RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 12, 14 July 1939, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SECOND ROUiiD OPENS

TOMORROW'S EVENTS

Now confined to six teams, the Wellington Rugby Union.'s senior first division championship is expected to provide competition of an even keener order than is usually the case in the second round. The six teams are Wellington, Athletic, Johnsonville, Petone, Marist Bros. Old Boys, and Poneke, and, they start out tomorrow on the second round, the other six first division teams commencing the Hardharn Memorial Cup competition.

The present championship leaders, Wellington, are drawn to play Johnsonville tomorrow at Athletic Park, and, since Johnsonville occupy third place on the ladder, the meeting of these teams is to be regarded as one of the main events of the round. Both teams play a type of football which arouses enthusiasm, Johnsonville having impressed by their dash in the loose and Wellington by the speed which they muster in the open. Then, too, the teams have other qualities by which they have won prominence. Team work is strong, and in each side there are players, back and forward, who can rise to big heights in performance either as specialists or as important links in combined play. All in all, the teams are built on lines which should produce first-class Rugby, and that is the prospect for tomorrow. With the main series of representative matches not far away, individual form will be closely watched.

Onslow, in the senior second division, have given some entertaining displays, and their speed and initiative have already been revealed to Athletic Park patrons. They will be at the Park again tomorrow, this time against the second division leaders, Miramar, whose appearance at headquarters will be welcomed. Miramar have been showing consistently good form, and that has earned them their proud position. These teams should provide a fine preliminary to the top division match.