LOCAL CONTENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 130, 6 June 1927, Page 15

LOCAL CONTENTS

MAHIST DEFEAT

. PONEKE

INTERESTING CHAMPIONSHIP

POSITION

SENIOR A GRADE. O'lBo" 10 Oriental 10 Welllneton .... 17 Hutt .......... 3 SENIOR B GRADE. Tr, S|' b.CUrn^ 9 JohnsonTille .... G wl S CoUe«a 12 Porirua s nn y, , ••■•••• 15 University • .... 13 Orlental M. Athletic ....... 0 The series of matches played on Saturday afternoon has accounted for •an exceedingly interesting position in the local senior grade Eugby competition, six. teams now having an equal number of championship points. All teams have been b«aten, and aIJ but two have lost a further point through a drawn game. Of the six teams running I level with- seven points, Berhampors, I Old Boys, and Poneke each have a game I in hand. The championship points are ! as follow:—Berhampore 7, Old" Boys 7 Poneke 7, Athletic 7, University 7, Potone 7, Oriental' 5, Wellington 4 ■ Marist 4, Hutt 1. , The big surprise in Saturday's 1 matches was the heavy defeat of . Poneke -at the hands of Marist, 1 who had ohly scored their first win of the season on the previous Saturday. Poneko, previously unbeaten, looked to have the match in hand when the game was more than half over, but.then a remarkable change took place. Marist quickly drew lavel,. and talcing complete charge they commenced to pile up points, over-running the championship leaders to win by the big margin of 22 points. Old Boys and Oriental, had a keen tussle on the adjoining ground at Newtown Park, and finished up all square. The game at Athletic Park, between Athletic and Berhampore was patchy, with the forwards making most of the play. There waa, a fair run of incident, and for this reason tha game held interest. Berham--1 pore ran out winners by two. con verted 'tries to two penalty goals. In the match at Petohe, a spirited finish by .University resulted in the local team being beaten by a margin of six points. Wellington had a comfortable win over Hutt at the Hutt Recreation Ground. In the senior B grade competition Eastbourne's claim to the championship honours was further improved by a win over Johnsonville and by the defeat of Porirua by Training College. MARIST IRRESISTIBLE. Not in their wildest dreams did the supporters of the Marist Club imagine that the side would defeat Poneke on Sateday by 30 points to 8. It wfts a tremendous surprise, but on the day Vlarist fully deserved their victory. At ialf-time Poneke led by 5 points to/nil. They scored another try soon after the commencement of the second spell, but after they were never in the hunt. Marist clapped on the pace; they, played, like a team inspired. TKe.forwavds beat the other- side -for the ball: and the backs were decisive in their movements. It was spectacular football, with Marist playing like a book.; The iceams were:— ; V '. ■•■ Marist (green'and white): Full-back; Cuminf;; three-quarters, Barry, Condon, Graham; five-eighths, Johnston, Murphy; half, Wallace; , wing-forward, M'Hardy; tprwards, Dennehy, Flett, Mahoney, Barry, Griffen, Hall, Butler. Poneke (red and black): V-Full-back,. Stubto; three-quarters, Corlison, Edgar,' M'Kay; five-eighths, Gibbs, Gilbert; half, Tilyafd; wing-forward, Jessnp; forwards, Wilson, Hughes, Pope, Shearer, Peterson, 1 Farnell, Organ. ■ ■ : Poneke were soon on the. attack, but a good kick by Murphy sent them back. Twice the Poneke backs gained ground with passing rushes, and from a scramble near the Marist line Shearer picked up and went across. He converted his own try. Poneke 8, Marist 0. Poneke again attacked, and Cumins forced, and ploy