AN INTERESTING GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10615, 14 June 1920, Page 6

AN INTERESTING GAME

BETWEEN PETONE AND ORIENTAE. There was a fairly largo r.uinber of spectators present on the Petono Oral on Saturday to witness the game between Oriental and Petono. A hard-fought contest was expected, and the exhibition of Rugby that was given was above the average of senior club matche.s. Everything was in favour of a good display. The "ground was in excellent order, with perhaps a alight tendency to. be greasy, there was a perfect calm, and the sun. though somewhat bailing to a man catching a bijll, was only in evidence during the first "spell.” Parkes, a now arrival from Nelson, played as a forward for Petone. and in the absence of Mark Nicholls, was played at wing

three-quarter during portion of the gamo. As'regards weight amongst the forwards Oriental bad decidedly, Irom ay peayancss, the advantage, while as a combination tho Petone backs were superior. THE INITIAL ATTACK.

Oriental won the toss and Petone kicked off facing the sun. Gilchrist failed to get his return kick in effectively, but from a lins-out he boosted the ball down to E. Ryan, who found the line at halfway- From the line-out Moffit obtained possession and passed hack to Jones, who missed the’ ball, and Heley not being successful in securing the Petone (blue) forwards charged down and an attacK was sot up. The bail went out near a corner, and from the throw-in Moffit secured a mark, the kick from which relieved the pressure. Petone was soon back again through back play. Corner overran a pass and Gilchrist got bis boot to work on tho ball. He followed the kick up, caught the ball as it bounced, and threw it in-field, where ft was kicked back to Capper. The latter, by a hard kick, compelled tho bines to force down. Each forward division was putting every ounce in, Moffit, Harkness and Emerson being conspicuous for Oriental (black and white), and Price, the Parker brothers, 'and Parkes for Petone. Moffit especially was playing a strenuous gams for the "magpies,” who were getting the best of tho scrum and line-out work. When, the ball, got amongst the Pc tone backs progress was made, and the Oriental defence was sorely tried. From a looso forward rush which followed a line-out, A. Parker kicked, but a subsequent kuock-ou spoiled an opening to scoio. A scrummage was formed in Oriental territory. The ball came out to Nicholls, who wriggled hie way through the opposition and scored a wellearned try. It was a smart piece of work. E. Ryan failed with the kick” Petone 3, Oriental 0. Shortly afterwards A. Parker obtained a mark on the Oriental side of half-way and. J. Ryan "dropped” a beautiful goal. Petone C, Oriental 0. PETONE OPENS UP THE GAME.

Play became fast'at this stage.. From the kick-out E. Ryan got under way and passed to “Kruger” Parker, who was well collared! and the ball went out in Oriental twenty-five. A dodgy run by Green lor Petone placed the "magpies” on (ho defensive. The blues opened the game up, but progress was ctopped through Griffiths, who kicked well away from the danger zone. Fitzgerald! caught tip ball; there was an opening, and B. Ryan tv as in attendance, but lie committed an error by kicking across the field into Beley's hands. Tho Oriental sprinter was soon in motion, and when his progress v as, blocked lie passed to'Moffit, v’ho knocked on, and thereby lost a certain try. A struggle on I’etone’s lino ended by Corner marking, and J. Ryan kicked well up ti.e field. A forward dash with A. Parker and Ashton in the lead prevented Fuller from getting a return kick in and Holey, who came- to the rescue! did not improve matters. Tho forwards carried on tie aggressive movement, and had hard luck in not scoring. Give-and-take kicking followed, till Ashton and “Kruger” Parker broke .away from a scrum. Tho ball was pas-, to Hamilton, and ha and Nicholls passed to each other in turn until striking.uiß tanc-o was leached, when Hamilton shot across the line. It was a pretty piece of play. Tho score was not enhanced by the kick. Petone 9, Oriental 0. ORIENTAL ATTACK.

Another passing rush in which Nicholls, E. Ryaia, -and Corner took part looked promising, when Corner handed the ball to Ashton. The latter, who was standing at the time, did not expect to bo called upon and consequently failed to catch the ball. The attack was maintainel until an infringement of the rules took place and Oriental was relieved by the kick. Gilchrist got well away from a throw-in and when collared passed to Griffiths, who “slid" through the opposition, in good style and scored beneath Die goal. Capper made no mistake with the kick. Totone, 9; Oriental, 5

Even play followed for awhile. Then Potono mado a sharp attack only to. ho beaten off. Oriental- forwards worked their way down the field, where Moffitt made a dash for the line, and when collared passed to Hanson, who was also brought down. A fierce struggle on tho blues’ lino ensued. J. Ryam kicked ‘ scc V r , ed> , sprinted, passed to Griffiths, and he obtained another try in a similar manner to the first. Capper coaled and the score at half-time was ■ Oriental, 10; Petone. 9. PRAY PULE OF VIM. The sun had set behind the hills when tho teams changed round end it was evident from the first few minutes ol play the bines intended to fight hard for victory. It was difficult to realise that the same set of Petone forwards wore on. the field as in the earlier stages ol tho match, so strenuous were the efforts that were made. B. Thomas received the hall from the k-.ck-off and tore down the field at top. He dropped the ball to his toe and "Kruger” Parker helped it along with a hearty kick. Tho blues attacked with great vim and beat the opposition all the way. Nicholls got his hacks moving. Corner kicked, Capper returned, and from a -free kick J Ryan kicked at goal without result. Immediately afterwards B. Ryan and Pole (lie latter having changed place*, with Fitzgerald, engaged an a passing bout which was stopped by Canper. The combination shown by the Petone van guard and tho securing of the ball in the scrums kept Oriental continually on tho defensive, but it could not be broken down. A pass from Nicholls to Green saw the latter galloping away and when, within a few yards of the coveted line ho was brought down. Oriental cleared. but back came the Petone lorwards full of vim and determination. Oernr” marked and J. Ewan kicked at goal without success, and shortly afterwards Nicholls had a shot from a nennlty kick with no belter result. Oriental was forced down twice, and from a kick-out Corner caught tho hall on the full and made for the line. Ho transferred the ball to Fitzgerald, then E. Ryan rushed up and secured it and scored. Nicholls gcaled. Petone, It; Oriental, 10. THE BLUES FINAL THY. Play had no sooner been restarted when Petone was hammering at the defence again. Moffitt was instrumental in staving off the attack, and with the

help of a kick removed the scene of action <to half-way, tout excellent line-kick-ing by .1. Eyon prevented the magpies" from getting any further. A strong attack .br Intone reached the Oriental twenty-five,, where, from, a scrum, Nicholls fooled the opposition, went right through the forwards and backs and scored, E. Evan missed with the kick. Petone, 17; Oriental, 10. So far during the second half of the galne Oriental had not entered Petone s territory. Kicks at goal were made by J. Eo’an and Nicholls from free kicks. Then Oriental made a final effort. Faulty handling of the ball let them in and an infringement _of the rulesgave Capper an opportunity to kick at goal. He kicked and missed, but another kick was awarded through the Petone forwards charging before the ball was on the ground. Capper’s . second attempt was successful, Petone, 17; Oriental, 13. During the final few minutes of play Petone was attacking, but there, was no further score, the final tally being:— Petone .. 17 Oriental 13 The game was cleanly played, full of interest, and there was not a great deal of difference between the teams, Mr L. Simpson was the referee.