WELLINGTON.

NZ Truth, Issue 406, 5 April 1913, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

The practice matches at Athletic Park on Saturday last (m, which .four teams participated —Melrose and Petone, and Poneke and - Oriental) -showed .that the most urgent and pressing need is training. The games were fairly interesting, more especially t^iev Poneke-Oriental encounter) which absorbed the keen attention of the good crowd who turned out to witness the matches:' .Due to the heavy rains of the previous days, the ground had a tendency to be; treacherous. Consequently, players .found it" difficult to maintain their feet, and there was a lack of confidence. There-was an entire absence of anything like ■ incidents, the referees, H. Card and W.-J- Meredith, being well satisfied. The new, bloods played up to the glowing statements made about them, • and more will be ■ heard Plater on. On the' day's play Poneke's back division was too fast, - and .combination superior to their visavis. "Snowy" Morris undoubtedly was -the best man' on the field, having a day out. He scored the major portion of the points.' Sims, at the back, shaped w.ell, and with physical development should show • promise. The games resulted m -a narrow win for; Poneke, 19 points; Oriental,' 14. Petone, 13; Melrose, 9. .