RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 7, 8 July 1922, Page 14

RUGBY

LOCAL CHAMPIONSHIP

INTER-ISLAND FOOTBALL

.GREAT GAME AT AUCKLAND.

(By "Drop-kick.")

Tho prospects of an interesting second round in the senior competition have been brightened considerably by, the results of last; week's games—the first series of tho second round. Marist's consistently good form rather shows, signs of improving than falling-off, and the.young'team have been given a big life towards doing big things during lhisr round by their defeat of Petone last week. There was no doubt whatever about their superiority over the suburban team. Though without the services of Mark and H. E. Nieholls, Peitone put a strong back division in the field, but it would require to ha^ve been considerably better to reverse the result. Petone have dropped to second place on the championship ladder, leaving Poneke in the leading position. After next Saturday both these: teams will not be at full strength for some weeks on account of the tour of the New Zealand team, in which 11. E. Nieholls and Mark Nieholls (Petone), and S. Shearer and"U;"P. Calcinai (Poneke) are included.. .'Varsity may ,be affected by the absence of■, Siddells, but otherwise there will be no drain upon teams. It is quite possible, therefore, that> the leading teams will experience increased difficulty in retaining their positions. ■Wellington's, representative matches will not, affect tho coiripetition. Outside local club matches last Saturday, main interest was centred in the inter-Island match, played in Auckland under similar conditions to those existing in Wellington. It was, originally intended that the big event should take placo in Wellington, but for a sufficiently good reason tho local union asked that it be played elsewhere. The alteration, however, meant to local supporters the loss of;a great game..