A GRUELLING GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11252, 3 July 1922, Page 10

A GRUELLING GAME

PONEKE DEFEAT SELWYN RUGBY IN THE MUD. On Saturday afternoon, at Newtown Park, after a hard gruelling game, Poneke defeated Selwyn by 8 points to nil. The ground was wet and muddy, and Iho ball greasy and difficult to handle, but even under such adverse conditions the game was fast and interesting. THE teams; The teams follows:— Poneke (red and black). —Full-back, Christopherson; three-quarters, Tunningfcon, B. Algar and McArthur; five-eighths, F. Tilyard and J. Tilyard; half, C. Tilyard; forwards, Pointon, Tynan, McDonald, Booker, Parsioe, Slater, Shearer and Kennedy. Selwyn (green and black). —Full-back, Harrington; three-quaTters, Kent, McBreaty and McLay; five-eighths, Wogau and Kershaw; half. McQucde; forwards. Rose, Reeves, Hearle, Burke, De Clifton, Peacock, McDonald and Desmond. THE PLAY. Poneke kicked off against the wind, a light northerly, but the ball was promptly returned, and for a time there was much scrambling forward play in. neutral territory however, assumed the offensive, and a forward rush in which De Clifton and Rose were prominent, looked like bearing fruit. Poneke defended well until a good kick by Christopherson transferred the play to midfield. From a scrum neat'tne halfway lino McQuade (Selwyn) secured and passed to Wogan, who commenced a fine passing rush, which, was. however, repulsed by the red forwards. Following up a good bard punt Poneke attacked vigorously, but a scramble resulted on th© green line, and the referee ordered a five yard serum. Selwyn hooked the ball and McQuade found the line well up the field. Poneke forwards worked well and gradually forced the play into Selwyn's territory. From a scrum near the green line C. Tilyard secured and dived over near the right corner flag. Ghristopherson's kick was well-directed, but the ball was wet and heavy, and fell short. Poneke 3 Selwyn 0 The greens tried hard to equalise the jecore before the interval, but Poneke's defence was sound. SECOND SPELL. - Th© final session opened vith a series of line-outs, but a good kick by C. Tilyard was well followed up by the red forwards, and it seemed likely that Selwyn's line would be crossed at any moment. Harrington, who was plaving a safe game for Selwyn at full-back, relieved tbe pressure bv a good line kick. From a scrum near halfway C. Tilyard secured and punted well down the field.. McLay seized the leather and made a good run, but missed his opportunity of passing and was finally rolled in the mud by several Poneke-forwards. Tunnington and B. Algar were prominent in a fine pnssing rush, but the latter was obliged to kick to save himself from being forced out. Much forward play folloived, in which the reds had decidedly the better of matters, until Wogan marked. By a series of dribbling rushes Poneke gradually moved up to well within the green twenty-five, and Booker, breaking through a forward scramble, scored near the oosts. By a well-direct-ed place kick Christopherson added two more points to Poneke's tally. Poneke 8 Selwyn 0 Following on a line-out, Kershaw secured and made a splendid attempt to break through, but the red defence remained intact. Tynan and Pointon hooked well for Poneke and were always to tho front in tbe heavy, forward work. De Clifton put in some Sterling work for Selwyn in the scrums and line-outs. Tho final scores were : Ponek© 8 Selwyn 0 Mr R. Evenson gave every satisfaction with tho w'histle.