PETONE OUTCLASSES ORIENTAL.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 4 May 1925, Page 9

PETONE OUTCLASSES ORIENTAL.

Little difficulty was experienced by Petone on Saturday afternoon in outclassing Oriental to the tune of 18 points to nil. Heavy rain began to fall before the commencement of the game, and it continued right throughout the piece, sometimes increasing in volume, but never ceasing altogether. This made the turf, unreliable, -and the ball greasy, which features added neither to the comfort of the players nor to the quality of their work. Petone always held the upper hand, and, though" Oriental fought back strongly all the time, their best efforts did not even serve to put them in the picture. Petono won at their own pace. The teams were: Petone (blue)—-Gardiner ; . Hawkins, " Doc." Nicholls, Cornaga; Corner, M. Nicholls ;' Iloger; Fitzgerald, Warden, Laurie, Love, Haddock, King, Parker. Thomas. Oriental (black and white)—Sidet; Hume, Cow-drell, Smith; M'llraith, Wickens; Chambers; Hepburn, Brown. Parker, Aly, Pringle, Watts, Murie, Hall. At the outset the wind was blowing across the field from the north-west corner, but it gradually shifted round until in the final stages of the struggle in the mud it was coming up lightly from tho south. Petone had the advantage of whatever wind there was when the town fifteen kicked off. Oriental started a promising rush, and matters looked fairly bright for them when Gardiner, the opposing full-back, fumbled after waiting for the ball to bounce. He vindicated himself, however, by relieving the pressure with.a reasonably good line kick. Back to the attack came the Oriental van, but Fitzgerald cleared. Securing the leather from a scrum, Mark Nicholls showed some pretty footwork, but naturally he was well marked, and was soon-grassed. In company with brother "Doc." and Cornaga, the All Black a few minutes later made another good run, but nothing came of the attempt. Then followed an exchange of kicks, Corner finally sending the ball up-and-under. " Doc." Nicholls got off the mark speedily, and' securing the ball as it bounced he passed to Hawkins, who had no difficulty in outstripping his few pursuers and scoring near the left corner. Mark Nicholls.converted with a welljudged kick. Petone 5, Oriental 0. On the resumption of play Wickens secured handily, but the fast-moving Pelonc forwards surrounded--' him before ho could clear. " Doc." Nicholls missed rather badly, but he was quick to make amends for his mistake and lie whipped the ball away to Mark Nicholls, who transferred to Fitzgerald. Hawkins then took charge, and tho result was the addition of three more points to Petone's tally. The kick failed, and the scores after twenty-five minutes of play were • Petone 8, Oriental 0. Pringle, at one stage, had a very good chance of. doing something to assist his side, but he found difficulty in handling the greasy ball. ■ Following -a great rush by Petone, " Doc." Nicholls short-punted and Hawkins and Sidet had a great little race to see who "would first reach the ball, the former to score, the latter to "force." Neither player succeeded in his object, as the ball was kicked behind. A few minutes later ""Doc." and Hawkins once 'more collaborated and Petone's lead was in consequence increased by a further three points The kick at-goal failed... Petone 11 } Oriental o.'bmith beat Cornaga for the ball and sent Oriental away, but the suburban men came back strongly, and Fitzgerald scored. The kick was not successful. Petone 14, Oriental 0 were the scores when Referee R. Heron's whistle announced the interval. From the kick-off in the second spell I ringle marked and sent the ball well down field. Petone almost immediately continued the pressure, and during a particularly heavy shower Mark Nicholls tried unsuccessfully to pot a goal Oriental for a very short space were permitted to appear m the role of aggressors, and Chambers seemed to think he was clear, when King took him by the heels. Smith tried a pot at goal—a very fine attempt in. view of the circumstances, but the ball passed outside the posts Petone were penalised for offside but they soon rallied in a strong attack and Corner kicked a splendid goal from the field. Petone 18, Oriental 0 Hawkins, who was playing with great dash, dispayed his knowledge of ducking and side-stepping to good advantage, *n .uK groUnd Proved his' downfall .both literally and figuratively. Oriental were still doing their best to break through the opposing defence when the final whistle sounded, with the scores— Petone 18, Oriental 0.