RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 13

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

PONEKE CHECKED BY MARIST

WELLINGTON COLLEGE OLD BOYS STILL LEAD

Cheerless weather on Saturday afternoon did i)ot interfere with the progress of the local Rugby football championship competitions, although in most cases the conditions affected the play. There was no lack of keenness; in fact, the games in the main were strenuously contested and provided no little excite* ment. Especially was this the case in the senior A grade first division matches. Wellington College Old Boys remained in the leading position on. the championship ladder, but Poneke failed to stay with them through going down to Marist. ■ It is not unusual for Poneke to meet Marist with a feeling of insecurity, and, having beaten Petone on the previous Saturday, Marist maintained their reputation for upsets by scraping home by a point from Poneke.. Wellington College Old Boys experienced the greatest difficulty in holding out against Hutt's strong combination. The game, played at Athletic Park, opened sensationally, Old Boys putting on eight points in ten minutes. Hutt came with a rattle in the second epell, but could not wipe off the deficit. It was hard going all the way, apd,matters were made more difficult late in the game through darkness co min'g on. Petone had the better of their game with Athletic, and Eastbourne operated to tetter effect than Wellington on the slippery Hutt ground. . ' " ' In the senior A grade second division i>St-.. Patrick's College lOld , 80y.6 improved their prospects of-promotion by >a uaj\row win over, .Johnspnville, but the game offered no definite sign of their superiority over the suburban team. , Oriental, too, held their place at the top of the ladder with St. Patrick's College Old Boys. They are the only unbeaten team in the two divisions, though they have dropped two points through drawn games. A weakened University team was played to a draw by Upper Hutt, and Miramar won comfortably from Berhampore. In the top. division Wellington College Old Boys lead by two points from ICastbourue, Petone, and Poneke, and in the second division Oriental and St. Patrick's College Old Boys are two points clear of Johnsonville and University.