RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 14

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

A DAY OF EXCITING FOOTBALL

LEADERS HAVE CLOSE CALL

Without exception the local senior A grade first division Eugbj' football matches on Saturday afternoon were keen and exciting, and in three cases the margin of victory was so close that it only required one score in the final minutes to reverse the result. This actually happened in the Hutt-Athletic match at the Hutt Kecreation Ground, Hutt gaining the winning points by keeping the ball in play when time was up. The matches attracted big followings, and there was a large crowd at Athletic lark, where two matches were staged. In the early game Wellington and Marist supplied much open football, with Wellington showing up as the superior combination. The meeting of Wellington College Old Boys and Eastbourne did not come up to expectations as a spectacle, but the play had its highlights, especially when Eastbourne made strenuous endeavours to pull the game out of the fire. In these they were extremely unfortunate, although Old Boys had had rather the better of the play. The old rivels, Poneke and Petone, met at Petonc, and there was not much either way in a stern struggle, Poneke winning narrowly. Hutt's victory over Athletic in a splendid game depended upon the conversion of' the last try, and a great kick was successful. In the senior A grade second division St. Patrick's College Old Boys had an easy win over llelrose-Selwyn, but otherwise the matches were closely contested. Oriental met strong opposition from Berhampore, as reported in "The Post" on Saturday, and Johnsonville had to strive hard to beat Upper Hutt, while University had to move briskly at the finish to beat Miramar. Wellington College Old Boys still hold the leading position in the first division, being two points qlear of Poneke, who hold a similar advantage over Eastbourne, Hutt, and Petone. Oriental and St. Patrick's College Old Boys retain the lead in the second 'division, with Johnsonville and University in close attendance.