PONEKE WIN WELL

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1932, Page 12

PONEKE WIN WELL

NATIONAL MUTUAL CUP

EASTBOURNE OUTPLAYED

Poneke, winners of this season's senior A Rugby championship, left no doubts as to their superiority on the day when they warded off a challenge by Eastbourne for the National Mutual Cup at Athletic Park on Saturday, winning the match by 25 points to 12, all of Eastbourne's points coming from penalty goals by Fuller. In all departments of the game the champions were the better team, and there was only one period in the game when Eastbourne's chances looked anything like bright. That was half-way through the second spell when, with the wind behind them, they were within five points of Poneke, who were temporarily bustled. With a characteristic recovery, however, Poneke came away in a series of smashing forward rushes which the lighter Bay team was unable to stem and scored two more tries, the second on the call of time. The unfavourable weather, in addition to affecting the attendance^ —there were very few spectators outside the stand, which was fairly well filled—made it difficult for the teams to play an open game. Nevertheless, the game was far from drab, and, particularly in , the first spell, the ball was thrown about freely. In the second spell, during the most of which thick drizzly rain was falling, both sides had to rely mainly on their feet in controlling the greasy ball, but Eastbourne's bid for success at this stage created considerable excitement. Poneke received a well-deserved ovation when they left the field, members of the team "chairing" their captain, J. Shearer. -

Eastbourne missed Drader and Gibbons in the forwards and Hamilton in the backs. Owing to a leg injury Fuller played at full-back, Dingle going on the wing. Poneke owed much of their success to the forwards, who played one of their best games for the season. With the ball at toe they were exceedingly difficult to stop, and they also combined 'effectively with the backs in handling bouts, while they exerted plenty of pressure in the tight. McPherson, Quaid, Ross, and Dickson constituted a quartet which repeatedly drove through the Eastbourne ranks. The winners Were also well, served in the backs, where every man played up to form,. the opposing set being completely shaded. Three of the tries were scored by Griffiths. Outstanding among the Eastbourne forwards were Price, J.r Dellabarca, and Clayton. In the backs Coman was-handicapped by playing behind a beatenpack, and the men outside him had their hands full in watching the Poneke backs. Foley occasionally came into prominencej but generally was not up to Chesterman's standard. The defensive work was far from being what was required. Fuller finished off,the season for his club by again displaying remarkable place-kicking, ability. One of his goals was from a difficult angle against the wind, .and -'anotherj' takenfrom about five yards inside half-way, hit a post well above the cross-bar before going over. The teams were:—

Poneke.—Barrett; Edgar, Chesterm'an, Parsloe; Griffiths, B. Neal; Julian; Stone, ' Shearer, S. Neal, Russell, McPherson, Ross; Quaid, Dickson. ' . . , Eastbourne.—Fuller; Dingle, Foley, Reid; Plank, Hemming; Coman; Lamb, ■Tomm,. J. Dellabarca, N. Dellabarca, Sleep, Price, Butterworth, Clayton. Poneke, who had the wind at their backs, opened thescoring after three minutes' play, Griffiths crossing for an unconverted" try. Within a minute Fuller had equalised with a penalty goal. Another try to Griffiths and another; goal by Fuller left the teams again level, but the remainder of the spell saw Poneke camped on their opponents' side of half-way. Their score was increased- by a penalty goal by Cheaterman, a try by the same player, and another try by Griffiths,' which E, Neal converted, making the half-time score Poneke 17, Eastbourne 6. In the second spell Fuller kicked two penalty goals before Poneke could add to their s,core, but the latter team's finishing, burst produced tries by S. Neal (converted by E. Neal) and Chesterman. The final score was: Poneke 25, Eastbourne 12. Mry-R. Patori was the referee. .