MORE RUGBY SURPRISES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 110, 12 May 1930, Page 15

MORE RUGBY SURPRISES

EASTBOURNE'S FINE WIN

MAEIST UNBEATEN

Two or three of Saturday's results, coming On top of the surprises of the previous week, indicate clearly that it is not safe to pin faith on- any one team in the senior A competition, with, the exception up to the present of Marist, who, as a result of all the unexpected things that have happened since a-start "was made with the grade games three weeks ago are the only unbeaten team. It was not anticipated that Petone, .who until Saturday shared- the honour with Marist of being at tho top of the list with two wins, would go down to Eastbourne, and yet Eastbourne did the trick, very convincingly, too, by finishing with eleven points to the good. The form being shown by the : light Eastbourne side appears to indicate that it was unlucky _in losing its first'game against Oriental. Its stocks have risen considerably. Another surprise on Saturday was University's defeat by Berhampore, neither of whom had had a win previously. ; The champions of last year are now 'at tho bottom of the ■-list., '■:'. ■V: ;-■■■' ■.: ■'■■•' , ': The game at Athletic Park between Marist and Poneke was played before an attendance of about'6ooo, the best of the season So far. There were a number of high lights in the play which roused en-. thusiasm from the crowd. Marist had the game .well in hand practically throughout, and won . handsomely. Oriental) and Hutt had a keen contest at Lower.' Hutt, Recreation Ground, at the end of which .they were all square. Another close game was that between Athletic and. Old Boys,■'played at. Newtown Park. Marist are now at the head of the competition with sLx points, and Petone, East- ■ bourne, and Old Boys are next with -, four points each. Hutt arid Oriental have three; each; Poneke, Athletic, and Ber : hampore two each; and. University have failed to register a point. ' ' v - The senior; B match at Johnsonville between the Johnsonville team,and Wellington, which it had been held would thoroughly test Wellingtons strength, drew a large attendance and provided an entertaining game. Although Wellington -won by 25 points to 3, Johnsonville presented a very solid front, particularly in the first spell, but they were penalised a good deal, and on three occasions the Wellington half, Kilby, who was in excellent form, contributing 16 of the points, made full use of the errors.; Wellington's. points record for three matches now reads: 124 points for and only 6 against It is interesting to note, too, that Wellington's line has not yet been crossed, the six points against them representing two penalty goals. The championship points in the B grade are as follow: Wellington 6, Johnsonville 4, University 4, Oriental, 4, Melrose 3, Training College 2, Mifamar 2, Selwyn 2, Porirua 2,.' Upper Hutt 1, Old Boys 0.

F^ONEKE OUTPLAYED. " As ,was the case in the match against Old Boys the previous week, the pace of the Marist team had a lot to do with their very decisive win from Poneke at Athletic Park. Poneke were outplayed by a younger and speedier team, whose forwards worked with1 better cohesion, and whose backs, with their nippiness, on a number .of occasions made big gaps m the opposition- defence. Once they settled down, Marist played a winning game all the way, giving their supporters little cause for" concern over the ultimate result. Another, factor in Marist's clear-cut win was the excellent; game played by the full-back, H. Cuming, who frequently roused applause for, his surenoss in taking. the ball and his accurate line-kicking. Cumiing made 'good use of the. line, and his splendid kicks to' touch conserved, the energy of his forwards considerably. _ In fairness to Foneke, it must be said that although it fielded a heavy' pack, who had a good share of the ball, the team was not at full/strength. The inability of B. Wilson to play owing to- an_ injury was a distinct loss. Julian, who injured his ankle in the.match against Hutt, was not in his place .behind the scrum, and then there were two other forwards standing down—Rene and D. Wilson. P. Stone, the ■well-known boxer, and Cuh-ie, of the junior, team,.filled two of' the | and H. Sly was also -ondeck again,, giving" very good assistance. ■ •' . ■ . ; ■ ; 'The play was exciting to a degree, a little drab now and again,-but 'at- others bright with; stirring incidents to the full liking, of the big crowd. Only once were ! Poneke in the lead, although shortly after the, commencement of the second spell they were on level terms with Marist, and oil another occasion; they had a deficit of only -two' points. At that particular period interest was stirred.to a high.pitch.! Poneke were playing much better than in" the first spell, and for a time made things warm, but, when, Marist withstood this burst and set out on the offensive once more, Poneke were seldom dangerous'again. In the last fifteen minutes or so.Marist, came with a fine rattle as; a £nale and put on eight more points.

