THE LEAGUE GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10597, 24 May 1920, Page 8

THE LEAGUE GAME

INTERESTING CONTESTS PETONE (11) SECURE VICTORY OVER ATHLETIC (3). The game which was fought out on No. 2 ground, Petone, held the attention of the spectators. The teams were evenly matched, and as considerable vim was infused into the game it created interest. The combination was somewhat poor, but every man was a "trier,’’ and the encouragement that was given by those on the bank had the effect of making each team put all the energy of which they were possessed into (he struggle. ' PETONB'S STRONG ATTACK.

Petone, during the first half of the game, had the advantage . of a strong wind and set up a strong attack. The opposing forwards fought gamely to prevent a score, Dawe and J. Murphy being particularly prominent. Baullcs, lor Petone, had a number of kicks at goal from penalties, and although he made good attempts he was unable to find tho cross-bar. Two of the kicks were awarded a few yards from the goal, and each time the ball missed by a few inches, while a third, which was kicked from the centre of the field, suffered a similar fate. Continuing to attack Childs marked inside Athletic 25, and Banks goaled.

Petone 2, Athletic 0. Athletic, from the kick-out, swept down the field, hut a counter rush by Petone placed the visiting team on the defensive again. "Doc” Nicholla secured the ball from a scrummage and a pretty passing bout, in which Porter* Whitley, and Zimmerman took part, ended w the latter scoring. The kick at goal was a failure. Petone 5* Athletic 0. INTERESTING PLAT.

In the second half of the game the play was even throughout. I irst cne side attacked and then the other. Porter obtained a try for Petone, and Dawe one for Athletic, neither of which was converted. Athletic had extreme hard luck in not securing a second try. ,A determined rush carried all before it. The ball went under the goal, and when an Athletic back was about to fall on it he was interfered with by an opponent. The referee, who evidently did not see the incident, awarded a force-down. Within a few minutes of time Doc Nioholls sent the Petone back away, ard Zimmerman got over near a corner. He took the kick at goal himself, but was not successful, and the final score was — Petone 11 points. Athletic 3. Mr A. House was referee. 1 SUBURBS AND NEWTOWN DRAW. At Newtown Park on Saturday the League football teams Suburbs and Newtown met in a hardly-contested match, which resulted in a drawn game, two unconverted tries being scored by each side. The attendance of the public was meagre. A The game throughout was fast, but there was a good deal of unnecessarily rough play Two players were injured, though not seriously, and another Newtown man was ordered off the field for disorderly conduct. Lynch captained the Suburbs, for which clnb the tries were secured by Salisbury and Scott. Pollock captained the Nowtowns, and Pollock and Dentice scored a try each for that club. The score at the call of "time” was Suburbs 6. Newtown 6.

Mr Evans performed tho duties of referee. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES WELLINGTON v. HAWKE’S BAT THE SENIOR TEAM. The following have been chosen to represent Wellington to play Hawke’s Bay on Saturday next, at Napier : Full-back —Baulks (Petone). Three-quarters Ricketts (Athletic), Rigby (Suburbs), Dobson (Newtown). Five-eightha—"Doc” Nicholls, captain (Petone), Lynch (suburbs). Half-back—Pollock (Newtown).

Forwards —Zimmerman (Petone), Childs (Petone), Dawe (Athletic), Scott (Suburbs). Emergencies—Back, Hears: forward, Woolf. Reserves—Backs, Henderson and Forter; forwards. Green and another.

THE JUNIOR TEAM. The following junior . representative team has been chosen: — Full-back—Aamodt (Suburbs). Three-quarters—Leency (Athletic), Ryan (Petone North), Lock (Petono North). Five-eighths—Tatley (Petone) North), Henwood (Petono North). * Half—Edlin (Central). Forwards —Bowers (Central), Bell (Petone North), O’Conuel (Central), S. Piper (Suburbs), Scott (Petono North), Walters (Petone North). Emergencies—-Back. McKay (Petone): forward, Thompson (Athletic).