RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TO PETONE

Evening Post, Volume xciv, Issue 73, 24 September 1917, Page 4

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TO PETONE

The Wellington Rugby championship for this season was decided on Saturday, : when, at Athletic Park, Petone secured a rather hollow win over University Comparatively even for the first portion of the game, play in the second half was entirely in favour of Petoue, who romped over their oppo- ■ nents. The pace was on from the outset, and 'Varsity, by means of short passing rushes, instituted an attack, only to be sent back by Coles. 'Varsity kept up a strenuous pressure for a time, but again Coles, with a nice line kick, brought relief. With play in the 'Varsity twenty-five the defenders were penalised and Ambler kicked a nice goal, drawing first blood for ; Petone. Petone 3, 'Varsity 0. Play now became, if anything, faster, and it was of a give-and-take order, Petone, if anything, having the advantage. From a mis-kick by Jackson Petone swarmed down to the attack and pressed hard, W. Thomas eventually getting over at the corner. Ambler failed at goal. Petone 6, 'Varcity 0. Almost immediately afterwards Jackson was prominent with a strong individual run, changing defence into attack, but he was poorly supported. From a scrum, however, Mortori secured and gave to Jackson. fThe latter transferred to Aitken, who "dashed over. It was a pretty try. Morton failed at goal. Petone 6, 'Varsity 3. Coles, Nicholls, Corner, and the brothers Thomas were prominent in some good work for Petone, and, eventually, after a scramble outside the 'Varsity line, Bond got over. Ambler converted the try, and the score at half-time was Petone 11, 'Varsity 3. The second half was not by any means interesting, although there were some bright flashes of play, but it was all one-sided. Petone had matters all their own way, 'Varsity apparently having gone to pieces. This, (to a largo measure, may perhaps be accounted for by.an. injury to Jackson, and; the consequent disorganisation of their back line. A passing Tun between Coles, Nicholl3, Corner and A. Thomas, _ resulted in the latiter scoring a try, which Amber converted. Petone 16, 'Varsity nil After another passing run between practically all the Petone backs Hamilton scored, and Amber failed at goal. Petone 19, 'Varsity 3. Further tries for Petone were scored by W. Thomas, Coles, Bowers, .md Pole. Amber converted three tries and Nicholls missed with „ the fourth. The final score was Petone 47, 'Varsity 3. Mr. E. Perry controlled the game.