CRUCIAL GAME

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 7

CRUCIAL GAME

ASSOCIATION CODE

CHAMPIONSHIP ISSUE

Unable to lose a point if they are to make certain of winning the Wellington Football Association's first A division championship this season, the Petone eleven at the Basin Reserve to-! morrow afternoon will play . one of their most difficult games of the year, their opponents being the speedy Swifts side, which has performed so creditably this season. Petone, though equal in points with Waterside, are leading in the championship by virtue of having played one gan%«» less. Waterside, Seatoun, and even Shifts are possible.winners of the hono?«r,»" and the calibre of each of these three teams is such that Petone cannot afford to treat lightly any of their engagements from now on. Swifts are five points behind the leaders, but have five more games to play and could possibly take the champidnship, especially if they repeat their Chatham Cup successes, which were stopped only .in the Wellington final. Two previous meetings this season between Petone and Swifts have resulted in honours being shared. In the first game of the season Swifts created a surprise by losing to the strong Petone eleven by only the odd goal in three. That was Swifts' first appearance in the senior division, and in succeeding games they improved so much that when they played Petone again, in the Chatham Cup competition, they inflicted a decisive defeat upon the suburban team, the score being 5 goals to 2. Tomorrow's encounter, therefore, means something more than championship success to each side; it will settle the question of which is the better team. Some of the best exhibitions of Soccer this year, have been given by Petone and Swifts, and tomorrow's game is expected to be one of the brightest. One of the most meritorious records ever achieved in the first B division stands*, to the credit of Institute Old Boys, who have won all of their thirteen championship games this season. Promotion to the first A division is assured them for next year, and tomorrow at the Basin Reserve they will show their mettle in a friendly game against Marist, of the first A, division. >