MATCHES DESCRIBED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 17

MATCHES DESCRIBED

SPIRITED GAME

WELLINGTON AND PETONE

B* defeating Fetone by 13 points to .8 in the "main match at Athletic Park, Wellington strengthened their position at the top of the championship competition. The game produced Borne spirited football, bill, that was gnljciisriie. expected in a contest which, bet'au&e^f^he respective places, ill the competition Occupied by bath teams, Was of ittiportancfl to each of them. ThW State of affaifs naturally Invested the game with more, than -wtilMfyMfiWrest, and the attendance of about ten thousand, the best this season by far, afforded a Very clear and practical demonstration of the keen manner in Which" th<s fortunes of the teams aro being followed by the WJblit'iV ■■,-:■• " . ■ ' . . "wasi Ho reason for disappointment in t&rtaeasure of stirring play that wa.s turned cml - .Some spafkllng incidents were auo incltide^d," notably in the earlier stages. There were# however, some ragged patches, and the standard of performance by ahd large actually WaSf-^ot- high, but this was offest very largely the pace at which the game was played, (hff vigorous methods employed, and the great SeSntfeVs of the two teams. / i It was a pity that the Ball and ground were Affected # rain, f6t Otßertvise the gafiio nlay have pftKlUt'cd mOro high lights than it did. TBe WeUifigton bacKs, while th 6 ball was diy, tbrfl* v it about to some purpose and for tSe'llrsfc quarter of an hour or so gaVe I'etone a iot of trouble. Weiliflgtdii, in fact, gegan- Vefy Well. They settled do«h quickly, golßs into attack straight aWtty ond mainiainsai~ S6IW pressure in PetOhe territory. Early (ijianc&s Wefl© presented, to Wellington of addfeg points from two penalty kicks, but each fime Saylor was just si little out in his calciilaUons. --JL snappy blind-side movement from a^rum" brought Wellington's first points, Fultofl, IB fels.best mannef, making a deep thrust after Egaeil atid Thompson .had handled the ball, to send Sherfatt L'rashiflg thfoifgli for a-tfyr'Ttta kick was a difficult ofle, and Tay* H>r dld.fl^f' edß?6ft, Thonipsen paved the way fpr-wefllfliltefl'S fiext try; sd&fed by Stevens* but in.-being awarded this Wellington wete lucky, for a knock-On went Unnoticed by the referee. .Taylor converted; HdWofer, there Was an eteflilig up later, when dSfiffen was awarded 1 a try for Petono after a Wellington player had appeared to force the ball, which slithered acfdsS the line ffdm an attempt by I'Gilock at a, field gdal. POlldck converted.

petons by now n'e'i'e a much more potent foree. Thelf forwards had found their feet and in the scrluhS Latubourn's consistent hooking Was a big help in enabling the side to gain gfeatef control of aCtivlltes. tfhfc side iwsd the mistCriune to lose Symons thfougn &n injuty, and this Meant & rearrangement of the backs, involving" the taking up of the fullback position by Pollock, where he gave a good account of himself, as he did aiso at first fly£-ei2hti* When he moved iip to this position in the second spell after an injury to Jones. Right at the end of the spell Pollock bad the satisfaction of evening up ttio scores with & penalty goal.

• The Petone forwards responded well in the second spell again, giving the backs plenty of the. bail c but apart from the half-back, J. McGurk "(deputising for O'Halloran), and Pollock, the JPetone back division was not an efl^ctte© COBJblnation. ; There wefo, very defittlte^weftkiiesses,: and thus It was that the side;; .stt&otigli' having greater opportunities by fajHhft« came Wellington's way, wefe unable ' toutefce theli* scdrlng any further. . Wellington aaaed a converted try, and a good try it was. It Was scored by Fulton, who showed just notf.toaey ho can be and how Quickly he can .aej^wflen he followed up a kick towards the •£flwn* Uie by Stevens, who had headed a Wellington- loose rusU upfleid. Taylor eaelly ecaveriwd and the final score was Wellingtpn^lS, Petone 8-

;-The;Tefe?ee was Sir. T. Q, Baylor.