MATCHES DESCRIBED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 107, 9 May 1938, Page 4

MATCHES DESCRIBED

GOOD WIN PONEKE'S FORWARDS GO WELL Greater strength in the forwards, particularly when the play was not too much in the open, swung the scales in favour of Poneke in the match at Athletic Park with Wellington College Old Boys. It was a lively, well-fought game, and-even if there was not as much of the bright, open order of things as would have been liked, nevertheless the play was nbt devoid of some sparkle, and this - was provided by Old Boys largely. Although not, showing the same power as the' Poneke pack, Old Boys' forwards gave the impression of being possibly quite a sound pack in ' the making. They have youth on their side, and there were times when also they showed .vigour, but it was not sustained. Maybe they will be stronger with a little more tuning tip. As an attacking force Old Boys' back division showed better combination and more dash than the Poneke backs. When the ball came their way and it wag sent along the chain smartly Old f Boys' backs were always a dangerous force. However, they did riot receive as much of the ball ( as they would have liked, and another factor offsetting their' effectiveness was, that there-was just a tendency on the part of the inside men to attempt a little too much. When that was done little

success .- attended their efforts (for - Poneke were by no means, asleep when /t came.to a question of defence), but •when the ball was passed crisply and smartly Old Boys' backs were apt to cause Foneke some bother. One such crisp; passing movement ended in a bright try by A. Wright in the first spell.

A try by Hegglnj?, converted by Griffiths, gave Poneke a good;start, and to •this before halfrtime O'Brien added a' pienalty goal and Brown an unconverted try, giving Poneke a total of 11 points; The try by Wright, already mentioned, was Old Boys' only score in the first half. In the. second spell another penalty goal by O'Brien and an l unconverted try, by Calcinai gave Poneke 17 points, and then Baldwin kicked a penalty, -goal for Qld; ,Boys, only to. see Griffiths land an easy penalty goal for Poneke when A. Wright, With a scrum down, was adjudged tof be standing offside in .front of Old Boys'posts. In the concluding stages 'Old Boys were able to reduce the deficit by seven points as a result of a' penalty goal by Baldwin and a field goal by B. Wright, the final score being: Poneke 20, Old Boys 13. The referee was Mr. D. C. Lawson.