HUTT RETAIN LEAD IN WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 164, 13 July 1931, Page 9

HUTT RETAIN LEAD IN WELLINGTON.

PONEKE MAY YET BID FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

(Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 13. Heavy grounds after three days’ solid rain evened up many of the teams in Saturday's Rugby matches in Wellington. Still the leading sides in the A competition managed to hold their own with the exception of Eastbourne, who were defeated by Poneke after a tough struggle. In the senior B champion- ; ship, St Patrick's Old Boys met with their first defeat at the hands of Onslow. The defeat was not unexpected, as St Pats are a better dry day team and Onslow fielded a more solid pack of forwards. Considering the counter-attraction of the races, there was a fair crowd at Athletic Park to see the battle between Wellington and Marist. The game was good all the way through but the Wellington side proved to be more solid and won a keen match by 17 points to 10. Marist went all out in the first spell, but the heavier Wellington scrum was able to counter j effectively. Besides, Marist did not : have their usual success in the scrums, the hooking being about even. Still there were high lights, and Robins, the ex-Canterbury player, and Macdonald, were right on their games. Macdonald and Broderick were associated in a sensational try in the first pell when they dazzled the opposition with a great bit of work that resulted in Broderick scoring. In spite of their clever play, Marist were unable to hold Wellington in the second spell, and Kilby’s clever team put the result beyond doubt by a comfortable margin. Hutt Win Easily. Old Boys have played some great football this season, but in their last match against Wellington they showed signs of staleness. This staleness became more apparent in the game againt Hutt, and, though a close finish was expected, Hutt ran out winners by the big margin of 21 points to nil in a game in which they played all over Old Boys. Ilutt thus still maintain their position at the top of the championship with a two-point margin. Poneke, with their tough and wellknit scrum, carried too many guns for Eastbourne and ran otit winners by 15 points to S, thus throwing Eastbourne out of championship calculations. ; Strange things will have to happen now if the seasiders are to be in at the death. Poneke are still a team to be reckoned with on Saturday’s form and a final between them and Hutt will be worth going a long way to see. Athletic, one of the most improved sides in the championship, met their Waterloo when Oriental scored a threepoint to nil victory over them.

Petone and Varsity turned on fireworks at Petone, and the villagers had to do their best to beat the students by 19 points to 17. Varsity made good use of their speed, though conditions were against clean handling, while the forwards kept at Petone with terrierlike ferocity. A draw’ would have been a better indication of the trend of play and with a bit of luck Y r arsity might have turned the tables on the holders of the National Mutual Cup. ASHBURTON UNION. The weather was tine for the series of matches in the second round of the Ashburton Rugby Union’s competitions on Saturday afternoon. The playing areas on the Ashburton show grounds were somewhat slippery. Mayfield and Allenton are now leading in the senior competition with seven points each. Methveii 12, Old Boys 3. Rakaia 6, Mayfield 5. Allenton 14, Hampstead 5.