PETONE AND EASTBOURNE

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 83, 9 April 1934, Page 5

PETONE AND EASTBOURNE

A large crowd nttended the friendly match between I'etone and Kastbourne on I ho. Petone Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon. The wind that blew across the ground increased in strength as the afternoon progressed, and the ground was hard. As is usual in the first game of the

season numbers of changes were made in the personnel of both sides during the afternoon so as to give promising juniors and others a trial. Comau was once again back in the Petone team. Those on trial for Potone were Stirling and O'Connell (full-backs), Hudson, McGurk, and J. Cleland (three-quarters), Edwards (formerly of Upper Hutt), and R. Cleland (live-eighths), and Howe and Fuller (forwards). Those on trial for Eastbourne were Crisp (formerly of Poneke) and Sinclair (formerly of Oriental), full-backs, Walling (three-quarter), J. Plank (fiveeighths), Wiggs (formerly of Oriental) and N. Folcy (half-backs), Bedkober, Griffiths, O'Farrell, and Robertson (forwards).

There was little good back play in the game, as was to be expected with so many changes in the teams. Eastbourne had the advantage of the wind in the first spell. Petone attacked early, and O'Halloran was unlucky not to score when he clovorly cut through. Play swung downfield, and when a penalty was awarded to Eastbourne Fuller piloted the ball between the uprights from a difficult position. After a long rush downfield Bedkober took a hard catch from Plank and scored. Whittiugton. had to leave the field with a twisted knee. P.ollock missed a penalty kick for Petono from an easy position. The halftime score was: Eastbourne 6, Petone 0.

Petone had much the better of the second spell, but lack of co-ordination among the backs spolit many chances. At length Selwood went close to scoring, -just being pulled down in time. Petone missed another easy penalty kick. Sinclair made a weak kick to the line that fell short, and Fuller was able to score. A smart in-and-out passing rush ended in K. Cleland's scoring, and time was called with the. score: Petone 6, Eastbourne 6.

The referee was Mr. J. Wilson