MATCHES DESCRIBED

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 9, 11 July 1932, Page 12

MATCHES DESCRIBED

PONEKE AND ORIENTAL

Although the Oriental forwards put up a good fight and outplayed the opposing pack in the loose they were not able to carry the day in the match against Poneke, on the Petone Oval, a burst of scoring by the Poneke backs in the last few minutes of the first spell giving the loading team a 16-0 advantage at halftime;- the final score was Poneke, "19; Oriental, 8. The Oriental forwards again concentrated on preventing the Poneke backg irom. getting under way and generally were successful, the wing-forward, Wilkinson, giving Julian no peace, but the tackling of the backs occasionally showed weaknesses of which Poneke took full advantage. Poneke opened up the game at every opportunity, the backs handling the ball well and displaying plenty of pace, but usually little ground was gained in their movements. For most of the second spell they played with only fourteen men, Mincham retiring with an injured knee and Ross being taken from the pack to play on: the wing. Territorially play^was-fairly even in.the first' spell, although Poneke held an advantage, but in the second spell the winners were attacking practically continuously, -although Oriental scored two tries to one. It was a hard-fought game, with both sets of ■forwards playing well and-the Poneke 'backer"ever ready to' provide-'spectacular-touches. The teams were:— , •

Poneke: Crisp; Mincham,- Chesterman, Edgar; Grimths, Neal; Julian, Eoss, Quaid, Dixon, McPherson, Merrick, Russell; Shearer,, and Stone. .'

Oriental: Sinclair; Baldwin, Ritchie, Kelly; Daviea, Fulford; Syddall; Wilkinson;. Ramsay,. Shepherd,- Collinge,,-.Mcll-wraith, Biggar, McMillan, and Henshaw. Owing to injuries both teamß were without the services of several of their regular players. Oriental opened promisingly and had a-goodshare'of the early play;!^They were/several times near .to scoring, and managed to keep Poneke in check,until near the end: of the spell, when passing bouts by Poneke resulted'in tries by Edgar, Chesterman, Griffiths, and Mincham, Mineham converting two. Soon after the second spell started Baldwin scored for Oriental-afteT, a great effort in which he raced down the'line from his own twentyfive, beating four Poneke men en route. Shortly afterwards a breakaway by Ritchie, who passed to Fulford, produced a try by Biggar, .the Oriental forward outstripping the Poneke backs in a run of about forty yards to score behind the post 3. Davies converted. Thereafter Poneke hammered hardat, the Oriental line, but it was not until near the finish that Julian, pickingup near the twenty-five yards line, dashed through to score near the corner. Neal-failed .tQ convert, and the game ended with the score Poneke, 19; Oriental,

Mr. H. S. Leith was the referee.