RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 26, 31 July 1933, Page 13

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

CLOSE CALL FOR THE LEADERS HUTT'S RECOVERY AGAINST OLD BOYS There was high pressure in the local Rugby atmosphere on Saturday afternoon, and at Athletic Park especially the football barometer showed exceptional movement. Actually the weather was ideal for football, and some highly entertaining play was provided, not only at Athletic Park, where Wellington College Old Boys and Hutt were engaged, but also on other grounds. Old Boys and Hutt staged a remarkable contest in that a comparatively early lead of 23 points by Old Boys was not only insecure but completely wiped out by an astonishing reversal of form in the second spell, though a final break let Old Boys through to narrow victory in one of the most exhilarating displays seen on the Park. Rarely has a team acquitted itself so well as Hutt did in the second half of this match. It was one of those games "out of the box." Poneke, also strongly in the running for championship honours, experienced the utmost difficulty in surviving.another of Marist's upsetting challenges. This torrid encounter took place on Newtown Park. Wellington, also still in the hunt for the title, were surprised by Oriental at Miramar to the extent that it took them all their time to gather in the winning points before a most exciting game ended. Petone provided an exception to their usual experience in meeting Eastbourne by recording a handsome win, and Athletics superiority over St. Patrick's College Old Boys was established by a decisive win. In the second division the leading teams, University and Poneke, maintained their places, as did their nearest attendants, Johnsonville.

Wellington College Old Boys still lead'from Poneke in the lop division by one point, with Wellington two points further away, and Hutt leading the rest. SENIOR A RESULTS AT A GLANCE FIRST DIVISION. SECOND DIVISION. Well. Coll. 0.8. 29 Hutt ......»:. 20 Poneke 21 Onslow ....... 6 Poneke 6 Mafist , ....... 3 Petone , 22 Bcrhampore ■~ b • Wellington .... 20 Orientalv 16 Mlramar 16 Hutt ■•;•—••• ™ I-etone ...... SO Eastbourne ..... S University 17 Mclrose-Selwyn ™ 3 Athletic ~.'... 17':-St. rat's 0.8. ..'6 Johnsonville ».«..' 24 Vpver Hutt .... aCHAMPIONSHIP TABLES ■'""first division. second division. Points Clr ' ■ ■ Toints Ch. P.- W. L. D. F°. A. Pis. P. W. h. D F A Pts. ■Well. Col. 0.8. 13 10 .2 1 102 118 :21 . Poneke*. ..:. IS 11 1 1 1.»9 .b -- Poneke .... 13 .10 .3 0 177 112 20 University -..-UlO -1 - -00 bo -- Wellington .. 13 '9 4 0 181 132 IS Johnsonville . IB 10 3 0 U- 8.. -U Hutt ..... . 13 8 S 0 201 13.6 16 Petone" .... 13 9 i 0 l.b 103 IS Petone 13 6 5 2 160 1H » "'* — 2 8 j; 0 ■ 140 .9 lb St. Pat's 0.8.0 33 6 7 O 130 117 12 Hutt* 13 b b 1 11; 1-4 l-> Marlsl 13 5 7 1 114 167 11 Mlramar U f * )\l ■> Oriental* .... 13 i 7 2 111 161 10• | elrose-Schv v » . 0 0 bo 186 b Athletic 13 4 9 0 121 187 8* bppor Hutt .. 13 2 10 1 110 191 o Eastbourno « 13 4 .9 0.140 204 .8 Bcrhampore ~. li.. 1 12 0 <j .14 - . 'Promoted teams. . $