THE RUGBY GAME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2571, 20 September 1915, Page 9

THE RUGBY GAME

SEMI-FINAL

PETONE DEFEAT PONEKE

The semi-iinal in. the City Rugby Competition was played at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon. Petone met Poneke, and by beating them secured the right to play off with Athletic for the championship. Petone did not play up to form, and at half-timo wero nine points down. Tho only scoring done in tlio opening spell was by Poneke, for whom M'Taggart and Anderson scored tries and Algar kicked a ponalty goad. M'Taggart's try was tho wind-up of a very lino • passing rush, in which the Poneke back division showed what it is occasionally capable of. Petone attacked throughout Mo second spell, and from tho very commencement of it looked likely to simply run all over Poneke. Their first score camo from a beautiful goal kicked by James Ryan. Poneke, 9j Petone, 3. Timo wont on, and Petone, though nearly over tho line on many occasions, were not overbading tho Reds. At length W. Ryan secured the leather in the Poneko twenty-five, fought his way through a majority of tho opposing team, and scored under tho posts. E. Ryan converted. Poneke, 9; Petone, 8. A while later E. Ryan was given a rcmoto chance of scoring, and he obtained. tho points which put Petone in tho lead. Ryan was blocked on the sido line, but ho bumped his way through and obtained a rather difficult try. Petone, 11; Poneke, 9. The suburban team's position now looked secure, aud it is somewhat remarkable that all their eleven points hod been 6cored by members of the Ryan family. In the little while remaining for play Petone added nino points. Nicholls potted a great goal from an acnto angle, and Ready scored a try, which E. Ryan converted. Petone, 20; Poneke, 9. Mr. Paton was referee. The casualties during the game were fairly heavy. O'Brien and Prendeville (Poneke) and MTEwan (Petone) had to retiro from tho field. Nicholl replaced O'Brien, and in M'Ewan's place Petone put on C. Ramsden, who, a few years ago, was one .of tih« finest ■ fiveoighths in the country. . A "MARINE" MATCH. The Combined Shipping Companies beat Customs on Athletic.Park by 14 points to' 5. For the Shipping Companies, Bennie, Hodge, Dennohy, and Parker scored trios, one of which Austin converted. Cunningham scored a try for Customs, and converted it. Mr. W. Meredith was referee. . BULLER AND WEST COAST, s By Telograph.—Press Association. Westport, September 19. Yesterday's football matcn, Buller v. West Coast, tho proceeds of w'hich are in aid of tho Sicjc and Wounded Fund, resulted in a .draw, both teams scoring six points (two tries). Tho try-getters were Colligan and Nclsop (West Coast) and French and Aitken (Buller). The total takings, including a sale of flowers and sweets, were something over ~£7O. Bad weather interfered with tho attendance.