SENIOR A

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 15

SENIOR A

A STIRRING GAME. The urge to win never slackened in the game between Wellington and Petone at Athletic Park, and some five thousand spectators found the strenuous 'encounter! to their liking, with just cause for excitement in the concluding stages, when it was anybody's gauie. Forwards of fine calibre battled tenaciously throughout the two forty-five's, and they were always supported by backs just as eager tor work and always "on their toes" prepared for quick action. Of incident there was an unceasing supply, and that of a sparkling order was brought about mainly by quick-thinking and smart moving backs, liarely were the backs on either side given much latitude in their endeavours to function as- a combined force in the open, but, in spits of the effective spoiling and tackling, there was much attacking play by the backs. Fast following up,: too, often made it necessary for players to act more speedily on defence than is usually the case. It was a fast, strenuous game, and the victory won by Wellington was well deserved. Wellington had the better of the first spell and changed over with a commanding lead of eleven points (16----5). .It did not take Petone very long in the second spell to reduce that margin very considerably, and with the score at 16-14 Wellington's position was far from secure. Ere long the position was 19-17, and at that the struggle became more intense, both sides having some very anxious moments. The te..ms were:— Wellington.—lrvine; Hutchison, Biddell, Ball; Page, Hay; Kilby; Harris; Nicol, M'lvor, Heffernan, Howatson,' MTican, Carlyou, and Hurrell. Petone.—Kearus; Yalk, Pollock, Huxtable; Nicholls, M'Gurk; Brice; Carr; Potts, A. Lambourne, Reid, Martin, Fell, Pickard, and Lind. Playing with the wind and sun behind them in the first spell, Wellington, who won the toss, were soon on the aggressive. Penalty kicks were numerous in the early | stages, and from one of those Kilby started Wellington's account. 3-0. Kilby, Page, and Ball were frequently conspicuous in Wellington attacks. The last-named is a brother of the Hutt player and has played junior football in the Eangitikei district. He proved a hard player to stop when under way. Page was always a danger, especially with his attempts to cut straight through the defence, and Kilby was full of business. Hay often caused Petone to beat a hasty retreat with his long and well-judged kicking. A surprise in the first spell was created when M'Gurk was awarded a try after Ball had apparently forced down. Tha latter evidently had' not made contact with hand, ball, and ground. Nicholls . converted the try. 5-3. Strong pressure by Wellington severely tested the Petone defence, and at length a missed pass by a defender under the posts enabled Carlyon to touch down smartly. Kilby converted. S-5. In the course of another attack a relieving kick was charged down and Kilby, regaining possession, scored. From near "touch" he failed to convert. H-5. Petono were by no means out of the picture, but they could not reach the objective, and befure the spell ended their deficit was increased. Ball, Page, and Harris paved the way for a try by M'Lean. Kilby converted. .10-5, A change of tactics was employed by Petone in the second spell, and this included the playing of an extra back, Carr taking up a position .in the rearguard. For a while Wellington maintained superiority. Nieholls subsequently directed his backs in such a way as to make them a stronger attacking force, and the outcome of one good movement, in which Pollock (Petone's nippy centre) figured prominently, was a try by HtixfcnbJe. Nicholls failed to convert, but a little later he landed a penalty goal. In this case ha landed a penalty goal. In this case neither line umpire signalled, but the referee, after conferring with them, awarded a goal. 10-11. 'Before, long Nicholls from eight yards inside half-way, landed annther penalty goal. IG-M. This stirred Wellington to even greater action, and a breakaway by HefFernan was topped off by M'Lean with n try (unconverted). To this Nicholls replied with his third successful penalty kick. 10-17. Matters were exceedingly brisk for the remainder of tho game. Desperate efforts were made by Petone to pull the game nut of the fire, and Nicholls went very close to doing the. trick with a drop-kick from the field. Wellington's defence, however, held good and their attacking powers were not exhausted. A fine game ended: Wellington 10. Petone 17. Mr. J. A. Wilson was the referee.