RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Age, 24 September 1923, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PETONE DEFEAT MASTERTON. AFTER POOR DISPLAY. HAWKES BAY RETAIN SHIELD. PETONE 8, v. MASTERTON 3. The Petone team which visited Masterton on Saturday scored a win over , the Masterton combined teams after a disappointing exhibition of football, before a very good attendance of spectators. In the first half play was fairly good, the forwards especially putting in some good work on both sides. The Masterton forwards put it all over the Petone pack most of the time, the tight work being well in favour of the Greens. The loose forward rushes of the Blue had the Masterton backs thinking once or twice, some of the dribbling work of the visitors being quite good. The backs were a fairly even lot. There was not much brilliance on either side, the smothering tactics of the Greens preventing the Petone backs getting away with many passing bouts. Whenever they did, however, things looked dangerous, and one try was scored as the result of a very pretty piece of play initiated by Rodgers, and finished off nicely by Cornaga. Masterton kicked off against sun and wind and quickly had Petone on the defensive. The Green forwards looking very like scoring. Riddell, however, relieved with a very fine kick. A Petone dribbling rush was well stopped by Yates in the Green 25. Masterton soon carried play back to the Petone 25 and a nice cross kick by Vangioni put Bob Booth in an excellent position for scoring, but a flagrant offside by Cornaga prevented him from getting the ball. Masterton was awarded a free kick, but Yates’s kick fell short. Petone forced play into Masterton territory. Then from a scrum near the green 25 Rodgers ran round, beat two men, transferred to Nicholls, to Gardner, to Cameron, to Cornaga, who scored in a good position. The kick failed. Petone 3, Masterton 0. Masterton backs then got going and a very dangerous passing rush took place, B. Booth being forced out near the corner. Masterton forwards kept smashing away at Petone’s line, but Parker relieved. The Masterton backs came at them again however, Vangioni initiating a nice passing movement, to B. Booth, to R. Booth and back infield, a missed pass spoiling. Almost immediately afterwards Yates made a splendid run, beat three men and passed to Hemingway, w-ho had only to take the ball and run over. He mulled a good pass. At half time the score made it look as if Masterton was going to win with the wind behind them. Within a minute, however, the Petone forwards rushed play to Masterton’s line, where Bond got over rather easily. Nicholls converted. Petone >’, Masterton 0.

From this on a lot of line play was dulling the game. McKenzie, Nicholson and O’Dowd were showing up well and Parker, for Petone, was outstanding. Bob Booth from a mark kicked an excellent centre punt, and the forwards following up enabled Willoughby to force his way over under the P'. sts. Yates was not in good goal kicking form. Petone 8, Masterton 3.

(Shortly afterwards Willoughby got clean away and could have easily got over 'himself, but unselfishness this time was a failure. His pass was badly missed. Shortly afterwards a lucky kick by Hemingway went out near Petone’s line, but Petone managed to hold their own. They looked dangerous until Bob Booth relieved. Vangioni made a brilliant run, attended by Bob Booth who, by a bit of bad luck knocked the ball on. Play from now on was particularly dull. Flaws was a hit declined to hold too long, if he had let out a bit more Randal Booth may have had a chance. The latter was getting s o little of the ball that he came in, and put Collinge out on the wing. On the day Pen>r.e were flightly the better team.