EVEN AND EXCITING GAME.

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 136, 13 June 1927, Page 6

EVEN AND EXCITING GAME.

At Newtown Park on Saturday Poneke drew with Wellington—l 3 points all—in one of the fastest and mosjt exciting games seen tbis season. The football could not be called high-class, but the pace ivas on all the way, and the issue in doubt until the over-vigorous but tensive left the issue in doubt until the final whistle. • Thus the 500 spectators who saw the match were kept up to concert pitch the whole of the time, and-the barracking ■was 1 particularly keen. Poueke had the better of the.first spell, and led by 8 points to nil, but the second -was slightly in favour of Wellington, whose backs got going ou several occasions and mode things dangerous for the opposition, all the way, and the over-vigorous but timely -word of warning from {ho referee

(Mr. K. Perry), who controlled the game admirably, was sufficient to quell anything that was not Rugby football. The teams were:— Poneke (red and black).—Full-back, Stubbs; three-quarters, Edgar, Algar, M'Kay.; five-eighths, G. Nicholls, Gibbs; half, If. Tilyanl; wing-forward, Jossup; forwards, Hughes, Wilson, Pope, J. Shearnr, Peterson. Farnell, Debreceuy, Organ, Gilbert, Coilinson.

Wellington (yellow and black).—Fullback, Johatisen; three-quarters, Morgan, Hill, Corlcfs; five-eighths, Johnson, Cunningham; halt, Kilby; wing-forward, "Malheson; forwards, Whyborn, Clolaud, Donnelly, Phillips, Thornton, M'Lean, Voice.

Poneke found their feet quickly, and their forwards -were showing more cohesiou in the tight than the Yellows. Good defensive work kept them out for a time and a good kick by Kilby bro-ight relief to Wellington, bi-.t again the Reds pressed havd. Algar finislied off a passing rush by scoring. Nieholls failed to convert. Poueke 3, Wellington 0. Poneke were soon attacking again, but Matlieson saved with a fine kick, and the Yellow forwards carried on. They gave Poneke an anxious time, and a force-down resulted. The Poneke backs got under way soon after, and Algar scored a second try. after a brilliant piece of combined play. Nieholls converted. Poneke S, Wellington 0. Each side staved off a dangerous attack during the next few minutes. The play was travelling up and down the field wtih surprising rapidity. The tackling on both sides was very good, aud half-time sounded without further score. ,

Kilby .failed to goal from a good position soon after the commencement of the second spell, but the Wellington forwards came away in an irresistible rush, and Donnelly, who was playing a fine game, scored. Kilby converted. Poneke 8, Wellington 5. The Poneke forwards swarmed down the field, but Kilby saved. Morgan and Corless made splendid runs down the line, but both were brought down with line tackles. Kilby was giving his backs plenty of ball, and several times they were dangerous. He evened up the scores with a long goal from a penalty. Poneke 8, Wellington- S. Johnson made an opening and sent Corless away, but the latter was brought down near the line. Then the Poneke forwards took command and transferred, the play to the Wellington twenty-five. Stubbs fielded an attempt to clear aud took a "pot" at goal. His kick hit the' cross-baiy but J. Shearer snapped up the ball and dived over. Nieholls converted. Poneke 13, Wellington 8. There were now only a few minutes to go, and Wellington attacked strongly. Kilby made a brilliant opening for Corless, aud the winger scored. Kilby converted, and the game ended: Poneke 13, Wellington 13,