City Well Below Usual Strength

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1939, Page 2

City Well Below Usual Strength

With a number of their best players unavailable, City had difficulty in making up a team. Snelgar, recently returned from Auckland, where he has been playing junior, was on the wing, while at centre was Lenne, from Kamo, who, although playing his first game for some time, and obviously not fit, was well up to his old tricks.

Banton was playing his second game in the pack, while another useful importation was Gough, also from Kamo. Newton did not display the understanding that may be expected from most city teams, but they had men of speed and determination, and the forwards and backs co-operated throughout.

First Score

Early hostilities were staged in City ground. For ten minutes, play was of an uninteresting nature, until Gough broke through the attacking Newton forwards and initiated a City passing movement that ended up on Newton’s twenty-five. Newton were thirsting for blood, and when Tredrea secured close in and unloaded to Proctor, the forward dived over wide out. R. Hill, with a great kick, converted. After this effort, play settled down to a mediocre standard, with City fumbling and Newton never seeming to get anywhere, while the full-backs, Child and Tyson, exchanged ping-pong shots.

Procession Starts

Ctiy backs got moving, and held play in Newton’s backyard, but Hill put the visitors within striking position, and the procession commenced. From a short passing bout Sanders scored, and Hill’s kick hit the crossbar.

Then Sanders came down the line, centred in front of the posts, and Tredrea came through fast to gather in and score. Sanders converted, to put Newton 13 points up. Housham was the next scorer from a forward scramble on the line, and Sanders added the extras with a beautiful kick.

In a nice little movement, Sanders received from R. Hill and again scored. Tin's time the kick failed and the half-time tally was: Newton 21, City 0. Right from the kick-off, Ravell broke through in possession, and Tredrea and Sanders ran rings round Child. Sanders again converted. City Take a Hand.

City now began to take a belated hand in proceedings, and Bradley and Chetham were responsible for several moves.

The backs carried up play and a period of warm work on Newton’s line saw Gough dive over. Bradley failed badly with the kick.

From the kick-off, B. Hollows set the ball going again for City, and Banton, Chetham and Hirtzell collaborated in a move for Hirtzell to score. Gough failed to convert. City’s third try came when Gough followed up along the sideline and put the ball into touch in the corner. From the scrum, Lenne dived over. On the call of time, Newton were again in City ground, and Preston scored from a short dash. Housham’s kick just missed, and the final score was: Newton 29, City 9. Mr J. Hill refereed the first spell, and Mr C. Jones the second.

Portland Juniors Beat Kensington

The junior curtain-raiser at Jubilee Park, between Kensington and Portland, was won by Portland, 16 —11, it being Kensington’s best showing for some time.

For the winners, tries were scored by Prendergast (2), Oonlon and Mills, with two conversions by Conlon, while for Kensington, B. Thompson scored two tries, and D. Pitman scored, one, and registered a conversion. Mr C. Jones was referee.