swung back to the half-way line. A good rush by the Marist ' forwards put the Greens in a good position. Murphy was unsuccessful with a penalty. So wal Griffen a few minutes later, and the spell ended without further incident. Stubbs uved Poneko twice from dangerous corners soon after the beginning of the Becond spell. Then the Poneke backs got under way. Edgar paved the way for, a try by Tilyard. Shearer's kick failed. Ponoke 8, Marist 0. From now oil Marist had the upper hand. The Green forwards were working . with splendid understanding, and Hall scored after exciting play on the Poneke line.' Murphy failed with the kick. The Green backs spoilt a good movement through bad passing, but a minute or so later Hall again crossed and converted his own try. Poneke 8, Marist 8. After a short attack by Poneko, the Marist forwards again swept down , the field and Barry marked and drop-kicked a good goaL Marist 11, Poneke 8. Cuming saved tha Greens from a tight corner, and again their forwards broke away. M Hardy picked up near the line and scored under the posts. Hall converted. Marist 16, Poneke 8. The next try was the prettiest on the day. Graham received the ball in a passing rush and centred. Condon swooped on the ball and streaked over. Hall goaled. Marist 21, Poneke 8. In a fine movement by the Marist backs the ball was passed out to Graham, who raced across and scored a splendid try in the corner. Hall converted. Marist 26, Poneke 8. Marist once more attacked, and just before time Condon potted a goal, making the final scores: • Marist : .'. 30 Poneke 8 Mr. E. E. Martin was referee. A DRAWN" GAME. Play in the match at Newtown Park between Old Boys and Oriental did not come up to expectations of a bright and open contest, but for the most part play was of a hard and solid nature, with little (rood combined work by the backs. There vras every indication in the opening exchanges that Borne good football would be seen. The forwards played solidly- and gaye no quarter, but both teams were quick to put a check on any attempt to start passing rush among the backs. Well on m the game Old Boys led by 10 oZni 1 if/ -hU A 'Bpplyinß th«> Piessure Oriental obtained a converted try, and the game ended in a draw—lo points all B B^fl Bm<L Werf:~2 ld B°ys: Malcolm; Bedell, Rushbrook, R. Lamason; Fitzmaunce, Grenfell; Sadler; Dodds, C aridge Hand, Emerson, Jones, M'Pherso^, MeapTt' V hT a*°£- Oriental: Simmonds; Packnatz, Allen, Evans; Cpwdell, Wyman s.kc, e '»; R.,Sinith, H. Smith, Taylor Marshall, Williams, Prlngle, Murie, Hll Smart exchanges marked thei openinc T"w-& c PW/with--both packs do n5 wefl.;.Within a short time Old Boys had a chance of opening up their scoring acfnrnnff°T:nß O^nta,l being penalised F. °fi; s.lde. P a.y, but LamasSn had no unJJIP w" *n f gOah B^ell showed F?l ;#^ °-tt XBm^ g y from the field.. Old Boys 4, Orieuta? 0 lulloch replaced him. Oriental were again penalised, and this time Lamason made 10 mistake with the kick at goal. Old Joys 7, Oriental 0. Old Boys forward 1' 1 ' but o^ntal y effectively hecked their movements. Bedell made .wo determined bds. for the .line, but .here were no loopholes. Malcolm gained nuch ground for Old Boys on several ocamons, with fine kicks to touch. Ju«t before the end of the spell the Oriental forwards drove Old Boys back, and from jv Ime-out Hill crossed for a try, which Siinmondß converted. Old Boys 7, Oriontfll 5. . For a time Oriental were very aggressive m tiie second half, and the Old Soys defence was tried. Williams (OrientaJ) I and Lamason (Old Boys) made unsuccessJ £ul attempt! to land penalty goals. Sadler

