ATHLETIC BEAT PONEKE.

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 83, 7 April 1924, Page 10

ATHLETIC BEAT PONEKE.

It was a popular and well-deserved victory which Athletic gained over Poneke in a strenuously-contested game. The' losers fought, back well all the time, but superior combination swayed the tide of battle towards the wearers of the blue and black jerEey. The teams turn-. Ed out as follow :— Athletic (blue and black).—Dempster; Richards, Cookson, Sutton; Gibson, Svenson; "Warwick; Porter, Swain, Osborne, M'Kernon, Smith, Webb, Park, and Duncan. Poneke (red and black).—Wright, Gibson. H. Tilyard, Bennett; Turner, F. Tilyaid; Hall; Jessop, Pollock, Desmond, Smith, Walsh, Peterson, Booker, and Calcinai. v With the opening whistle Poneke moved forward aggressively, and for a timo kept the Blues well lack in their own territory, but' Warwick, from a litieout, marked neatly and sent the leather well down field. By following up quickly, the Athletic advance guard took full advantage of the opportunity, and for a short interval Poneke were kept busily defending. The Eed backs finally swung into action and a pretty passing rash gave every indication of bearing fruit. The ball came into the hands of V. Tilyard, whom many thought to be off-side, but the referee did- not see fit to interfere with the play. Warwick stood up well to the rush, and cleared with a good kick. Sutton-centred, and Park tried hard to force his way through, but Poneke quickly formed a scrum' and held off. the attacking forwards. The Reds then instituted a determined counter movement, and after pressing the opposing line for- several minutes H. Tilyard whipped out the ball to Bennett, who scored near the 1 right corner flag^without meeting much opposition. The'kick at goal failed. Poneke 3, Athletic 0,; were the scores when half-time was announced. Again Poneke made the pace from the kick-off, ..but Athletic ..played carefully and their defence remained unbroken. Kennedy had replaced Pollock, and the Red forwards worked willingly and tried hard to be always with the leather, but Athletic were. the steadier in all departments, and it was obvious that full advantage would be taken of the slightest slij} on the part of their opponents. When near the Red goal line, Porter put in sorfi'e good solid work, and Warwick, securing, transferred to Gibson, who in turn handed the ball to' Svenson. The last-mentioned shot over the line near the right corner flag. His kick at goal went wide. Poneke 3, Athletic 3. Poneko were still optimistic as to their chances, and Dempster, Athletics fullback, came out of a scuffle on the twen-ty-five line with a badly-damaged arm, which necessitated his retirement' from the game. He was replaced by Brook. Svenson made a good opening, but Gibson was bumped and dropped the pass. He failed to score with a penalty kick from a.quite favourable position. Pone»ke were then penalised for playing the ball on the ground, and Cookson sue- ' cessfully piloted the ball between the bars. Athletic 6, Poneke 3. Svenson cleared from a good Poneke rush, and Sutton commenced to sprint promisingly but, on being grassed, stopped a heavy kick in the body, and play was. suspended until he recovered. Booker and Calcinai worked hard for. Poneke in a line-out, and Peterson put some weight behind a speculation kick, and sent the ball (lownfield. A determined effort by the' Athletic forwards resulted in Poneke being suddenly placed' on the defensive, and Gibson, getting' away nicely, was almost over the line when he passed to Sutton, who scored between the posts. It was Gibson's try and was converted by Cookson. 11, Poneke 3. The Reds were by no means disheartened, "continued to press hard, but were not fast enough in combining to get away clear before the Athletic defence was formed. Warwick caused quite a surprise by gathering in the leather and charging head down and without aiyr hesitation against the. opposing forwards. Needless to say he bounced off as if he were a rubber ball, and was none the worse for his attempt. Once more Svenson opened a passing rush, but the third man to receive the ball was grassed with a Jitlle more severity than was necessary. Wright, collaring accurately, cut short Gibson's optimism^ but Porter was at hand and forced his way over on the right-hand side of the posts. The kick at goal failed. Athletic 14, Poneke 3. There was no further score before the referee, Mr. R. N. Wilkinson, signalled the end of the game, with play in neutral territory.