FOOTBALL.

NZ Truth, Issue 63, 1 September 1906, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AlLinterest m Saturday's rugby contests was centred m the Petone-Ath-letic bout, which proved a keenly contested one, the former team only scored its winning points a few minutes before call of time. The scores were Petone 12, Athletic 9.

Few of the spectators expected the blue and blacks to win when they entered the ground, but that they ■should lead the champions for the .greater, part of the game was a surprise 'for even their own supporters.

It is pretty well known amtrng followers of the game that the Athletics do not get going until their -opponents have scored against them, this contest was/no exception toi '■the rule. For the first -quarter -of an hour Petone had all the best of it,; forcine: their opponents several times and scoring a try which the kicker did not convert.

Then the colors took a hand m the game and rushed -the play into Petone quarters, a breach of the rules by the latter civing them a free kick which Hales converted. A little later, a. fine forward rush resulted m a scrum on the line and, Elliott securn inn- possession of the ball passed out to O'Sullilvan, who crossed the line, and scored.

Another desperate, charge by the 'forwards from the half-wav to the poal •posts had Petone m- trouble again and. another try was • only (missed' by inches. A passing rush by the Petone backs nearly let Ryan m at the corner, but Evensen cut sharpiv across the field and threw the Petone man into touch-in-goal.

At the commencement of the second spell the 'colours again made a determined attack on the Petone citadel and after a, time were rewarded with a trf eained b^ Lile. This left the Athletics leading by nine points to three and had they been content to play on the defence for the rest of the game, by playing the line for all it was worth, it is doubtful if Petone could have overtaken them. „ ■

But the blues elected to keep . the play open all through, with the result that Petone, which had tried its backs m the first part of the game and found them wanting, realised that its only hope lay m bringing them into-pla'y again. As the suburban men secured the ball m five scrums out of six they .were able to keep up a continual attack and score two more tries which with the aid of a converted free, enabled them tp leave the field winners by twelve points .to nine. " ■

The Athletic , forwards more than held thedr own m the loose and were little inferior m the tight work. Their great weakness is with, their hookers^ who were beaten badly. They have- tried three different pairs during the season with indifferent success.

Wilson took -the ball like a tradesman on the line-out, and m this part of the game excelled himself ; he was also very conspicuous m all the rushes.

. Lile, a new acquisition from 'the Northern o-oldfields, proved., a tower of strength and is a most useful forward of the scoring type. o'Sullivan, the winger, played a sterling game, but towards the finish was handicapped by a sprained ankle. • Osborne and Bell are two solid forwards who were always with the ball. Baker, ■Cmmin.'gham, Elliott and Stagpoole are young players who will be heard of m the^near future.

Atkinson, at half, played a hardj keen same and stood up bravely to> the attacking forwards m- the second half. His weakness is m not feeding his five-eighths enough.

O'Mera, at five-eighth, made -one- or two nice openings from one of which a score was just missed.

Bvensen, centre three-quarter, did a lot of defensive work -at times, accounting for two of his opponents. His kicking was at fault, as. though he put plenty of toot into it, he rarely found the line, and- gave his forwards a lot of work at a time When they wanted nursing.

McLennan and Cunningham, on the wing, were the weak spots m the team. Hales, atf full, played a good game and appears to have regainedsome of his old form.

Hardham, the Petbne winger, was hardly as lively as usual. He was penalised on several occasions by the referee. Reedy and Driscoll, m front of the scrum secured the ball and did much -to win the game for their side. .

Cross and Wright played their usual solid game, but Byrne did not shine so conspicuously as usual. Knight and Phillips were all there m the tight work, but the former is rather slow for the company he is m.

Green,, at half, played a solid, heady game. If the selectors intend playing Roberts at five-eights m the rep. matches this lad should be played at half m place of Thomson.

Kelly, the five-eight, is a nuggety little fellow who took his full share of defensive work.

Ramsden, at centre three-quarters, had a day off. He could not take a .pass cleanly, m the first spell especially, and several times gave his op- 1 ponents opportunities to clear their line.

Barber, on the wing, was sure, -handling the ball accurately and finding the line when he wanted it.

J. Ryan was, next to Green, the ■best back on the prround. He -had hard luck m the first spell m not sooring a try when he went for the line all out and was bumped into touch.

The full-back, M. Ryan, was not as safe as he usually is, his catching and fielding being much at fault on

several occasions. The colors should have scored a try from one of his mistakes, but the bounce of the ball beat them and saved the situation.

The Old Boys, who started their I season's account so brilliantly by. upending Poneke, finished up ingloriouslv on Saturday when Wellington thrashed them to the tune of 15 ipotnts, the younger club's representatives failing to draw blood. Two ytries were scored m each spell by the yellows, m addition to which a penalty goal was kicked m the second half.

Several of the bi? suns were missing from the Old Boy's ranks, the attraction at the Athletic Park being; responsible for their defection. The game was not a particularly brilliant exposition of rugby, the play beii?'- ragged throughout. Early m the game Wellington lost the services of Charley Manson, who put his knee out, and had to be carried off the field. Charley is always m trouble with that "cronk" leg and it is about time he chucked the game. Poneke just saved its bacon against Oriental, the red and blacks fretting the winning points within a few minutes of no-side. Oriental led at half time by 9 to nil, its score being made up of tries by Wilkinson and Roberts, and a goal from the field, Roberts being the kicker. • On changing over, Poneke hustled things .m livelier fashion. Wallace kicked two fine penalty goals while Mitchimson got over the chalk-mark following on a clever run. The final result was Poneke 11, Oriental 9. In the first spell, the red and 'blacks were all at sea, While Orientals set utf a series of vigorous onslaughts, the forwards shaping m lively fashion and the backs manipulating the leather accurately and m forceful fashion, if not always with cleverness. The efforts of the Poneke combination to gets its back machinery m operation for scorinpr purposes was nullified to a considerable .extent by the persistently sure tackling of the black and white scrumminT bricade.

In response to repeated calls from its barrackers Poneke brightened ud after changing ends arid the spell was much m its favor, alheit, thfe passing, running and kickin~ of the rearguards was far below standard form. The Oriental's stubborness m defence weakened perceptibly m the closing stages of the game.

Taking the play right through it was only 'mediocre.' A greater portion of the contestants were apparently more absorbed m the tussle on the adjoining ground. At times the Poneke men were to be seen training their lamps on a narticularlv exciting rush next door, quite oblivious to the fact that their own citadel was being vigorously assailed by an opposing force. -