CHAMPIONSHIP OVER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1944, Page 5

CHAMPIONSHIP OVER

PONEKE-ORIENTAL'S SUCCESS

; Not for many yearb has a Wellington senior [Kugby chawpionsiiip title been so closely con- ; tested as that which was retained on Saturday by Poneise-OriehtaL Winners of last season's competition, Poneke-Oriental finished off this season's keen battling for honours | with a stirring effort just good enough to outbid the Army, who appeared to have the championship won when there was but little time left in the linal match at Athletic Park on Saturday. Two matches having a vital bearing upon the championship gave a crowd of nearly ten thousand an afternoon of keen and I exciting football at the Park, where the ground though sticky in parts, was in remarkably good condition after the rain which had saturated it during the week. Army and Marist Brothers | Old Boys faced the final series as joint leaders one point ahead of Poneke-Oriental, with Athletic only another point away. The outcome of the two .matches, Army v. Poneke-Oriental I and Marist v. Athletic, was that Poneke-Oriental won the championship by a point and the other three teams finished on terms as runners-up In the tirst of the two matches Athletic showed up to better advantage than Alarist, and, though in points the issue was in doubt to the end, there was no mistaking the superiority of performance on the day by the Athletic side, which won by 8 pr-ints to 3. That result settled Marist's chances of championship honours. Without having quite so many spectacular features, the match between Army and Poneke-Oriental, which became a straight-out final, was strenuously contested from start to finish, and interest In the proceedings was carried to an exciting pitch as the Army's strong lead was gradually reduced. Along with the stirring collective effort, there was much good individual performance, - and in the run of play some smart breaks added fire to the crowd's enthusiasm. It was only in the final stages that a penaity against Army gave Poneke-Oriental their match-winning opportunity, and the kick succeeded/ the final score At a .function in the stand after the conclusion of the final match, the Jubilee Cup was presented to the champions by the Wellington Rugby Union's chairman, Mr J N Millard, who, in offering congratulations to the winners, also complimented the other sides upon the conspicuous part they had played in a notable competition. SENIOR GRADE. Jubilee Cup. Poneke-Oriental 19 (two tries by Hookham and one each by Lindsay and Howells, two converted by Vaughan, who also kicked a penalty goal) beat Army 16 (tries by Avis, Green, Whale, and Fltt, two converted by Morrison). Athletic 8 (a try by Jamleson, converted b> the same player, who also kicked a penalty goal) beat Marist Brothers' Old Boys 3 (a penalty goal by.Stanaway). Petone 10 (a try by Robertson and a penalty g0 ™ £? d a aeld goal by Clay) beat Hutt 0. " • Wellington 9 (tries by Compton and Shand and a penalty goal by Stevens) beat Wellington College Old Boys 8 (a try by Goldstone; converted by Alexander, who also kicked a penalty goal). Hardham Cup. University 8 (a try by Lewis, converted by Brian, _and a penalty goal ; by Lewis) beat Eastbourne 14 (tries by Probert two, Hill and Dellabarca, one converted by Dellabarca) beat Seatoun (Army) 8 (tries by Bell and Grace, one converted by Grace). No. 2 Port Depot 9 (tries by Hannah, Tainui. and Luxford) beat Hutt B 3 (A try by Poole) Aavy 24 (tries by Robertson, Jaffray, Greatbach, Lawton, Petrie, and Rutledge, three converted, by Jaffray) beat Athletic B 3 (a try by Quinn). Johnsonville won by default from Miramar. The match between Air Force and Training College was not played, as the college is on vacation. OTHER GRADES. Junior.—Onslow 38, Onslow (Army) 0; Navy 6, W.C.0.8. 5; Seatoun 31, Oriental 0; University 13, Wellington 12; Mangaroa 19, Army 9; Athletic defaulted to St. Patrick 08. Third I.—Hutt 12, Petone 6; Wellington 5, Marist Bros. 0.8. 3; Oriental 13, Poneke 9; Athletic defaulted to University. Third 2.—Eastbourne 18, St. Patrick's 0.8. 8; Johnsonville 6, Porirua 6; Miramar 8, Wellington 0; Petone 3. Taita 3; University defaulted to Air Force. Fourth.—St. Patrick's 0.8. 11, Poneke 6: Wellington College 0.8. 18, Oriental 0; Athletic 10, Wellington 0; Petone B 2T, Onslow 0; Hutt 25, MarLst Bros. 0.8. 6. . Fifth I.—Hutt 6, Miramar 3; Porirua defaulted to Wellington. Fifth 2.—Hutt 6, Johnsonville 6; Onslow 13, Petone 11; Athletic 21, Ohiro Bay 0; Poneke 18, A.T.C. 3.