PONEKE 6. ST. -JAMES 3f.

NZ Truth, Issue 151, 9 May 1908, Page 3

PONEKE 6. ST. -JAMES 3f.

This match was played at Petone, and pioved fast and interesting throughout, and "resulted m a win for the older club by six points (two tries) to thre« (one try). ' .: v . Poneke was without the services ol Rush and Magee. The former was marked durine the week, and Magee injured his shoulder m th§ match against Melrose. St. James won the toss, and Poneke kicked off with the sun m its face. After some loose play m neutral ground St. James worked the ball up towards Foneke line, where, from a scrum, Ferguson got the ball, and looked to have a certain scoring chance, but was splendidly tackled 'by Paul, and the ball found touch. St. James again invaded Poneke's territory with a passing rush, but little 1 ground was gained by inaccurate passinc and the first spell ended without any score on either side. The second spell opened with a strong attack by the Red and Black who. during this spell, worked solendidlv | together. The ball was kept in' St. James' twenty-five, and after several attempts .to pierce the Red and White's defence O'Brien secured the ball and dived over the line. \ Gardiner made a good attempt to convert. Shortly afterwatds. Thomas failed to take /the ball from a high kick, and the Red forwards, swooping down on him, rushed the ball over the line, where C. Mitchinson fell on it. Towards the end of the game, Twohill Mcured the ball m Poneke's twentv-fiye, and. after a good dash, was grassed near St. James's line.. St. James then rushed the ball down to Poneke's line again, and Warwick touched, down. Paul, for the winners, played a good game at full-back, and was always reliable. He saved a certain try for St. James by his determined tackling of Fergusson in' the first spell. Twohill ulayed centre threequarter and Flanagan 'five-eighths, and both did some good Jin'e kickjnef. Tilyard, at half, plavcd a fine game. His tackling and stonuing being Al. Poneke forwards outclassed St. James, and were more successful m hooking the/ ball. Of a' hard-working nack, O'Brien'