FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9999, 17 June 1918, Page 8

FOOTBALL

RUGBY COMPETITION STRENUOUS GAME® ON ATHLETIC , PARK. The outstanding event in connection ■with Saturday's Bugby games was the defeat of Poneke try the Trentham fifteen. Poneke hiad been beaten only once, and it was fully expected they they would extend the team of ‘hefty soldiers. Tho game was a stirring one throughout, and although Poneke put up a splendid fight they were not a match for their opponents, tho latter of .whom had the advantage i,n weight. There was nothing sensational about the Potone-Selwyn game on the adjoining ground. The suburbanites played with their customary cleverness and never looked like being defeated. Particulars of the games are given below. TRENTHAM DEFEAT PONEKE.

The meeting between Trentham and Poneke on No. 1 Ath-otlc Park resulted in a game that was full of incident from .beginning to end. For many reasons it was a memorable game. Poneke is an exceedingly popular team with tho crowd, and tne supporters of those .particular colours assembled in force in expectation of a stirring battle. As the soldiers filed on to the held they appeared to he in splendid condition. They were considerably heavier than their opponents, and there is no doubt that this was responsible to some extent for the easy win over such a strong side an Poneke. .It was really a trial of strength between bulk and cleverness and cleverness only. Tho game was marred by one or two rnthdr unfortunate incidents which idrow indignant protects from the crowd. In the first spell there was 0, scramble near Poneke’s goal-line, and Davidson (Trentham) struggled to get over. However, in the mex-up ho lost possession of the bail, and overyon© was amazed when the roferee allowed a try. It was obviously a mistake on the part of the referee, and there was a chorus of angry protests, mingled with ironical laughter, from all sides of the field. In juslice to tho reieree, it has to be pointed out that from where ho was standing at the time it might have looked like a genuine score. Tne incident mentioned roused tho Poneke supporters to a high pitch, and at periods during the match they were inclined to allow their feelings to run away with them. It was a reminder of pre-war days, when 'people took their football very seriously mdeed.

One of the features of the game' was the tenacity of the Poneke fifteen. Though up against big odds they stuck to their task with a will, and went down with flying colours. Trentham had tho advantage of their camp training, and they seemed to bo as fresh at the call of time as they were at the beginning of tho game. Both sides set a merry pace, and in tne first spell play moved up pad down the field with remarkable rapidity. Tho spell ended with Trentham seven points in the lead. For the soldiers. Davidson secured two tries (including the mnoh-dobated one) and B. Rtotoerts, who captained the team, was successful with the kicks. Poneke’a three was the result of a penalty goal by Morris.

Matters warmed up considerably in the second half. Poneke were by no means disheartened, - and , the soldiers were called upon to ward off some very dangerous One incident in particular pleased tho crowd mightily. Poneke were threatening the Trentham goal-line, and in order to save , the situation o ne of the soldiers had to kick the ball across the field. Heaps (Poneko) was in a' handy position, and he swooped down rapidly and scored. This evened up matters to some extent, but Trentham had- plenty in reserve and put the issue beyond doubt in convincing style. Before the final whistle sounded Treniilmm added ten points, two more tries by Davidson and a potted goal by Rogers. Morris kicked a penalty goal for Poneke, and the game ended .with the scores: Trentham 20, Poneke 10. A remarkable fact was that all the tries for Trentham were scored by Davidson. Mr C. H. CleLand was referee. PETONE TOO G&OD FOB SELWYN. Petone had an easy win over Selwyn at Athletic Park. Intho first spell Selwyn surprised their supporters by putting up a most creditable fight against the redoubtable suburbanites, but the second spell told the tale. The clever play that characterised Sriwyn’a efforts in tho first spell was missing in the second half. Petone bad matters all their own way towards the end of the game and piled up the score. The game ended, in a win for Petone (by 27 to 3, the scorers for the winners being: Tancred, Pole, A. Thomas, Hamilton, Corner, and Shanahan (each, a try). Ambler (a penalty goal), Hamilton {a potted goal), and Nicholls, who converted. Gall kicked a penalty goal for Selwyn. Mr H. Fordyce was the referee. TRENTHAM B v, ATHLETIC.

This game was set down for decision at Petone, but neither team put in uu appearance. Trentham had difficulty in getting a team together on account of the men being inuooulated, but the mou selected went into tho city instead of leaving the train at Petone. Only one Athletic player put in an appearance. The management committee of the association ought to make a point of sending advice to n ground when a match has been abandoned. On Saturday tho referee came from. Lower Hutt only to find that ho had undertaken a four mile walk for nothing. PETONE! v. ORIENTAL,

Tho senior game having been abandoned this fixture was played on the Potone oval. The teams were evenly matched in regard to weight and size, but tho local players wore in tho better condition. The exhibition from a Rugby standpoint was stodgy during the first twenty minutes, but improved. The local men then opened the game up. At Limes tho passing was erratic and wild, but in tho main tho attacks wore well carried out and were full of vigour. Oriental forwards lacked cohesion, and while there were flashes of creditable individual play when an opportunity to score presented itself—there were many during tho game—it was invariably thrown away through the want of a little brain work. Petono on tho other hand made every post a winning one, and scored several trios through the opposing backs being continually out. of position. Loughlan, Nicholls '2), Wylie (2), Roache, List, Nnnkivolle, Hill, and Shanahan scored trios for Petono, three of which Wore converted by Nicholls. Hill, and Shanahan respectively. Petono won by 36 points to nil. Mr Perkinson was tho referee. THIRD GRADE. RAILWAY BATTALION v. OLD BOYS. At Lyall Bay tho Railway Battalion suffered their first defeat at tho hands of Old Boys by 6 points to 3. Tho game was watched by a largo number of interested spectators, and was an excellent contest from start to finish. For tho Railway team Karaka scored a try, and for Old Boys Mansfield kicked a goal from a mark, and one from a penally. FIFTH-CLASS. Oriental defeated Wellington College by 29 to nil. Tries wore scored by Grant 2, Nightingale 2, Leslie, McGinnity, Burton. Clark, one being converted by McFnrlnnc. Burton kicked a penalty goal. Railway Battalion defeated Ponekc by 3 to nil. K. Duruey kicked a penalty goal.