LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2133, 27 April 1914, Page 7

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS

SEASON BEGUN The Northern League season wa3 openod' oh Saturday, in weather that was not auspicious for a largo attendance The races also militated against athletic' gamesl The "matches played wero between Suburbs and Athletic, at Newtown Tark, and Nowtown /and Potone, at - Potone. In tiio former, a score of 29 points was put on by SultH urbs, against a score of .11 by thoir opponents, and Nowtown accountod for I'etono by 6 points to 2.

. SUBURBS & ATHLETIC. LOSERS' BATTLE AGAINST ODDS. , .When tho teams lined out: at Newtown Park Athletic wero three men short. This handicap in a , 13-asido team was an insurmountable harrier, but did not stop tho team fighting in good stylo iigainet odds wljichhad to tell. In their back division Suburbs showed to groator advantage, and try after try y as scored us tho result of beautiful passing rushes, but. a great , difference .would " have resulted had moro men been opposed to the backs of tho'Suburbs' division.- Wilson' was Athlotic's most.prominent/man, and scored two nice tries in tho first spell. It was this spell that saw all tho scoring, with tlto exception of a goal-from a mark, for Suburbs, kicked by Campbell in tho second half. Utiku put on Athletics' other try in the first spell, and Buckland converted. ■ For- Suburbs- a feature of tho gamo was tho goal-kicking of ■ M'Guiro and Campbell, who sent'tho ball across tho ling on soveu occasions. Parkor scored tho first try, • which Campbell goaled, and this player also put oil tho next try. Scott, Lawlor. and Manning also scored for Suburbs. Tho game.ended: Suburbs, 29; Athletic, 11. Mr. C. Murphy was teferee.

NEWTOWN & PETONE. FORWARDS "AGAINST BACKS. , In steady rain on tho Petone Recreation Ground, Newtown Club defeated I'otbno after a particularly strenuous game, by 6 pointe to 2. Tho principal feature of the match was tho strength of the Newtown fornard line, nnd tho fighting quality of Petono backs. As far as form went tlio teams, for a largo portion of the game, seemed about equally matched,' though Newtown on the whole had • tho best of matters. Newtown (white) kicked off, and the ball was carried into tho Blacks' quarters,, whoro (aided by a splendid kick by FinInysoh) Jacobson got over. . Nowtown, B—o. Up and down play followed, but presently Petone treated the sneetators to a smart piece of play. Procbstol seciirwl the ball,' and; after a run, passed to Whittle, who put in a firstclass sprint, and then passed to Johnston, who just failed to got over. A littlo later the Blacks wore awarded.two frixj-kicks in succession, but waro unable to increase tho scortv Thev followed those episodes up. with a lieavy

rush, which compelled the Whites to force down, Scrums, a scries of freekicks I'or Nowtown followed, but without effect, and at half-time tho scores had not been further altered. • In tho second spell play becamo particularly fast and furious. There was much talking, and, on threo occasions, Newtown players received knocks. Benseman received a blow in the face and play had to bo stopped momentarily. On resuming the Whites had bad luck in not scoring. Finlayson presently secured tho ball, and, with a eplondid kick, brought play up to tho White's line, where, a passing rush was spoilt by a throw forward. A littlo later, however, tho Blacks wero awarded a freo kick, and Ashton sent over a good goal. Newtown, 3; l'etone, 2. Play becamo faster ;j ,<uid, in one of the exchanges, M'Guiro received a resounding smack, but it was not long before he resumed, and/ after warm work near Potone's line, Sponcer secured tho ball and scored. Newtown, 6; l'etone, 2. Tho gamo ended shortly after. Mr. W. Kerr was referee;