PONEKE BEAT ST. PAT.'S

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 20, 24 July 1933, Page 12

PONEKE BEAT ST. PAT.'S

Playing at Prince of Wales Park on a ground more slippery than a.dancing floor, -Poneke beat St. Patrick's College Om Boys by 0 points to 3. Worse playing conditions would be difficult to imagine. A bitterly cold southerly with driving rain i swept down the field,, freezing spectators and players alike, and the ball was so greasy that it was almost an impossibility to.handle it. The supporters of the respective teams managed1 to work some en-

thusiasm into their barracking until a rumour that the clay bank on the western side of the field under which they were sheltering was likely to slip caused a hurried movement.to a safer position.

The teams were: —

Poneke: Crisp; Ball, Chesterman, Payne; Griffiths, Xeal; Julian; Diekson, Qunid, Mclvor, Koss, McPherson, Blanch, Ward, S. Neal.

St. Patrick's College Old Boys: McGuinness; Phillips, O'Connor, Keaney; Wallace, Black, Hart; Sarsich, Johns, Haydon, Jones, Jeffries, McCarthy, W. Hart, Dennehy.

St. Pat's kicked off against the wind and within the first five minutes had forced the ball at least three times. Julian sent the Poneke backs away from a scrum atmidiield and after a beautiful passing, rush the winger Payne was brought down close to St. Pat's line. Although Poneke were'unable to gain a try they held a territorial advantage. Their first score came from a penalty kick in a good position successfully taken by Neale. Shortly afterwards Ball scored an unconverted try for Poneke after a forward rush. Although the first spell ended 0-0 in Poneke's favour, St. Pat's by no means disgraced themselves. Playing against a heavy team and against a strong wind, St. Pat's put up a solid fight, and did well in keeping Poneke out as well as they did. Poneke, in the first spell, missed many opportunities by endeavouring to handle the ball. Early in the second spell J. McCarthy scored for St. Pat's after an open rush. After holding a territorial advantage for some time, but without scoring, St. Pat's were 'forced back. A spectacular dribbling rush by Poneke culminated in an' unconverted try by Griffiths. After, this the Poneke forwards settled down to solid play, and kept St. Pat's on the defensive until the end of the game. ' . ' . ■

Mr. A. De Clifton was the referee,