then sent the Old Boya backs away on a Bh°rt attack, and good play by Grenfell, enabled Bedell to score in the corner. Ihere was no conversion. Old Boys 10, Oriental 5. Fitzinaurice retired injured, and Patrick filled the vacancy. After some hard play in Oriental territory Sadler worked himself into a good position, and with a little more thought and quickness on his part, Old Boys in all probability would have obtained another try. As it was the ball, passed wildly, went to the Oriental forwards, who quickly changed defence into attack and were iv Old Boys territory in a flash. A scrum was ordered, and Hill, after a fine effort, dived across the line for a try. Simmonds converted, bringing the scores level. Play ste-sawed m the closing stages, but neither side was able to add to its -tally, the game ending: Old Boys 10, Oriental 10. Mr. J. Moffitt controlled the game. WELLINGTON v. HUTT. u.H«r t, w<!re easily defeated on Saturday by Wellington, the latter team having a margin of 14 points. The play, although exciting m parts, was poor, the backs ot both teams lacked combination, and the scrums resulted in mere scrambles for ■ possession. The teams were:— Wellington.—-Johansen; Corloss Hill Morgan; Johnson, Cunningham; Kilby; Matheson; Whyborn, Clelnnd, Thornton, Phillips, M'Lean, Giles, Voice •Hutt.—Berntsen; Balks, Hester, M'Carthy; Munro, Brown; ■ M'Dousall; George; Sundgreen, Forsyth, M'Gill, Turee, Daily. Peck, Grierson. . Wellington won the toss and played with the sun in their favour. Balks took a successful line kick, but Hutt were soon forced into defence. .A free kick was awarded to Wellington, but Ma£heson was not equal to it. Wellington's repeated forward rushes could not be held.. Berntsen was caught in possession, and before Hutt were able to recover Phillips scored. Mathesbn failed to convert. Wellington (3-0). The play then settled down among the backs, but at; half-time neither team had added to its score. During the first half Brown was injured, and was replaced by Hume. Jarman played full-back in place of Berntsen. Wellington again attacked, but a free kick brought Hutt up. As the game progressed the back-line play improved, and after a passing bout Hutt secured a free kick, in which Balks was successful. Wellington (3-3). Wellington were soon in Hutt's twenty-five, but the rush failed when the ball reached the backs. At this stage Peck was injured, and was replaced by Smith. Johnson 1 got away from a scrum, and passed to Matheson, who scored. The try was converted by Kilby. Wellington (8-3). Wellington soon forced its way to a scoring positioc, and Johnson added another try. The kick failed. Wellington (11-3).' Following a temporary advantage gained by Hutt, the Wellington backs soon had the ball, and Phillips scored a try. Kilby failed to convert. Wellington (14-3). Wellington again forced , their way through Hutt's ranks, arid Johnson scored. The kick was not converted.- Wellington (17-3). 'VARSITY AND PETONe! Rugby supporters turned up in large numbers at Petono Recreation Ground in expectation of a spectacular match be-: tween the local team and 'Varsity. The game was easily the best seen on the Potone ground this year, with the result in doubt Until the final stages; 'Varsity won, and their victory was well deserved,; though the game was never one-sided. The teams were:— : '■ < ■ University.—Noble-Adams; Foden, Earnson, Mackay; Urwin, Mackenzie; Leys; Sceats; Hislop, Blakeney, Martin-Smith, Diedench, Claridge, Platts-Mills, Cor,mack. Petone.—Henwood; Kearns, Corner, Hawkins; Nicholls, Edwards; Cpman; . Parker; Warden, Potts, Cameron, Dickens, Spence, Carr, Thomas. _ Petone kicked off against the sun, and immediately after the Btart Nicholls kicked a great goal from a penalty just inside half-way. 3-0. After a few minutes of give-and-take play, Cprmack equalised with a fine penalty goal. 3-3. Soon afterwards Mackay secured- in midfield, and with a great burst of speed, ran round the opposition to score in the corner. Cormaek missed. 0-3. Pretty combined play by the Varsity backs, with Ramson anil ioden prominent, ended with Leys being pushed.into touch in the corner. 'Var|'ty threw away a score a little later when the ball, after passing through the backs to Ramson and back to Unwin and Ramson, was dropped by the centre after he had crossed the... line. With .play back in 'Varsity territory Nicholls gpaled from a penalty. 6-6. Petone's ascendancy was short-lived. With Urwin and Ramson prominent, 'Varsity attacked, the latter player going into touch at the corner. Coman, Edwards, and Nicholls combined to put Petone on the attach but half-time sounded with the score 6-fl. . : The 'Varsity forwards assumed the offensive right from the kick-off, awl from a scrum near the Petone line Leys, secured and dashed over on the blind side. Ramson converted splendidly. 11-0., Ramson intercepted a pass when Petone were attacking, and with a strong run took play to/ the other end where further:! scoring chances wore lost.-. Following a sweeping

