KUTT STILL LEAD.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20329, 12 June 1934, Page 11

KUTT STILL LEAD.

Wellington Competition Keenly Contested. MARISTS’ NARROW, WIN. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, June 11. % Further indications that under the new system a team will have to be an exceptionally good one to win the senior championship, were given in Wellington on Saturday. Hutt, the leading side, were fully extended to beat the bottom team, Wellington, by S points to 3. Marist scored a lucky win over Petone by 13 points to 11; while Wellington 'College Old Boys were hard pressed to win from University, one of the promoted second division teams, by 15 points to 6. St Patrick’s College Old Boys Athletic a rare fright before Athletic beat the promoted team by 3 points to nil. At Petone, Poneke beat Eastbourne by 17 points to 13 in a thrilling game. As a result of the day’s games, Hutt still lead for the championship with 14 points from St Patrick’s Old Boys, Wellington College Old Boys and Marist with 12 points, Poneke and University with 10 points, Petone 8, Athletic 4, and Eastbourne and Wellington 2 points each. Lost Chance. The principal attraction of the day was the game at Athletic Park between Marist, one of the leading teams, and Petone, and if ever a team threw away a winning chance, Petone did. The lads from the village had the earlv lead and were playing better football than the opposition, but once Marist got in front they played winning football to hold their lead till no-side was called. Petone’s greatest weakness was at Petersen, in the five-eighth line. It was here that Robins, not too well marked, was able to turn on fireworks time after time. The try which gave Marist the game was a dazzling but lucky effort. Langdon and Robins opened up a brilliant attack, Robins passing to M’Greevy. M’Greevy was supported by three unmarked players, and the obvious thing seemed to be to pass. Instead he jinked and was half-tackled and stumbled towards the full-back. Naturally M’Greevy drew’ the full and sent the ball out to Cully for an easy try, but the Petone player whom he attempted to jink should have bowled M’Greevy. ball and all. That try gave Marist their ultimate winning margin of two points. O’Connor did not play well on Saturday, and he seems to be falling away in form. Some Absentees. Hutt had a torrid game with Wellington. Lilburne, E. and S. Neal, Saulbrey and Lynch were notable absentees through minor injuries, but the team was strengthened by the inclusion of Berry, an ex-Christchurch High School Old Boys’ front-row forward, and Weatherly, a Waikato forward. Reserve players filled the rearguard vacancies. Hutt started off with a bang and rattled on 8 points in five minutes, but thereafter Wellington found their feet and played as well as Hutt, to leave the field losers by 8 points to 3.

Berry played brilliantly for Hutt and should not find it very difficult to retain his place in the side. Page was in rare form for Wellington and played his most brilliant game this season. At the Petone Oval, Poneke and Eastbourne had a great set-to, Poneke winning a spectacular game by the small margin of four points. St Patrick’s College Old Boys, who have a rather light side for senior A Rugby, played bright football but lacked experience. They were the better side on the day, but they lost by the narrow margin of three points. Representative* Team.

The following players have been chosen to represent Wellington against Taranaki on June 20: —Full-back, Lilburne; three-quarters, Ball, Killeen, Fuller; five-eighths, Page, Griffiths; half-back, Kilby; forwards, Lambourne, B3 r dc|er, Barry, Reid, Butler, M’Neile, Dellabarca. Reserves: Robins, Wells.

strong as apy three-quarter line in senior Rugby this season. Masters was nippy at half-back, but Oliver (halfback) and Masters, at first five-eighth are a better combination. Bisman is a better forward than a five-eighth. He was too slow off the mark in the first half, but made many good openings in the later st3ges of the game. Asher, Hunt, M’Jannet and Malcolm are four good forwards. They all have weight and speed, and if they can hold the opposing pack when they enter senior Rugby the team should fare well. Sydenham’s custodian, Cox, gave a weak display. He was frequently caught out of position. His handling was faulty and his line-kicking weak. W. Bedelph was Sydenham's best back. He is a heady player with a clever pair of hands, an elusive run and a good boot. His field goal was a praiseworthy effort. Hobden is a nippy half. He stood up to the hard going well. Prisk, Pearce and Perkins went well in the Sydenham pack. LEAGUE FOOTBALL. Decisions of Management Committee. Mr W. S- E. Moyle presided over a meeting of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby League last evening. The Linwood Club suggested that a meeting of senior referees be held to discuss various rulings of the game with a view to obtaining uniformity. The letter was referred to the Referees’ A letter was received from Mr H. A. King, referee of the game between Hornby and Linwood. in connection with the ordering off of W. Dunn (Hornby) and A. Jackson (Linwood). After bearing evidence from W. Dunn and the referee it was decided to caution the player concerned. The case of A. Jackson was held over owing to his nonapnea ranee. A request from the New Brighton Club that J. Armstrong be regraded from senior status to junior was approved. It was decided to issue a challenge to the West Coast Union, the present holders, for the Northern Union Challenge Cup. Mr A. Drury presided at a meeting of the Junior Advisory Board. Affiliation was granted to the Causeway Club. R. F. Bonnet being, the delegate. The club entered a team in the third grade competition. Eighteen new registrations were received and the following r'egradings were improved: E. Houston and T. Broad, both Waimairi members, from third to fourth grade. The Waimairi Club entered a further team in the schoolbovs’ B grade and its junior teem was declared the winner of Die KiddMitoholl run with 12 Sydenham being the runne-s-nn with «.