BERHAMPORE DEFEATED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10651, 26 July 1920, Page 8

BERHAMPORE DEFEATED

PONEKE WINS BY 6 lo 5. The young Berhampore team, which has been showing wonderfully improved form with the progress of the season, met and was defeated by .Poneko -at the Athletic Park on Saturday. Truly, there was only one. point between the scores at the conclusion of the contest, but undoubtedly the red and blacks showed to most advantage, and with a little luck would have wen more decisively; they did not play • well, but than, the conditions were not favourable .to good Rugby. The ground was very heavy, thus making football precarious and the ball, heavy and greasy, difficult to handle. ■ Passing bouts were conspicuous by their absence; the players in light .blue njeveri attempted this spectacular and usually very effective; means to scoring, and only on five occasions did the Poneke hacks manoeuvre thusly. All were without success. • It was a . bard-fought game, but clean, every participant doing . his • best dn good sporting: spirit towards victory. At' one stage, Bernarapore, which was considered to have an excellent chance of bringing about the downfall of PoEeke, had a iead of five points. That was shortly before half-time. Success was not to be their's, however, for the red and blacks, quickly registered a try, and shortly after half-time thev added a penalty goal—-the last score of the match—4o their total. • Of course, the j winning of the ■ game was -ratal to 'the : champion team, for a defeat at this stage would make the championship a! certainty far Petone which already is one point in the lead. Unfortunately, two of the Berhamnore players were injured quite early m the .came, and had to retire. Walters, who wag replaced by. Bell, (received a nasty knock on the lead, and Miller, whose place was taken hy Helliwell, sustained a damaged knfee. About 5000 people ; watched the match. ! BERHAMPOEE IN LEAD.

The first aggressive mOTemant was madie by Poneke, whose forwards, ■.Hughes, Kivug, and Calcin&i, oaTried jplay into the blues' twenty-five, from whence ; it was returned by jUalin, wing(forward: This enabled the blues to set lup a spirited atack, in which Walters, iuhiterod and Standen were prominent. j Matters were looking serious for Poneke J until F. Tilyard secured the ball and found" the touch-line at lhalf-way with a j pplendid kick. Berhamporo maintained the pressure, and shortly , aiterwaTds Grace kicked up . about; forty yards . i out "and ;raii right through the opposi'tion and scored in. .a good position. It ""as a wonderful run, success being ! brought about as a .result of clever ; (lodging and feinting at passing. "Morri- | son made no mistake with the kick. . Peril am pore 5, Poneke 0. I The reverse, spurred the Poneke mm Ito greater efforts, and tie blues were rsorely pressed, but defended success- - i fully until the ball came out from n I pcramble in the corner and was knocked [Oyer the ' line. C. Tilyard made a jriiv« after it, and just succeeded an «|iouchiijig down before it went out of ~S;plaj..:;;rChristopherson failed to convert.* ißerhampore 5, Poneke 3. . < THE WINNIXG GOAL.

• Almost immediately after ' the half[time adjournment,. a,nd just when: play ( vra-s' directly in front of the blues' goai- ; posts arid about twenty yards out, Berj hampore was penalised because ' one of r its representatives " retained ihe ball after he was collared; W. Christopherson was the opportunity, and he placed the red «nd blacks in tho lead— Poneke 6 Berhampore S. .«. The : . leaders continued on the aggressive, - - F. Tilyard.; the brothers • Chrietoi pherson, .and D. - Algar figuring' in three passing, rushes in success-on. They carried : play into the blues' 'twenty-lfiye, but without . succeeding in increasing their lead. - Give-and-take play, followed for a. time, Whiterod,. Cohder, and "Duces . heading ' several Berhampore rushes. Over the concluding stages there,_wasilittle between the aides, which were indulging in scrambling play only, and the game ended:—, Poneke '...., ....'., 6 Berhampore 5 5