THE LEAGUE GAME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1783, 23 June 1913, Page 6

THE LEAGUE GAME.

PETONE DEFEATS ATHLETIC. Petone met and defeated Athletic ail Newtown I'ark 011 Saturday, after an uninteresting game. A very strong wind prevailed, and although Ath ctic secured, a lead of ten points during the lirst spell they could do nothing when letono turned round and got the wind bemud them. Tho Petone men then rattled up 17 points Riving them an easy win. Athletic had tho advantage of the wind in tho first half, Wilson's kick-off wont almost over Petono's goal posts, and tho sido forced down. Wild ]tax-.iiig characterised tho early stages of tho game. A nice run by Bolt, Parker, Rynn, and \Vil« son set Athletic in a'good position, but a long kick by Parker spoilt his side's chances of scoring. ITouso and Johnston put lactone 011 tho attack, ami play wai forced into Athlelic's ground. Diligent footwork brought the ball into mid-lield, Houso and Giading wero prominent foi Petone,' ami the side kept up an nttact which was well maintained considerinc tho strong wind which was against, them, Wilson was instrumental in taking play" back to centre, vhero Been; forced it inla

Petone s ground. M'G'allion marked nicely and Ryan kioked a goal, giving'Athlctic lirst points. On resuming Bott made a nice opening for Athletic and Parker took nil 0 ir l i c " .' n '° f' lo Blacks' territory. Iho attack did not last long, for good kicking by Finlayson, aided by a passing by Whitley and Glading, took the ull ?• other end. The. wind assisted Athletic to get back, and Wilson was nearly over on the corner. Another long Kick enabled Petono to force. Athletic T?ere not to bo denied, and Parker- an old Melrose Rugby player, got over. Ho took the kick himself and added a nice goal. Athletic, 7; Petone, 0. .Petono put up ft determined attack after this. Whitley fljid Johnston lirtide one opening, and carried play to Athletic's . end. Parker, a Petone forward, gave good assistance, out their efforts did not succeed. Burko put in a. great run for Athletic, and play was again taken back over Petone's line. House marked and saved for a time, but with play in centre again Chapman, ii.van, Parker, and Wilson put in an excellent run, with the latter over Petone's line. Ryan failed to- add a goal. With half-time arriving rapidly, Petone made ivnothor'determined attack. They wera penalised I'or bad off-side play in Athletic's end, and the free-kick was sent over their lino and forced. . Tho spell came with Athletlo ten points to the good. Petone wei'e all'out for a score on turning round, and the. wind, if anything, was strongor. For a timo Athletio held them back, but the first try was not long delayed, bring scored in a sensational manner by Johnston. The flayer got the ball neav centre-field and Ecr'ambled through the whole Athletic forward division, passed the fiill-back and planted tho ball between Athletlc's posts. .Whitley added & goal. Parker and Wilson took up the attack for Athletic, but tho sido lu'ing just then penalised Whitley was able to kick a good goal. With only three points needed to -reach their opponents' score, Petone stock began to rise. There was still plenty of time loft, and Athletic had all they could do to keep the attackers out. On soveral occasions they just forced in time. House eventually evened matters by a specula-. . tivo kick which he followed up well. Ho Tegained the ball and soored between tho posts. Whitley added a goal, and a little' later kicked a penalty goal. Just on time Ashton scored another try, Whitley failing with the kick, and the gamo finished: Peionej 17; Athletic, 10. Mr. C. Murphy was referee..

NEWTOWN DEFEAT HUTT. At the Hutt recreation grounds Newtown tried conclusions with tlio Hutt team. ,Th© attendiince was " not great, but those who watched tho game were enthusiastic. From the kick-oil' Newtown attacked well, but the local team defended splendidly for the first fifteen minutes. Then, tho superior combiaation of the Nowtown team sho-wed itself. The local men, though having the' best of most of the scrums, did not play tho passing game of their opponents. This was the secret of Newtown's success. From a long kick by Kier (Hutt), M'Guire (Newtown) took . the ball neatly, and. raced away, followed bjr Strickland, King, George, and Russell', who each handled the ball in turn. M'Guire, getting, possession'again, crossed tho line. The kiok at goal was 'successful. s—o. Tho llutt; team -then attaoked, Kier and M'Grath' leading. They ( narrowly missed scoring on two occasions. Ere long Nowtown, with their line-kicking and passing, scored two tries in rapid succession. Tho local team played far better in tho second spell, Anderson, Turner, M'Grath, Waka, and Kier -working hard against tremendous odds. For the Hutt, Clapham scored a try and M'Grath converted a penalty-goal. ; For Newtown, M'Guire, Stricklanid (2), George, King, Sullivan, and J. Spencer scored tries, and the game ended Newtown, 2-1; Hutt, ■&. Mr. Hey was the referee.

JUNIOR MATCHES. Petorie B and Hutt A met on the Hutt Tecreation grounds. The result was:— Hutt, 29; Petone, 3. Towards the end of • ' the , gaino -tho referee had occasion to order Pukutapu off the field for alleged tough play MATCHES ELSEWHERE. ; (By Teleffraph.—PreE{i. Aoaociation.l ... . Auckland, June 22. •. =' f.e-In the-first-ground,,of, ~the League's ■ "knock-out" competition City Rovers beat 1 Ponsonby United by 14 points to 7. New-- '. ton Rangers beat North Shore Albioii tfr 15 points to uil. North Shore Albion won tho season championship on the previous Saturday.