PONEKE CHAMPIONS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 38, 13 August 1921, Page 12

PONEKE CHAMPIONS

SENIOR COMPETITION CONCLUDED

(By "Drop-Kick..")

To the Poneke Club's fine record in senior football there has been added another championship. Afc this week's meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union it was decided to close the senior competition, and to dteciare Poneke the winner*. This was not unexpected, there having been a general impression, since the start of •the second round, ,that no championship matches would be played after the 6th August, unless, of course, two teams were level after matches playedl on that date." This year's competition has been of interest throughout, and! toWards the end it was made doubly so, by reason of the surprises caused by some of the lower teams defeating th© championship leaders. 'Varsity, Orij ental, Berhampore, Athletic, and Marist have all contributed' towards the added 1 interest in the competition this season, and had two complete rounds been completed 1, it is not . unlikely that otherI colours may have been flown at the head of . the 'ladder.. However, all things considered, Poneke well-deserve th© honour, and the club is to be congratulated: on coming out on top after a hard struggle, in which luck can be said to have playedl its part. . ToPoneke the luck has been good and) bad, andl while tihey were fortunate in getting home in some closely-contested games, they have met a good d'e&J of ill fortune,, through injury or sickness of players. More than once this'fell upon them when the match, appeared to be a deciding factor in the championship, but they have 'been assisted over the hurdle, and' 'Varsity last week helped to make their position secure. At stages during the competition the outlook appeared all in favour of Petone, amd it was only recently that the suburban team had a lead of four points. But Petone's splendid form was not sustained to the last, and in th© concluding matches they have gone down badly. Sufficient proof of Poneko's claim ten the championship was found in the two matches against Petonej in both of which th© Red-and-Blacks soundly defeated last year's champions. •-, Oriental are to be complimented on their fine showing throughout the season. By I I consistent play they have kept in a handy position, and have finally earned, with Petone, the title of runnersriip. Berhampore have also been prominent," and might have been ma better position but for the. 'disorganisation ofl their team through injuries and sigkhess. For a team new •to the senior competition, Marist did exceptionally well, and next season should find them a tough'proposition. Athletic have been encouraging young players, who will improve by their first season's experience. Of,' Varsity it can be said that when at fall strength they are one of the best teams in the competition, and it is unfortunate that their ranks are depleted through vacation and tours. Selwyn and Wellington have fa-cedl many Teyerees, but they have shown the ri^ht spirit of the game. The records'of the teams are shown in ■the following table :— ' ' Points. Oh. P. W.L. D. F. A. Ps. Poneke 14 11 ,3 — 145 65 22 Petone. 14 10 4—220 115 20 Oriental ...... 14 10 4 — 155 128 20 Berhampore 14 7 7 — 125 105 14 Athletic 13 6 6XI 149 IAQ\ 13 Marist 0.8. 13.5 7 1 86 84 11 University ... 13 5 8 — 127 139 10 Selwyn 12 2 8 2 74 151 6 Wellington .... 13 110 2 52 205 4