EASTBOURNE v. PONEKE.

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

EASTBOURNE v. PONEKE.

In a. somewhat disappointing game Eastbourne defeated Poneke at Pctone by a margin of three points. The Eastbourne team—on paper—was one oE the strongest fielded by the club for some years, but it was not until the close of the game that its display came near to approaching the standard which was nearly good enough to win the championship last year. For the greater part of the game Poneko were the better team in both the backs and forwards, and the game appeared to be theirs until about half-way through the second spell, when the fastmoving Eastbourne, forwards got going in the loose and, with good assistance from the backs, figured in some attacking play which threw Poneke pit their balance and carried the day. Martin, Eastbourne's halfback of last year, was behind the Poneke scrum and played opposite C'omun, who had also had a transfer. Uinuiss was back at wing-three-quarter for Eastbourne. Losing the toss, Poneke opened with the sun in their faces, bjit they had an advantage from the wind. Poneke attacked from the jump, the team going well in all departments, and, although efforts to penetrato the defence were unsuccessful, E. Neal opened their account with a penalty goal. Fuller almost immediately equalised with a similar effort. 3-3. Loose play, confined mainly to the forwards, whore Poneke more than hold their own, followed, and another infringement by Eastbourne enabled E. Neal to realise a further three points. The referee's whistle was heard very frequently about this stage of (he game. Right on half-time Organ scored the first try of the match, when lie finished off sonic strenuous attacking play by Poneke forwards. Ncal failed to con-

vert and the score read: Poneke 9, Eastbourne 3. For the greater part of the second spell there was little of interest in the game, and neither side had a marked superiority territorially. Just when it looked, however, as if Poneke had established a hold on the game, Eastbourne started to give the ball an airing, the fast-following up of long kicks being a feature. Fleming (who had moved in to first five-eighths, Fuller going out on to the wing) received the ball near half-way from a line-out and cut deep into the Poneke defence before passing to a line of supports, an unexpected thrust ending with Drummond scoring. Fuller failed to convert. 0-6. Soon afterwards the ex-Wairarapa representative retrieved himself by kicking a splendid goal from a penalty. 0-0. One of Eastbourne s loose rushes then sent J. Dellabarca over, Fuller failing to convert, and although Poneke strove hard to turn the tables there was no further scoring, the game ending: Eastbourne 12, Poneko 0. Mr. G. B. Helcy was the referee.