The teams were:— Poneke.—G. Niekolls; Edgar, Pelhain, Barrett; Cookson, Neal;1 Gilbert;-Currie; Joyce, Stonej Sly, Fraseiy Moore, ;Jessup.and Welsh. Marist;—H. Cuming; Broderick; MTJonald, 0. Graham; Kofcins; Condon; Keegan; Stiver; Otto way, Judd, E. Barry; M'Hardy, Butler, Cummings, King. For the first- spell Marist had to face the sun. For the first ten minutes or so there was .little of note in the play,-each side having a < turn on attack. When Marist were penalised there was au oddson1 chance for Poneke to open their account, but Neal sent the ball wide of the posts. Subsequently the Marist forwards took Charge, and with an irresistible rush which swept the opposition aside, E. Barry, and Ottaway went over the line together for the last-named to score. Stiver failed to.convert. A series of short rushes by Poneke had Marist defending after this, but when Gilber6 tried to set his.backs in motion Condon cut in on-the movement and sent Brqderick racing up the line. After his dash, Broderick kicked [infield, and play was taken to the Porieke posts. •. Here Marist lost possession, and Poneke forced. ■ Cuming had been doing some fine work, and he gamed further applause by a fine effort he made to get the backs into action. Marist hajl been aggressive' since scoring, but Barrett changed the scene with, a splendid solo run."- Later on, Barrett made another splendid dash, and when Cuming failed ,to gather up the ball he ran over to score a -well-deserved try near the posts. Neal converted. Foneke 5, Marist 3. The Poneke forwards were playing up much •better, and when Cuming, after evading Pelham, tried some fancy work in an eiir deavour to beat another couple of men, he had Marist in trouble, but Condon eaino to. his assistance. Marist were lucky_ in getting out: of the .hole. M'Donald retired injured, and was replaced by -0. Barry, who went to the right wins, Brodcrick moving in to centre. In the last few minutes before the- interval Marist.kept up solid pressure, and eventually from a scrum in Poneke territory Keegan whipped the ball out to Condon, and Robins, the'next to receive, cut through brilliantly, leaving the opposition standing. Keegan .goaled. Marist S, Poneke 5. Cookson did not take the field in the second spell,. Meadows coming on as a wing-three-quarter, Pelhain moving up to second'five-eighths and Barrett to centre For obstruction,, Marist were penalised, and Neal, with a beautiful kick, landed a goal. Marist S, Poueke S. A little later, King went off, and was replaced in the Jlanst pack by Peters. Poneke maintained good pressure, but ultimately Cuming sent them back witli a long kick. From the line.out which followed, Butler broke clear and sent' M'Hardy on io score.. Stiver converted. Marist ]3, Poneke 8. .Offside play by a Marist player gave; Noil a long shot at goal, but he missed._ He wasi successful, however, within a minute or two. when Mavist were penalised again. |

Marist 13, Poneke 11. Keegan turned the tables with a fine run on his own. After beating.: Nicholls and two other Foneke players, he passed to Stiver, who had raced up in support. It appeared that Keegan could have gone through on his own, and his pass to Stiver going at top was rather risky, but Stiver gathered^ in the ball and ran over unopposed. Keegan converted. Marist IS, Poneko 11. It was the turning-point in the game. There were only ten minutes left, and Poneke were incapable of summoning that final effort with which in the past they have pulled many a game out of the. fire. Instead,- Marist scored again, Robins making a good opening for Broderick, who beat the defence cleverly, to touch down for a fine try. The kick at goal Was unsuccessful, Marist,thus winning by 21 points to li. : ■ . - The referee was Mi-. T. A. Fletcher.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIOB A. Marist 21 Ponelte ........ 11 Eastbourne ....25 Petone ...l'l .Berhamporo .... < 8 University -b Old Boys .......10 Athletic S Hutt ..•• 6 Oriental 6 : SENIOR B. Wellington ..... 25 Johnsonvillu .... 3 Miramar ' IB Old Boys : 9 Porirua 11 Melroso 9 Oriental 1* Vwar Hutt .... 0 Selwyn, won by default from .Training College.