KEEN ENCOUNTER AT ATHLETIC PARK

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 4

KEEN ENCOUNTER AT ATHLETIC PARK

COMPETITION AT AN INTERESTING STAGE

"The; firs|jdmsiio^|o£ftKfe Wellington Rugby, Union's senior A cpmpetiHon has "reached an^interesting stage'as^the result of'Saturday's matches and only two points separate the first and fourth teams. A fast and keenly-contested, match at Athletic Park resulted in Marisfc- losing, Jiy one Jpoint; to^vWeliihgtori College: Old Boys and this, combined with a second spell effort which enabled Hurt to beat the promoted St. Patrick's College Old Boys team, robbed Miiistvottheirupositionias joint,leadfers. Hutt,;/Wellington College Oia^Boys,-Maristi and P oneke.are the''teams' .between which the issue now appears to lie, though it is not unlikely that some of the leaders will have to.strike their colours to teams lower down the ladder before the season closes. At Petone University held the local team to a draw at half-time, but were finally, worn down by the rugged Petone forwards. The first round results were reversed in. the Wellington-Eastbourne and PonekeAthletic 'matches, all the scoring -in the latter match being done in the first half hour. The rain which threatened in the morning to spoil' ihe afternoon's play had clearedi away before most of the games commenced and, although the grounds were on the heavy side, players had a dry ball to handle. '■-•■'■■

The. second division competition is also in a very open state, largely, as the result of a surprise defeat of Johnsonville, the leaders, by Berliampore. In this division there are ,only four points between the1 first and seventh teams. '