From Goal to Goal.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7853, 15 July 1911, Page 14

From Goal to Goal.

FOK the first time in many weeks the playing were tolerably dry and fast for the club games last Saturday. The result of the changed conditions was to be seen by the most casual looker-on in faster play, and more interesting games all round. There was only one game, Poneke v. Athletic, set down for play which the public thought anything of, but ns it turned out there was another very much more sensational match decided between Southern and Petono. The defeat of the dark blues by a team scarcely supposed bo be a serious competitor for the championship came as a surprise to everybody, and as a most unpleasant one to Potone players and supporters.

Hard and fast forward work, particularly by Athletic marked the match between tnis team and Poneke, and the red and blacks, coming to the match fresh from a series of triumphs, were saved from defeat only by their phenomenal luck, h'it and fast as they were, the blue forwards never let up lor an instant, and Pondke, vory rareiy had sufficient control of the play to set afoot any movement likely to effect a score. Their defence was very good, however, and their long and accurate kicking and safe tackling saved them from disaster, ft is true taut the Jesuit of the match was a draw, but in actual play Poneke were soundly beaten. Prom end to end of the game the blues had all the best of things, but they had no scoring backs, and no tries came until linnji. Wilson snapped one from a line-out near the Poneke goalline. The extra points were not added, so that there was still a possibility of the score being equalised by a goal from a free kick. Puueke had only one real chance for such a goal, and of that chance Gardner made the best use. Two oiucr tiles were unused by murrey. On one occasion he snapped up the ball from a good loose rusn in winch he was taking an active part, but when he was in tne act of failing on the bail over the lino he was held up. The tackle was a splendid one, but such a one as no player can hope to moke successfully more than once in a hundred times. On the second occasion Murray’s luck, or his play was much worse. Mitch insem, being bustled by a rush, secured the bail and kicked across the field. It went across, but slightly back as well, and Murray, trotting up quietly, had simply to Jet it drop; into his hands and fail over to score a try. There were no opposing players within yards, but he dropped the ban. Murray will probably never miss such an easy chance in ail his football career again; his iuok was out last Saturday. vvv

Early in the game VValshe, who was playing very Hold, charged into Evenwn I a iittie more violently titan seemed ue* I cessary ior a tackle, and struck his head on Evenson’s lup. 'i’no Athletic back was sorely distressed tor a tew minutes, and he was not really comfortable lor the rest oi the game. Wolshe was also stunned for a moment or two, but he insisted on, playing on, in spite of friendly advice to the contrary. He was already in trouble, and his plight was mane worse by another lall which under ordinary circumstances would not have hurt him. He was very sick from this out, and he would have been well advised to retire and make way for an emergency. I His loss was a serious one, for he was I a mere passenger during the whole game. I Only for rare moments at long intervals did he show any of his real form.

I Without Walshe the Poneke forwards were not an extraordinary lot. Sothoran, Cmoinai, and Howie did a heap of work in the loose and likewise in close play, EJiut and Price, the front-rankers, hooked the ball about as olten us their opponents, although the scrum behind them was not nearly so well built. The only : Poneke forward who did not play a good game was Judd.

TLlyard was right on his game behind the Poneke scrum, but perhaps his best play was on the delenee, it was simpiy ivcoidcriul now ne contrived to smucli the boll from the fringe of a scramble and get a kick away. Mitchiuson was not in evidence very often. He made only a few. of his brilliant runs, but two of them were altogether exceptional. The first was a bo-t from his own twentyfive into the blues’ twenty-five, where Gliding overtook him. Mitchiuson lookiih round tor some one of his own colour to take the ball from him, but there : was nil JUot then a nuneke playei wi thill I twenty yards. The second run was down ' the side line, and his pass to Gardner set the fast three-quarter off on a very fiery dash for the goal line. He met Cunningham there and bumped him very hard, but the shock was just sufficient to force him over the corner. flag. He was given few such chances in attack, but in defence he was as sound as any man in the team. Eyan, Edwards, and Kelly were much below, the other three backs in menu Prendeviue did not impress one as being a safe full-back, but he kept out of trouble and did such I work as was required of him creditably enough.

As a pack the Athletic forwards were a very much better all-round lot than their opponents, particularly their superiority was marked in speedy foot-work and in fast following-up. Eanji Wilson was far and away the best of the bunch, but ho was by no means the only man in the scrum who played a good game. Murray had a day off. Levick showed that he has improved his play a great deal since he has come to Wellington. The blues' backs did not cover themselves with glory as a combination, but there were one or two among them who did some first-class work. McVoy as usual was- clever and resourceful, but he was not so strong as Tilyard. McDonald, at five-eighth, was the best back on the side, his only fault being an inclination to run too much when kicking would have served his purpose better, Eveuson was safe as ever in defence, his line-kicking being uniformly strong. The other backs gave a very

Review of Matches Past. Poneke-Athletic Struggle. Unexpected Defeat of Petone. "By WICKLOW."

fair display, but the whole combination did not play up to the splendid form shown by their forwards.

