LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1765, 2 June 1913, Page 7

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

PLAT AT THE PARK,

GOOD, GAME & KEEN INTEREST.

Interest amongst League enthusiasts was roused to a' high pitch over the match between the leading teams, Jfew- : town aud Petone.. The rivals met at Newtown Park on Saturday afternoon, <tnd after an exciting game Newtown came out victors by 15 points to 8. Had there been an of time, Petone would have been close on their opponents, for; it was right in the closing stages that the visiting .teum got a bit of their own back. ■ Both teams liued out with a full team, although a substitute had been provided at the last moment for Petone. Newtown played a new full-back, Godwin, the player making his first appearance in League games. King set the leather roil-, irig -for Newtown, and Strickland Newtown's skipper, was early at work with some clever tactics, which enabled his team to get down on the Blacks' quarterline. '. Here tho defending skipper, Whitley, sent tho play back to centre, where Gsorgo put in a nicp run for Newtown, finishing "up with a dive over PetonßS line. Home players were there at the 6anie time, and Newtown had to be consent with hearing the referee,call a force-, down. Newtown were playing against astiff breeze, and wero doing well in thus early invading' their opponents' territory. Ihe Blacks were not going fo let them have it all their own way, however, and when Guthrie took a mark almost on the centre-line, Whitley essayed a kick at goal. No points resulted, Newtown forcing down, which they did again a few minutes later! when Petono tried, another kick, for a penalty. Benson, a big, husky forward, and ono of tho mainstays of Newtown's forward lino, almost immediately after this made an opening lor the "Whites, and play was . forced once 1 more into tho visitors' territory. The latter wero penalised, and Strickland, takin* a kick from a good position, put on the first; .two .points for Newtown, fifteen minutes after the gamo hud started. This roused Petone's feelings to such an extent that they set up a vigorous attack, during which Davis, Sullivan, and Whitley were prominent,' and -Kewtown had to force down twice. Newtown's backs wsre working better together, and it proved a hard matter for Petone to stop some of the passirigJushcs started from centre-fieul. Eventually Eussell got possession, and in a twinkling had wended his. way through abo.iit six men, passing out just as ho was grassed, nnd enabling Cooper to get across the line, George took tho kick, but did not , add the major points. Petone's defence was not strong enough at this stago of the game, for within a few seconds of half-time Murdock got across, W added another try for Newtown. Strickland , failed with the kick, and the whistle sounded with Newtown eight points to. the good. « With .the chango round expected Newtown would commence to rattle up a good'score. A couple of points wero added just after the start, Strickland kicking a penalty-goal. This player was again prominent soon after the "ball was in motion. Picking up in the centre, ho got a clear run through. Outpacing several Petone men, he placed the sphere between the posts, and, taking the kick, made Newtown'9 score 15, with still nil. When only about fifteen minutes remained for play, the visitors seemed to become imbued with fresh energy, and wero soon outplaying Newtown. Clever were stopped timo after time by tho Whites, but tho Blacks were not to be denied, and concerted play by Barber, Pinlayson, aud Whitley resulted 1 in tho latter scrambling over near the I cornen and putting on -Petone's first j points. ' The kick wa9 missed by Finlay- ! son. The attack was kept up, and Davis, ! following up a sharp kick,' got his hands | oh the ball before Nowtown could force. I This saw Petone with a botter chance. I The goal was not kicked, but seconds ! later Whitley marked right in front of I Newtown's posts, and put the leather I across the bar. Speculation as •to Petone's chanccs of wiping off the deficit were put an end to by the referee's whistle, and tho game ended: Newtown, 15; Petone, 8. . Mr. T. Cunningham controlled the game.