by n ppllision earlier in tii§ game with Hosting.. Then the Athletic passing improved, and Hoskipg was all but over. At last Athletic, were re.r warded. Eoberts centred with a nice punt, and the Gibsons, following up, fell on the ball, wiili Marl? Nicholls, over the line, The referee disentangled, the trio, andigave B. Gibson a try. Porter failed to " convert.•• Petbno 11, Athr letie 3- This was Athletip's only score. Pgtone, however, anxious to wipe thg stain of a tryles's victory off their sheet, redoubled their efforts, and the best bit of football of the day came in a duet between CQrner apd MarbNicholls,"Corner opening, Mark t^^ins up thp running, and harmonising well with his fellow

five-eighth, so that at the finish Corner was able to chime in again, "and from a neat -pass give the finale to the movement by a try between the posts. Mark put the kick over, and within a few minutes the game ended with the score— Potone 16, Athletic 3." It was a disappointing game. Mr. A. E. Neilsori controlled play effectively.