NATIONAL MUTUAL CUP

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 281, 22 August 1921, Page 6

NATIONAL MUTUAL CUP

PONEKE DEFEAT UNIVERSITY. This season's contest for the National Mutual Cup —the first of its kind —took place on Saturday afternoon. The game was played between Poneke (winners of the senior championship for 1921) and University, who, out of several challengers, were selected for the play-off by the Management Committoe of the union. Quite a large crowd of spectators attended, and they were rewarded with a fast, open game, play in which was even. Interest in the match ran very high, the supporters of both sides frequently working themselves up to a very enthusiastic pitch. Poneke won by nine points to seven, and although there was very little difference between tho merits of the contestants, on the whole tho Red and Blacks deserved their victory. A remarkable feature of the game' was that with a combined score of 16 points not one try was scored during tho afternoon. This was due to the ! solid defence offered by both fifteens. | University wero without the services of * Aitken, but otherwise the rival colours were strongly represented. The All- | Black captain was convalescing from an attack of influenza, and had he been present he might have tipped the scales in favour of his side. After a somewhat vicissitudinous career during the past few months, the Poneke backs gave a very creditable display, and, contrary to expectations, they evidenced superior combination to that of their opponents. University played with the advantage of the sun and a light breeze in the first half, but it took them a few minutes to get down to business in earnest. The result was that Poneke wero prominent in tho opening stages. A good run and a cross-kick by F. Tilyard was followed up by a well-executed passing rush on the part of the Red and Black backs, but Christopherson failed to receive at a critical juncture. King missed in an attempt to goal from a penalty, about twenty-five yards back, on the angle, and University forced. The remainder of the spell was nearly all in favour of University, whose forwards were very successful in the loose. Siddells broke the ice by unexpectedly screw-potting a goal from a difficult angle, over a range of thirty-five yards, and before half-time Thomas increased his side’s lead to seven by landing a splendid penalty goal from ten yards inside half-way, some distance from midfield. Just previously he had made another excellent attempt at goaling which just failed. Try as they would, however, the University backs could not succeed in a try. Jackson made severaUbreaks on the Greens’'left wing, but he was too well marked by M’Arthur, his vis-a-vis. Dixon, on ’Varsity’s opposite wing, never looked like scoring. Hutchison was the really dangerous man on the side of University, and he required a lot of watching. King was generally handy, however, with a heavy tackle at the right moment. After change-over, Poneke never drew breath till they had opened a scoring account. King did the trick after about ten minutes had elapsed by virtue of a penalty goal, ten yards in from the line and • just over the twenty-five yards’ mark. Later, he repeated his performance from about the same position, but it was not until a few minutes before the call of time that Poneke managed to secure the additional three points which gained them victory. . Again the. score was a penalty goal kicked by King—a great shot about midfield, at a range of forty yards. University did not improve their tally. Apart from the good tackling on both sides, a feature of the game was the sterling all-round performance of Siddells, but for whom Poneke would have surely scored. B. Algar was the strong link in Poneke’s defence, but was not prominent on the attack. F. Tilyard greatly pleased his club’s supporters, and King, whose kicking won the match, was chaired at the conclusion of the game. Tunnington shaped nicely as the Poneke half, but as the scrums were consistently bad, neither half had many opportunities. Mr. A. E. Nielson was referee. AUSTRALIANS AnFsOUTH AFRICANS AN EXPLANATORY MESSAGE. By Telegraph—Bnecial Correspondent. Masterton, August 21. Gisborne, Mr. Boswald (manager of the New South Wales team) replied: to certain remarks concerning Australian hospitality attributed by thp Sydney newspapers to Mr. G. H. Bennett (manager of the Springboks). Mr. Boswald has handed to your correspondent for publication the following telegram from Mr. Bennett: — “With reference to your remarks at Gisborne, please accept my assurance that neither I nor any member of my team have ever made any statements derogatory to Sydney hospitality or sportsmanship. We had the time of our lives in Australia, and appreciate all that was done for us there—(Signed) Bennett, manager South African team.”

PRIMARY SCHOOLS TRAINING OF REPRESENTATIVES. All tho boys chosen for tho tour to Wanganui will assemble this afternoon, nt 3 o’clock, at Kelburn Park, when Mr. H. Paton will attend to instruct the boys. Should the weather be wet, the boys will assemble at the Athletic Gymnasium (off Hopper Street). The practice game to take place to-morrow between the A representative team and the B team at Kilbirnio Reserve will commence at 2.30 p.m. Tho A team will bo as follows:—I 1 ullback Barrett; three-quarters, Richards, Turley, Cavej five-eighths, Cookson, Mahoney; half, Cleland; wing-forward, Harris; forwards, M'Leod, Simmonds, Best, Fordham, Callaghan, Teal, Levien; emergencies, Waitai, Nicholl. The following will comprise the B team:—Fullback, O’Donnell; three-quarters, Mailman, Tovey, Seddon; five-eighths, Bretis, Milne; half, Stapleton; wing-forward, Douglas; forwards, Auaius, Paterson, Duff, Fitzmaurice, Pickering, Ilembrow, Welch; emergencies, Thurstou, Condon, Blair, Hands., JUNIOR GRADE RESULTS. Island Bay, 24; South Wellington, 0. Island Bay, 12; Newtown, 0.