ATHLETIC ARE NOW LEADING

NZ Truth, Issue 1228, 13 June 1929, Page 16

ATHLETIC ARE NOW LEADING

Can They Maintain Position When Porter Sails For Aussie ? PONEKE SUCCUMB, TO ORIENTAL (From "N.Z. Truths Special;" Wellington Representative). By defeating Wellington; on Saturriay, Athletic have now taken the lead m the senior championship. There were one or two surprise results which indicate an eventtess amongst the teams taking part m the senior Agrade. :';

GN- Athletic Park a Wery interesting tussle took place between Athletic and Wellington, the latter .; team gqingr very near to pulling the game put of the fire m the dying stages. , • . Athletic obtained a commanding lead of twelve points to nil m the first spell and -they notched another three points m the second before Wellington opened their account. ? .': Once they found that they could. score, there was no stopping Wellington, for forwards and backs rushed into 'the fray •with a determination that • roused the greatest enthusiasm amongst theip.<army of supporters. They got to within, four points of Athletic, the finishing, score being 15 toll. . :• ... In the first spel], Wellington; were handicapped with the sun m .their eyes, ■whilst Athletic played with a ■ fair northerly at their «backs. In the second spell the wind dropped completely and Wellington were then fighting on even terms. Athletic, nevertheless, wore m good form and deserved- the win by reason of the fact that there was present m the „ ' first spell, the com-

hination that was lacking m the Wellington side. Wellington " were m better mood as the game, progressed, but the improvement came too late. This paper has previously, referred to the noticeable gradual improvement m the Wellington . tean* and the writer' was quite prepared for the close call given Athletic. ■ ; Wellington possesses a fine s.et of forwards and on

Saturday they were always . going as prominently as their opponents. Cliff. Porter was the main obstacle the defeated side had to encounter. . He played his usual cool game, always displaying that habit of anticipating the actions of his opponents which has mado him one of the best forwards New Zealand has produced^ \ ■ It. was thrilling to see Porter at one time leading a forward movement and at the next dropping back 1 to replace a back who had followed up a kick. It was on these latter occasions that he scored a splendid try when m the position of wing three-quarter. Porter came m for some attention from a section of the spectators when ,> m,: the closing stages lie appeared . tp?,tleliberatc. unnecessarily before kicking^ pnT ; >i; after Wellington had scored. '. * : . >•'•'•■;■ The referee, too, came in«for,,«some more or less mild reminders , that Athleticwere being," continually let j#& ". Ql|t:'tight corners by free kicks. "N.Z. Truths saw no justification for the section referred to taking up this attitude. The trouble came through Wellington's over-eagerness. when they were near the line. A referee who will, stick to the rules irrespective of wfiether or not he is pleasing the public Is. to be commended. Athletic backs made. many,- many mistakes; the passing* not being near- the standard iisually given by this team. Pelham, at 1 centre, was mainly responsible for the undoing of attempts that,should have 'given better' results^ He ; ; either would Jiang on too Jong or give an erratic' pass. Heazlewood again demonstrated his qualities as a full-back, -and .it : i^ YreaUy stiff luck that this young player?; who vhas his 'football career ahead/ did nqt get'the trip to Australia. f >:%- ; \ .":• .:)'-■ ■:■■'' '"■ ■'■■'■'■ The Athletic coach '.is,/; of course, some-

at any stag^ comparable with Heazlewood, nevertheless he managed to >■ frequently, get. out of .tight ''corners. . Wellington will be seen 'again''- on -Athletic'; Park ••'and the next team , to meet them/t here Tvill. know, before, the final bell that they, have i been m a game.. - The surprise of the afternoon was the defeat of Poneke by Oriental, the score belhg/39'to .13. There was no fluke about this victory for the magpies playeS a sterling" game throughout. ■\'.'--\.'^' : -.' Poneke always play a hard, determined

game and they met a team,.' m Ories, •right on their oAvh 'Hnb.. •; ■-.■..• . •P'oneke forwards rwere' certainFy -.hot seen ; best '■aiifl never did-tlie'y give the customary protection Xo,, Julian, the half- Julzla'n. was on trial on SaturdayVas .it Svas notioecr ; that v Ted SlelCeri/.ie,' .' ' dhairihan of. the New Zealand •'• selectors, was m attendance.' Tlie selector' ■would hardly .be impres sed with

Julian's display and from the Poneke lad's point of view, this was unfortunate for he has played games this season that really "merited the bestowing of the highest football honors. On Saturday he was "left" by the forwards, arid the result' was that he \was not so impressive as m past . games. He may miss the\ trip tb>'.. Aussie. The outstanding" feature of .this match was the deadly, tackling, of both teams. Kvery man caught with! the ball was dumped solidly, yet hot roughly. Old Boys- gained; a narrow victory over Petone, the score being ! 16' to. 14. Old Boys were, on the day, the superior side. The forwards kept better command and the backs were always surer m handling than their opponents. .-.-," Rush brook is gradually regaining his form. .121vy put-in Home determined runs but his efforts were generally upset when he found, he had little support from his mates. ° - Mark Nicholls was at his best, particularly m the closing stages when there was a chance of his team saving defeat. Petonc have a good set of forwards, composed of such battlers as Fell, llotigatti, Thomas, Spence, Clarke and Reid. .'_ It says much for-.the Old Boys pack that they gradually shaded the vil;y lagers.Jn scrum and loose work. Me- '";■■ Phersqn, v' J. La mason, Claridge and > Preston- Were theymost conspicuous of theelgh£ heavy;;'rrien. '■'.:', ■:■■'■: ■, '„'.■ "V ■ '•, '^,'S- ■ „' '■'Varsity scramblSfl. home by one point over Berhampore;' the' score being 12 to II Berhampore took the field a weakened side for both Love and Lalng were absent. ' . Varsity, too. were not 'quite at full Strength, for MacKenzie and Edgar were -missing. Hurley played a good defensive game, as full-back for Berhampore. The potted goal, registered by him m the first spell was a trimmer. Hooper, behind the Berhampore pack, did all things we)l. He is a heady boy. Glennie was taken from the pack, and he quite rose to the occasion amongst the backs. Deere, Mollier, Cameron and McDonald were the most prominent forwards. Leys, Irwiri and Mackey took honors for Varsity backs, and Blakesney,- Deidrich and Hislop were always prominent amongst 'the forwards. "■'■ Down went Marist another peg and ■'■ this time Eastbourne did the trick to the tune of 13 t0.7. There was- no • fluke about Eastbourne's win. In the •■ ..second spell they certainly outclassed V; Marist. .'■■• , .'.":. . . ';■■■.-. ':■ "Cuming had a hard time as full-back, and it was no fault of his that defeat was tasted. ■* ■ . The other backs failed badly. E.Barry, Butler and McHardy shone out amongst the forwards. • , '.'.'• ' r '' Q'Gonnor, Neal; V^Price and Jones are promising forwards; aC the, Bay^ ■ . „ The' /ysay-:' ; ]back^fs)i'p.wed>:'6.ut'.v.to; ; 'adv'an-' tage^in\-..tlife : ; l sec^ brother's' 'ahd^pellabarca displayed .some pretty, oombined vWork:vA. a?;:, ;. ■■ •;.,£;