PONEKE V. TUKAPA

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 83, 10 April 1939, Page 13

PONEKE V. TUKAPA

The Tukapa Rugby Club (Taranaki) beat Poneke Club, at Athletic Park, on Saturday, with consummate ease, the final score being 20-5. The visiting club, which contains a number of Taranaki representatives, including the All Black ' three-quarter J. L. Sullivan, has an enviable record against clubs from other centres. The club used the 2-3-2 scrum formation with a wing-forward, but it was not until fairly well on in the game that it proved a better formation than Poneke's. Sullivan, of course, was always dangerous in possession and on two occasions he scored almost runaway tries. There was some excuse for the rather unimpressive Poneke defence^ inasmuch as the ground was very hard and solid tackling might have resulted in some injuries. Wetere, first five-eighth for the visitors, was a strong link in a useful chain of backs. He scored a neat try and potted a goal. Prominent in the Poneke pack were Pringle for the spell he was on the field, Ongley, and V. Calcinai. The last-named in particular worked hard.

For Poneke, Pringle scored and Crisp converted. For Tukapa, Sullivan scored two tries, Sanger one, Wetere one; Drury converted two tries, and Wetere kicked a field goal. The referee was Mr. A. R. Morris.