SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 147, 23 June 1924, Page 4

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

PETONE'S LEAD IMPROVED

ANOTHER WIN FOR HUTT.

Petone 11 Athletic 6 'Varsity (i Oriental -. :'.. licrhampore ... 5 Old Boys _ 3 Poneke IS Selwyn 3 lliitt . 13 Marist 3 Wellington, a bye.

The senior championship was advanced a further stage on Saturday afternoon, when the conditions were of fair order, although the rain which had fallen previously left the grounds in a sticky state. In four of the five matches the play was keen and exciting, and in. some cases the results came as a surprise. At Athletic Park there was an excellent menu, the Petone-Athletic contest being preceded by an important third-grade match and a eenior game, in which Hutt made their first appearance on the principal ground. The first senior game showed Hntt in the light of a very promising team, as they proved too good for Marist, and won comfortably. The Athletic-Petone match was fnli of incident, with the pace very fast considering the state of the ground, and it supplied plenty of open play. Petone won and thereby increased their lead. Poneka tiad an easy win over a weak Selwyn team, but Berhampore just managed to scrape home from Old Boys. At the Basin Eeserve 'Varsity brought off a surprise by gaining the verdict over Oriental in a game that had many exciting moments. In other grades tnere were also surprise results. The position of teams in the senior championship is now as follows :—Petone 13 points, Berhampore 10, Oriental 10, Athletic 10, Poneke 9, Marist 8 Varsity 6, Old Boys 4, Hutt 4, Wellington 4, Selwyn 2. Detaals of Saturday's games are as •follows— ■ ■.

'TABSITY; DEFEAT ORIENTAL.

The prediction that 'Varsity are a side likely to upset championship calcoiaiaons was proved on Saturday at the Basin Reserve, when they defeated Oriental, who were second on the list by 6 points to 3. The ground was soit and had been badly cut up by the early game, but nevertheless a good exliiDitran was given by both teams. Taking the game as a whole, a draw would ha^e been a fair result. 'Varsity start'r i y&h ? I>oafc dasN tho handling of the backs being especially fine, and they easily had the better of the first spell. During the second half, however quite a different tale was told, Oriental being nearly always dangerous, but the attempts to score from place-kicks were very feeble. Riggs, Walpole, and Blathurst for-'Varsity, and Juno, Chambers, and Pringle for Oriental were prominent throughout the game. 'Varsity took the offensive .from the kick-off, and set up a strong attack. Riggs, on tho wing, was prominent in two or three dashes,' repeatedly beating several opponents. On 'Varsity being awarded a free-kick in a good position, O'Regam opened the scoring. 'Varsity 3, Oriental .0. The Greens kept up the attack for the rest of the spell, but their efforts always broke down; at the critical moment. Juno made several good runs far Oriental, and he wia also the soundest back on defence. Halftime cam? with the score still 3-0 m 'Varsity's favour. Oriental opened with a strong attack which resulted in a. welldeserved try to Juno, after his running right through the Greens' defence. Watts failed to convert. Oriental 3, 'Varsity 3. The Oriental forwards were playiag well, and only sound defensive play by the 'Varsity backs, and Blathwayt in particular, prevented them from increasing the score. About ten minutes before time 'Varsity carried play up-Sold m a loose rush, and .the effort nearly resulted in a score. They were not to be denied, however, and the ball reached Ri ggf> who, after a good run, crossed the line only to lose the ball. Britland scored from the resulting scramble, O'Eegan failing with the kick. Time .was called immediately with 'Varsity tho victors by 6 points to 3. Mr. A. C. Kitto was referee.