AN UNEQUAL CONTEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10651, 26 July 1920, Page 7

AN UNEQUAL CONTEST

PETONE DEFEATS' ATHLETIC BY WIDE MARGIN. No team in the senior championship competition has suffered during the season to the same extent as Athletic, ana on Saturday no less than eleven of the original team were absent. E. Roberts is a member of the New Zealand team, Bvrue has gone to Nelson, Blackmore. Hall. Thompson. Osborn, McCurley and Pa ton are recovering from injuries, and Spencer Carr and Ryan arc suffering from influenza. Consequently it was practically a junior team that played against Petone. There was an absenoe of combination and knowledge oi the finer points of the game, but there was no lack of vim and determination, especially among the forwards. As a game it was interesting, unusually fast and open, out as a combination the Petone backs outclassed their opponents. The ground was greasy, but considering the rain and heavy frosts experienced earlier in the week it was in good condition for play. THE OPENING HALF. Petone kicked off with the sun in their faces. The return kick by MoCabe wa» smothered, and tho first scrum of the match was in Athletic territory. A short passing rush was started by.Petone which was nullified by Brooks gaining possession of the ball and kicking to half way. The suburban backs got to work in earnest, and a 6trong attack was set up through a passing rush in which E. Ryan. M and H. NicholU and Corner wore prominent. Corner was pushed into touch, and from the line-out Hugh kicked the ball to J. Ryan (at full back) who potted. The ball landed under the bar oud Athletic wero forped' down:. From the kick-out Petone (blue) charged down the field, and when tho blacks' danger zone was entered Poole - saved by a timely kick. Play was fast and hovered between midfield and Athletio twenty-five. ' A punt by H. Nicholle, a (nulled return, and a scrum wa« form*}. A smart pass by H. Nicholls to Cornea: and on to E. Ryan and Petone .secured the, first try. M. Nicholls goaled. Petone 5. Athletio 0.

Athletic forwards gained «. «Uglit «d- j vantage, but could not get further than the half-way mark, where the Petone backs were sent away by; H. Nioholls. Corner and E. Ryan made' the pace, but th» defei><» was sound. A good opening was made by H. Nioholls. The aggressive movement was maintained, and a pretty piece of passing by H. and M. Nicholls, Corner and E. Ryan, ended in the latter being collared near the goal line. Prom the scrum H. Nicholls gained possession, "potted," and missed. Passing bouts by Petono were" frequent, but each tima the goal line was reached Athletic olearod. Putting their weight in a. scrum the Athletic forwards came through, and (gathering speed entered Petone's territory for the first time. Thero was resolution in the dribble, which went merrily along till J. Kyan appeared on the scene and relieved the situation by a kick. Back came the blues by concerted action on the part 6f A. Parkor and M. Nicholls, but the blades were warming to the work and progress was held up in mid-fleld. A line sprint by Hamilton was nullified by A. Parker receiving a pass when off-side and for a while play became "scrappy." A forward burst by Petone was oounteredi by a similar dash by the Athletic vanguard, and a kick by Brooks put J. Kyan on hia mottle, but he wag equal to the occasion. A forward struggle for mastery culminated in Price and Fitaforald dashing away with the-ballat toe. t was a good effort, and ended by Brooks marking. The spectators showed their appreciation of the game by applauding tbo outstanding features, and cheered when A. Parker was seen making for the goal-line at top speed. He got thore, but in doing so his foot crossed the touch line. Athletic forwards battled hard to clear, and were holding the opposition when M. Nicholls was given possession. A quick pass to Corner and on to Eyan and an easy score was secured. M. Nicholls made no mistake with the kick Petone 10. Athletio 0. Give and take kicking followed, which ended in the blacks becoming aggressive. The backs were not equal to the forwards, and presently Corner got well away with Fitzgerald in close attendance. A pass to the latter and on to E. E.ynn, Who was stopped a yard or two short oi a try. B. Eyau took up the attack again, and gave B. Thomas an opportunity, which he made good use of. M. Nicholls was again successful with the kick: Petone 15. Athletio 0.

Plav during the remainder of the spell was comparatively even. Athletic , worked into a scoring position, but could not quite get there, and Hugh kicked 'at goal from a free-kick and missed. Then Poole was held up on Athltio goal line, where B. Thomas infringed the rules, which gave the blacks an opportunity to clear. FAST SCORING- BT PETONB. In the second half Athletic forwards put ai lot of vim into the play, but the pace was too hot to last. After defending for a brief period the scene of action was changed-per medium of Smith, Ash. ton. and "Kruger" Parker, who broke awav in their own twenty-five. A kick by B. Ryan was misfielded by S. Wilson. E. Ryan took charge of the 1 ball and was grassed by Adams. A mark by McVay was serviceable to his side, and immediately afterwards H. Nioholls potted at goal, hut failed. The forwards on eaoh side wore not brilliant, but they wore vigorous, and as a consequenoe the scene was constantly changing. . Attack and counter attack followed, and during one by Athletic-a splendid opening to register a try was thrown away by a wild pass by Adams to McCabs. J. Rvan kicked to neutral ground where M. Njcholls sprinted and was nicely coUared by Hugh. In the loose scramble which followed, Ashton picked up the ball .smartly, and dodging in-and-out amongst Athletic backs shot over the Tina. M. Nicholas piloted tho leather between tho eroal posts; Petone 20, Ath« letic 0. The blues' next score was obtained by W. Thomas, who ended a passing bout by touching down near a corner The kick by M. Nicholls waa not successful; Petone 2S. Athletio 0. A few minutes later EL Ryan side-stepped l and dodged the opposing backs, and crossed the line once more. M. Nicholl6 goaled; Petone 28, Athletic 0. It was now the blacks' turn. A mark bf Adams. kick, fumbling by W. T>>omn = . n-nd MeCnbe"secured, a simple try. Hope missed; Petone 28, Athletic 3- Athletic came again and Hugh lotted a preth- goal with his left foot; Petone 23. Athletic 7. Potone's final soom resulted from a dribbling rush hv ■R. Ryan, which was carried on by B. Thomas, who outpaced Brooks in a race after the ball. Mv Nicholls kicked * "oal from tho trr, n-nd a game in whicl IVts wn<* considerable amount of charm ended: — S3 Amniotic. 7 Mr O. Cleland was the referee.