A STERN TUSSLE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 14

A STERN TUSSLE

A brilliant cut through by Griffiths in the course of a movement initiated from a scrum at half-way resulted in Chesterman scoring the winning try for Poneke less than a quarter of an hour'from the finish of the match on the Petone Oval. Played before a large attendance, the game was a traditionally hard struggle, strenuous work between the forwards being varied with bright back movements. Petone won the toss for about the first time this season, and commenced with the sun at their backs, having slightly the better of the first spell which ended 9-8 in their favour. In the second spell judicious use of the touchline was mainly responsible for Petone being ■ practically always on the Poneke side of half-way but, though their tactics kept the ball from the dangerous Poneke backs and gave a territorial advantage, they did not bring points against a sound defensive team. The only score during the spell was that which gave Poneke the lead. Scoring three tries to their opponents' one, Poneke may be held to have deserved their win, but there was very little between the teams and a draw would have been a satisfactory result. The teams were: — Poneke: Barrett; Ball. Chesterman, Payne; Griffiths, Neal; Julian; Quaid, Crichton, Dickson, McPherson, Stone, Ross, Mclvor, and Gair. Petone: Whitley; Valk, Huxtable, May; Pollock, J. Lambourne; O'Halloran; Selwood, Fleet, J. Lambourne, Whittington-, Reid, Martin, Beban, and Carr. After 20 minutes' play Selwood opened Petone's account with a penalty goal, Poneke retaliating shortly afterwards with a try by Chesterman (converted by Neal), the way to the score being paved by Neal. A breakaway by Whittington during tight play inside the Poneke twenty-five put Petone ahead, but Poneke regained the lead with a try by Ball after an opening made by Chesterman. Shortly before the interval Whitley kicked a penalty goal for Petone. In the second spell Petone were nearly always attacking, but could not get through and the deciding points went to Poneke in the manner described above. The final. score was Poneke 11, Petone 9. Mr. R. Paton was the referee.