JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 73, 23 September 1922, Page 14

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

1 The ; keenness of competition in the junior grade ; this season was indicated by the possibilities that the final series of matches; played. last Saturday, held ■in store. The position was such that! P.etone, Berhampore, or Johnsonville might\win_ the .cha)npipnship, or that a play-off might be necessary between Petone and Berhampore. : The probable result was that Petone and Berhampore would have to play off, but even that did not eventuate, as Oriental sprung a surprise by defeating Berhampore. Petono somewhat easily accounted /for Johnsonville, and added the junior championship to the champion club's successes. Experience appeared to play a prominent part in the Tesult, as in both the Oriental ,and Petone teams, more so the latter, there were players who had been called upon to assist the seniors on various occasions. On the day's play, Petone were quite superior to any 'of the other three teams contesting the final, and their win mada a further improvement in their fin© record of points for and against, showing a balance of over 200 points on the credit side of the ledger. After a couple of reverses early in the season, Berhampore did well to finish up in second place, two points behind Petone. Johnsonville and Oriental have also played consistently well throughout tlie season, but the Wellington team could not even do as well as their seniors. From this grade [there should be obtained many promising players to fill vacancies in the senior ranks next year; indeed, the form shown in the competition has been, in many cases, superior to that which has been a general rule in the senior grade. It is stated that Hutt and Johnsonvilla' are likely to apply for genjor status gexi^xeaj, bufc, ja. &h£.

■ standard of play is to be improved, those clnbs will require to be strengthened by the inclusion in their senior teams of players better qualified for senior football than many of those who . were in the junior teams this season; I The result of the championship is set T out in the following table :—

Points Oh. I , W. L. D. for. aff'sfe.pta Pefxrae J. 13 2 1 282 75 27 Be'iihanipore ... 12 3 1 220 82 25 JohmsonviUe ... 12 4 0 218 102 24 Oriental 12 4 0 216 103 24 Athletio 9 5 0 186 95 18 Porirua : 7 5 2 85 92 16 Ma'rist 7 6 1 89 86 15 Hutt ~ 6 6 2 70 85 14 Old Boys j 7 7 0 117 129 14 University .■ '3 10 0 92 197 6 Salwyn 310 0 69 177 6 Poneke 311 0 62 241 6 Xwiniiifr 00L... 2 9 1 64 94 6< Weiling'toii 014 0 43 246 0