PETONE DEFEATS PONEKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10603, 31 May 1920, Page 7

PETONE DEFEATS PONEKE

STRENUOUS FORWARD GAME, PETONE’S SUPERIOR PLAT. Poneko and Petoue have bean, opponents in many strenuous games, and whenever theso teams meet 'there is bound to be a large attendance of football enthusiasts, irrespeotive of wha£ the weather conditions may be. When the teams went on to the field on Saturday afternoon at Petone there was a fairly large ■ number of persons present to watch the. game. It was bitterly cold, with a strong south-west wind blowing, which blew almost at a right angle across the ground. Potono won the toss and defended the west goal. The teams were practically at full strength. OPENING FEATURES. Poneko kicked' off, "Kruger" Parker secured, and a Potono rush was soon m progress. E. Ryan and Hamilton wore associated in a forward movement which was stopped by McArthur. It was evident that the game was to be a hardfought one, and that tho forwards would bo iho principal actors, as tho wind prevented passing amongst tho backs with any degree of accuracy. The.ro were many incidents of short., passing bouts, but it was dangerous to send the boll far out for fear of tho pass houig intercepted, A free kick to Poneko gave momentary relief, but a good return by J. Ryan saw the rod and blacks busily defendingAshton gpt a "speculator" ( n , and the. bil) Went over Ponekc’s goal-line, where

it was forced down. From the Wok-cmt the Poneke forwards worked their nay to the centre of the field, where the P* posing paek dashed away and removed tbs scene of action to, inside Poneke a 85 yard mark.

BALL COMING TO PETONE. In the scrum tbe Petone were securing the "hall- H. Niohclls j? it away smartly, hut the 2> a? tTth S Often wind had to be oontenedod with. Gtten the ball would hang in the air aedenable a fast-travelling opposition back to stop further progress; consequently forwards were called upon to do mo* of the work. Corner secured a mark, and M. Nicholls made » creditable, though unsuccessful, kick at goal. The ball was no sooner in play *g»in before the Fetene (blue) backs ptmov* iug from a pass by fl. IJicboUs wm * sciumT The ball passed through the hands of B, Ryan, Corner, »nd Baroiiton, the latter of whom kicked it across the line, where Halin forced down. So far the blues had had the best of tee argument, but the Poneke forwai "Is now put m an effort. Headed to: Oalmnm. they charged up the field with the ball at W C. Tilyard secured and kicked, .but when half-way was r «acbed MNioholle marked smartly.. A P d ' is reS bout between B. Rynn, and Corner placed Poneke on the defensive once mor*: tbcf. C. Tilyard got some of hi? to* Attack’ and defence was turned into atteeK. Price came through a scrum for Petone in too style, and when the movement looked promising, J, T hyard came to the rescue and found the touch-Une with an opportune kick. THE FIRST SCORE. The Petone forward? wore playing • first-class gam®, and the line-kicking of J- Ryan helped them considerably t» maintaining . the advantage, p Foneke swept M before tlwm, entered ketone f territory# but tbe ball woe eeut . down the field by a kick by M. HiohwUsStrenuous work by the red and black .forwards followed. J. Ryan was smother ed, and a free kick was awarded tor "hanging on.” King made a poor attempt to kick a goaf. A nice cut-in by H NioholU saw the blues raping, down the ground. Hamilton gave assistance with a sprint and kick, and from « scrum op Poneke’s coal-line H. Nlcholls scored, M. Nioholls kicked a magnificent* goal against the wind from a difficult angle. Petone 6 Poneke - u

Prior to the kick M. NicnoUs received a severe hurt to his face, and after securing the goal was compelled to leave the field. Bis place was subsequently taken by C. Green- There was no lack of vim in the play, and it looked as if endurance would win the day.. Up and down the ground the ball went in quick succession, per medium of the forwards of each team. C- Tilyard, J. Tilyard and Algar took part in a passing rush, which was stopped before it reached Petono’s danger zone. Then the Petone forwards got away with Price, Fitzgerald. Pole and the Parker brothers in the van. A score seemed to be certain when J. Tilyard dashed in and made a fine save. Troy and Calcinai were doing grejt work for Poneke, the former on several occasions carrying out the duties of ■ a beck. It was one of the best forward games soon for some seasons peat, with a flash al intervals of back play thrown in, and the whistle sounded, for half-time with play in neutral territory. PONEKE’S ONLY SCORE.

Ik was fully anticipated that Poneke would even matters in the second half of 'the game, but aa soon aa • play was recommenced the Petone forwards, with Thomae breaking through the scrums, tpshed to the attack. "Kruger” Parker started a lone hand dribble, which Ma liu nullified by a lino kick. I’oneke was forced down, and immediately afterwards attacked by a hick by C. Tilyard, and Algar improved the position with another. when hard pressed Hamilton suddenly broke away, and by o. strong kick, which bo followed up fast, ploy was carried from one end of the ground to the other. Back came the Foneko forwards assisted by a kick by F., Tilyard. and Petone tought relief by. forcing down. First one fade and then the other took a turn at attack. King made a fine save for Poneko on one occasion and "Kruger"' Parker madie a lot of ground by a dribbling rush, and was nearing the full back when he was tripped. B Thomas, who /played a sterling game, cajno through a scrum, and the ball wont out inside Poneke’s twenty-five. A serum followed the throw-in.- the hall was heeled - out to H. Nioholls, who cut in cleverly, passed to Corner, who transferred to B. Ryan, and Petone's second try was ohtainetl. H- Nioholls wao not successful with the kick. Petone 8, Popeke 0. Poneko’e prospects of pulling the game "out of the fire” were becoming hopeless, but every effort was made. A kick bv King saw Petone defending, but the advantage was not maintained for long, Ashton being instrumental in relieving the pressure. Troy led another attack, and from a mark in front of Petone's goal King sent the ball over. From this on the game was closely contested, hut Petone held the upper hand, and at the finish were attacking. The final scores were— Petone S Poncke 3 Mr,A. C- Kitto was referee.