went to ♦£ 1>V P? tone *°™ardS f the ball hilfJSrtrt 1 b»4 Nicholli, who cut oVJvtr »l iH? red- Ed»-wds was handy, beyond dotbtfn thVal; Blt? P^ t l he issue Mr. B. Kloher was the referee. BERHAMPORE v. ATHLETIC. pfay VVhi^ H °U8 tlme *? tjeht "nd loose PO/ e irearßuard' but » the mattef of individual performance there were players on the Berhampore side who were exce fent"*' Throu<*°»t the game many ™' goring opportunities were prea?ii I'- Ut-m most cases they were lost. Athletic missed three tries through the SfT\°V5P extreme left °f *Se line L fal hng to take Paß6es cleanly, and a couple of goals were also badly missed. On the other hand, Berhampore also lost chances, and were very unluoky in some attempts at scoring. On one occasion a hefty "pot" from midfield went exceedingly close, the ball landing on the cross-bar and bouncing into the field oi piay. . Berhampore, however, gained success late in the game, a converted try ob valned' n thelr final rallies giving them I f! of four Points/ Previously Athletic had been a-point,to the good, with two penalty goals to,'a converted try. Athletic missed Warwick, who injured a knee at gym. practice, and Berhampore were upset early in the game when two of their players collided and had to leave the field. The match was witnessed by about 4000 spectators. The teams "were: ,Trße!r hampore- — Walters; Pickering, Woolf, Foley; Lang, Brettis; Ward, Mouatt; Mason, Mollier, Pickrang, Smith, Deere, M'Artney, Eenner. ■•'■', Athletic—Keenan; Sutton, Sutcliffe,' Ronberg; L. Cookson, E. Cookson; Whinham; Pope; Osborne, Olliver, Edgar,Webber, Tyree, Anderson, Everett. Berhampore won the toss and played with the sun at their backs. The early play was patchy, with Athletic doing most of the attacking. At length the Athletic backs carried on from a forward rush, and a try was lost through a knockon. In the scrum which followed Berhampore were penalised, and L. Cookson landed a good goal. 3-0. Shortly afterwards Berhampore lost Smith and Woolf, both injured in a collision, and they were replaced by R, Brown and Nicholls. Berhampore appeared to be disorganised for a time, but Athletic were unable to drive their attacks rights home. Pickering and Deere each made au attempt to equalise the score with a shot at goal when Berhampore were on attack, but ..they did not succeed, nor did Mouatt with a great "pot," the ball in this case landing on the. cross-bar and falling into the -field of play. Berhampore were now playing up, and openings by Lang cleared/the way for a try. This, however, was thrown away, and a little later Athletic had the same experience. Back on the attack, Berhampore pressed solidly, and from a scrum near Athletics line M'Artney dived across. ' Pickering converted. 5-3. .By ■ half-timo Athletic, were .Again in front, L. Cookson having kicked another penalty [goal. 6-5; . ■ , . ..■'..■ -„. Play in the second spell was keen, and for* some i time Athletic^ did- their utmost, to improve their position. They were well guarded, however, and did not make the" most of more opportunities to goal. As the play progressed Berhampore rallied, and they eventually broke off in a Beries of rushes which had Athletic bustled. Pickrang was unlucky in one effort to score a try, but just afterwards Ward dived over from a scrum for a fine try. Pickering converted with a fine kick. 10-0. Athletic, who .had missed another good scoring chance, rallied, but Berhampore finished strongly, and held their ground. The final score was: Berhampore 10, Athletic 6. Mr. D. Calcinai was the referee.