HOW MARISTS WON

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 172, 23 July 1929, Page 13

HOW MARISTS WON

As mudlarks, Marists have no equals in tlie senior competition. Their forwards simply revel in the heavy going, a fact that was amply demonstrated when they dominated a good deal of the match against City at headquarters on Saturday. The latter were favourites when they filed- on to the ground, churned up by. a preliminary, but they were beaten on the day both fore and aft. It was hard, lighting football, in which mud flew in all directions, and an occasional sparkle was given to the forward exchanges by the backs flashing into action. To say the least, Marists' forwards played a great game, their devil and dash carrying operations into the : :encmy camp repeatedly. It was a very significant fact, however, that they were leniently treated by the referee, and several men

camped offside for a large proportion of the game. Jim O'Brien, who was on form with a vengeance, was a particular offender, and it was something in the nature of poetic justice when he was ruled offside on an occa-. sion when he was actually quite in order. The game

,•;*": was . exceedingly interesting because of the ' closeness of the scoring, and the fact that the greens were unable to definitely decide' the issue until the (tying stages had been reached. While the green forwards carried the day, a good deal of the credit for their win must be attributed to that brilliant pair, Gregory and Brisbane, in the five-eighths line. 'Time and, again they pulled their side out of the tire with excellent concerted play, or made penetrating runs. Gregory proved uii'questionably that he is one of the finest wet-day players in the code. There was nothing to quibble at over his handling of the elusive ball, and kicking for the gaps—tactics .that kept the City, men guessing continually. Hasson was in gi'eat form behind the scrum, and combined splendidly with \ his supports, while Brady was a tactician at centre who was only excelled by Brisbane and Gregory. The wirigers, McDonald and Batchelor, saw little of the ball,, but emerged.with honours. N. Campbell, at full-back, was as "safe as a bank," his fielding of the-ball being truly remarkable and fully deserving of the applause of tlie crowd that braved the elements. In the. van O'Brien shone, although there was not a "vamper" in the' whole outfit. O. Campbell excelled himself in raking the ball from Pascoe, recognised as one of the mot efficient hookers in the cotle, while others who were always 011 hand when the play was hardest were Oraham, Moisley, Johnston and Duane. In the -opposing pack Pascoe, though beaten for a large-measure of the ball, made up for this deficiency by setting an example to his supports by fast following up and resolute tackling. Clarke, Hartley, Hamilton and Len Barchard were also conspicuous for valuable work against a superior pack. Of City's backs, Shortland, the ex-New Zealand Maori Rugby player, was probably most impressive. He 'defended grandly, and whipped perfect passes away from the base of the scrum, work that was not fullv taken advantage of by Iversen and'o: Perry, Ins five-eighths. 'On a dry dav a hriiliant attacking pair, they could <!o" little right with the greasy leather. McLaughlin as usual gave, a bright display, beinff little hampered by the conditions. His try in the second spell was a triumph to his backing up, speed and determination. W. Perry made a great showing oii the three-quarter line, while on the opposite flank, did all- time could be expected of him, seeing that he was not fed very liberally. Watene, the reds' custodian, # lived up to his remitation as being a wizard at handling the ball under any circumstances, though he was not the equal of his vis-a-vis, N. Campbell..: