PONEKE'S NARROW WIN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 116, 19 May 1930, Page 7

PONEKE'S NARROW WIN

On a day which was far from being the best suited to their style o£ play, University failed by one point to break their vim'of losses in the match against Poneke, on the Petone ground. In the circumstances it was a good game, and in the concluding stages stirred the handful of drenched spectators to a'high pitch of excitement. There was little between the teams, the Poneke forwards, with the assistance of Barrett and Pelham in the backs, turning the scale in their side's favour. University made ' a great effort which fell just short, and it is idle to conjectm'o what would have happened on a dry day, because University, would still have had to master the Poneke forwards before they could have given their speedy threequarters a chance to show • their paces. The. game was late in starting, and numerous stoppages did not improve matters, with the result that the most interesting part of the match was played in semi-darkness. Deiderich, who has been in Christchureh, was back in' the 1/irVersity side. ■ The team!? were: — Poneke: Gilbert; Barrett, Pclh'am, V. Edgar; Cookson, Neale; Footc; dime; Jessup, Welch, Eraser, Moore, Stone,, Joyce, and Wilson. University: Williams; Maekay, Tiamson, Eastwood; 'Griffin, Mackenzie; Foden; Edgar;. Blackeney, Beaumont. Blacker, Deiderich, Cormack, Hart, and Claridge. University commenced iv promising fashion, the backs opening up well and the forwards putting in some useful loose rushes. Play had been in progress about ten minutes when Mackenzie engineered a movement in which Ramsou made a powerful run deep into Poneke territdry before handing on to Eastwood, who just grounded the ball over the. line before he disappeared with the corner flag into a sheet of water. With a fine kick Eamson lifted the heavy ball over the bar. University 5-0. Poneke, mainly by medium of their forwards, who were working with a will, then began to take more of a hand in matters. There were some lively exchanges, and although both lines were kept well guarded, two replacements had to be made, Brigden relieving Nealc (Injured ribs) and Sutcliffe relieving Williams, who had keen kicked in the loins. Neither player was seriously hurt, and the injuries did not appear to result from anything more than ordinary 'hard play. Immediately alter Williams had been carried off the field, a loose Poneke forward rush took tlio ball over the line, where Currio won the. dive for it. Barrett failed to convert from. well out. University 5, Poneke 3. Poneke continued to press till the end of the spell, which came without further scoring.

The second sessionMiad no sooner opened than the Poneke forwards swept downfield in a dangerous rush. The ball came out to Barrett, who _ broke clean away to be pulled down within a yard of the line. From, the resultant melee the-ball was tossed out to Pelham, who crossed near the corner. The kick failed. Poneke 6-5. Within a minute or two Barrett and Pelham had produced another try,' the latter scoring in almost the same place- as before. The kick again failed. Poneke 9-5. University set about making up the leeway without loss of time, and soon met with success. During forward play in front of the posts the ball was kicked out into the open, where Mackenzie beat Brigden -in tho race touch down. Ramson's kick was not quite good enough. There were some tense moments from then on, but neither, side could score again, and the game ended with' the- figures unchanged. -Poneke 9, University- S. Mr. G. Rathbon was referee.