CITY'S GOOD WIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 13

CITY'S GOOD WIN.

Patrons of the Showground were treated to an exhibition of fast open football in the City—Marist game on Saturday. Marist started with • bright flash, but it was soon evident that their rearguard, gretaly weakened by the absence of Loft, *ai not going to maintain the promise that it gave in the first match of the season. City, on the other hand, is a continually improving side, now far above the standard that was displayed in the game against Training College. Their pack is a grafting one all the way, and headed by Fell and the Fletches brothers, it showed to better advantage than did the Marist van. The reds missed Heard behind the scrum, but found a thoroughly satisfactory substitute in D'obson, who came in and put

up a better all-

round performance tnan tie has done in the live-eighths line. Jacob, in this latter place, was an experiment, better justified by his defence than as a link in the chain tof attack. Ifwerson was quite reliable, and showed • good perception of the possibilities of openings whenever the chances came. One cut-in by this player was a brilliant piece of work. As a "wing-three" Ellis must by now have earned a permanent place on his sid". A strong runner and a Hood kirk. K> responsible for a Spßcfaculn "• r • * it would h*ve ■ f.»r a try

on a prcviuiH unsuccessful attempt. Tiic best display 011 the City side was given by Jierr-1 aylor, who was faultless at tull-bnck. His fielding was a treat to witness.

Marist forwards were not at their best. Peters and McDonald showed up, and Moore was responsible for a magnificent dribble up-field for a distance of forty yards, but the pack is not what it has been in It was let down badly, too, behind'the scrum, where Wright was very far below the form of past seasons. As a result far too much work was thrown upon Jeffries, who was the mainstay of the whole rearguard, both in attack and defence, and who played in a manner that was worthy of notice by the selector. Stuart was below par, clue probably to the effects of a previous injury. In the limelight almost as much as Jeffries was Stoupe, who fielded difficult chances in a manner almost uncanny, and who was the only back to make City's defence appear weak. It. was his best game of the season so far.

A peculiar incident marked the match. City went across for a try, which the referee awarded. Then his attention was drawn to a flagless stick being waved by the line umpire. Having given hfa decision, Mr. Webb adhered to it, for it was impossible far him to notice the line umpire's signal. It was only last week that the New Zealand Rugb> Union allowed a referee to alter his decision, and perhaps the referee in question was unaware of this fact at the moment. There would have been a problem for the Union had the scores been closer.

HONOURS EVEN. A very satisfying game was that played between Grammar Old Boys and University. Not at any stage did play lapse into the aimless kind of struggle that sometimes takes place. Nor was it confined to one particular section. Both forwards and backs on each side were kept busy throughout—with the result that scoring possibilities were always in sight. The heavy Grammar forwards had the best of things in the loose work, for when hefty fellows like Batty and Knight and Linton come surging down the field they take some stopping. And when they are stopped Potter or some of the backs are ready to take the ball on. Yet it was noticeable that the lightest pack got the ball out of the Hcruni and this was mainly due to the fine work of Black and Hindenach. The 'Varsity backs, therefore, were the better fed, but there is a weakness at centre-three-quarters and the wings did not receive nearly as many opportunities as should have reached them.

Norman Jenkin was outsta .g on the day for the vast amount of work he got through. Hiß energy was marvellous, his handling clean and his movements generally well directed. Mackintosh gave a bright display and showed himself both in defence and attack a resourceful player. His try was the result of a line run in which he had to beat his way past strong opposition. It was likewise a good day for Bush, the full-back, whose line kicking was exceptionally fine and his collaring sound. Keene was in his best form and was frequently seen rushing forward from a loose scramble with the ball at toe head- i ing straight for the oppoaitiorf goal line. Despite the hustling tactics of the 'Varsity forwards, G. L. Weir, the Grammarian half, did admirably whenever the ball came his way and it was no fault of his work, which was clean and nippy, that most of the movements were thwarted early. Ces. Badeley, too, was in tip-top nick, making many an opening that kept 'Varsity constantly on the qui vive and being ■ ably backed up by Pat Skelton. Ohlsen was the pick of the three-quarter line. It was a fine game to watch, for despite the many mistakes that were obvious, the work on the whole was good and the teams each contained 15 triers. A draw was a fitting conclusion.