Southern's win was not due to good | luck on their part nor to bad luck on ; the part of Potone. Neither was it due ;to one or two chance opportunities being taken advantage of, with the resuit that the weak triumph over the strong. It was duo to consistent all' round superiority. lu the hacks and the forwards, in tight play and in loose, and in combined and individual work Southern had the best of the argument, and the margin of points by which they won | does not at all exaggerate their prowess. I Petone never managed to get going together. Those lino back rushes which oue has ! learned to took ior in a Petono roarguard were entirely absent-. On a few isolated occasions the backs did attempt to turn the fortunes of their side, but they handled the ball with uncertainty, j and passes were cither missed or given in such a manner that the man to whom j they were sent could not reasonably he expected to take them. The forwards j did not work in concert and their atI tacks were easily broken. There were | occasions on which Petone pulled themselves together and -they then gave thb j Southern defence plenty of exercise,but j these efforts wore not sustained for any appreciable length of time, and Southern were always able to clear after they had been hemmed up for a few momenta. The Southern attack was very different. It. was determined and continuous, and every opening that showed ' was taken full advantage of. The men worked together fairly well, but their combination could not be termed brilliant. The game was fairly fast but was of a rather monotonous descriptioo. Both sides were dogged and determined, -and fought tn-e issue grimly and quietly from the first. The pressure was never relaxed and neither side slowed down till the final whistle I sounded.

The red books gave some good displays of passing at times, and showed that they could throw the ball about when occasion demanded. Most of their work, however, was too close to admit of much passing, and they played on the line to a great extent. The forwards had much the better of the game and beat Petone for the ball on every occasion. Occasionally the blues got the leather from the scrums but the Southern forwards wore on them before they could turn the advantage to account. The tackling of the maroon forwards was very deadly, L. Campbell being conspicuous. He did a vast amount of work and stopped many dangeious attacks, often bringing down three or four opponents in succession

The bright star of the team was Bind . ley, who played a really brilliant game. ' He does notuing without having a very good reason ton’ doing it, and always acts quickly and decisively. On Saturday he played as well as he has done tins season and appeared to bo übiquitous. Tne try scored by him in tno second spell was a really splendid performance and quite upset the calculations of Petono, who were concerning themselves with a com. bum non and with individuals.

A poorer match than the one played at the mitt between Oriental ana Mmroes it would be dimcudt to find. On tneir play Melrose should have won, but as it was -tuey were beaten by one point. The absence of Xtooerts trom the ranks of Oriental made a great difference to that team, but nevertheless the margin oi victory shomd have been muen greater considering cue standard of both teams. Piny throughout tne greater part of the game was mostly oouuned to the forwards, but the Mmrose Vanguard did not appear to experience a great deal of trouble'in keeping their opponents at their own end oi tne held, me scrums on pretty well every occasion ended in the reds' favour—in tact, the Melrose torwards d.d practically what tnty liked witn Oriental. Mcbean generally pmya a very good game tor the whites, out lost week he was scarcely noticeable. Perry seemed to do tne most oi the work in the forward division. Of the backs Kama and Mathicson were the best, yet even they were not up to their usual form. To the red and blues S. Pooley, Gilchrist, B. and 1). Sullivan, and VV. Marshall were of the most service. Pooley more than once was instrumental in stepping rushes before the participants had proceeded a great distance. The kicking of Gilchrist also nullified attempts to score on the part of Oriental, At full-back W. Marshall did good work. When things were getting thick the Sullivans could be depended upon to be in the midst of the fight. Oriental will certainly have to look to their laurels in future games, if they desire to aohier* distinction.

By present appearances it seems certain that Walshe's football fearecr is finished. The collision between him and Evenson in the Poneke-Athletio match last Saturday, resulted in Walshe being badly knocked on one of his shoulders and an arm, besides which his heart is strained—badly it is thought. Walshs is at present lying up at his lodging in Barrett’s Hotel, and for some days during the week ho has been too ill to see 1 visitors. Kb donbt the strain was caused through his continuing to play when ho was by reason of his hurt, too unwell to remain on the field.

Evenson, the other party to the collision, is -also rendered hors d© combat, one of his kidneys being severely braised. Athletic will be minus his so© vices for a while.

There is little likelihood of Pcmek. Doing able to put anything like a good team in the field this afternoon. In addition to Walshe's absence there will be that of Mitohinson, who is suffering

from a badly bruised kidney. Sotheraj) cad Bdivards will also not be playing. The former has something wrong with one eye, which though it looks alright is nevertheless sightless. According t< the ’doctor’s report Edwards will not be playing any more this season—in fact: there is a possibility of his having to give up playing football altogether. He is suffering from an injury to a knee caused through a" severe kick.

Freddy Eoberts, who the other weekreceived an injury to a finger, is reported to be progressing favourably. It if uncertain when be will be in action again, but Freddy says that as soon as he is right he will once more be "amongst it." The sooner be is out the better for Oriental.

Tire Poneke juniors have received a new acquisition in Sievers, a wing-three-quarter, who has played junior football in the Wairarapa. He is a man who is full of xwomise and should be playing in the ranks of tho seniors next season. »t is possible that the seniors will take him this year.

Two men who are of considerable service to the Poneke juniors a.re Elliott and Brewer. Last week tho former played a really good gome, scoring two beautiful tries. Brewer is a player who will also soon be in the seniors.