PONBKE CHECKED BY JOHNSONVILLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 9, 11 July 1938, Page 19

PONBKE CHECKED BY JOHNSONVILLE

PETONE AGAIN SHARE THE LEAD

■ The further it goes the more interesting is the Wellington senior A first division Rugby championship becoming. There is ah evenness about the teams that is not accurately indicated by the positions on the championship ladder. An illustration of this was afforded on Saturday when the lowest team on the ladder defeated threading team. This was the match in which Poneke received the setback that is always liable to come when Johnsonville is the iopposing force. Poneke did not actually lose the lead, but their defeat enabled Petone to rejoin them as pilots of the championship field. Petone's way to success over Marist Bros. Old Boys on Saturday was not easy. Running close behind the leaders are the champions of the past t^o' years, Athletic, who, like the leaders, found Eastbourne none too easy a proposition. Wellington, who-were expected to play a TOry prominent part in this season's competition for honours, experienced another of their bad days. In this case they found, like some others before them, that Wellington College Old Boys have embarked upon a run that seems to be irresistible. It was a very convincing win' that was scored by College Old Boys. Hutt had to get a move on in the closing stages of their match with St. Patrick's College Old Boys to take winning points. ■< There were no senior A second division or senior B matches on Saturday, selected players from teams in these competitions taking part' in a representative trial match, which was qui4£an interesting preliminary to the top division event at headquarters.