MARIST TACTICS WIN THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 238, 9 October 1933, Page 14

MARIST TACTICS WIN THE DAY.

Shrewd tactics and an exhibition of splendid team work on the part of Marist gave them a clear-cut and convincing win over Ponsonby in the big match of the day at Eden Park. Marist had shown throughout the season that they were capable of good things, but even their most ardent supporters surely could not have dreamed that they would scatter and rout Ponsonby to Hie tune of 25 noints to 5. Afu.l their defeat by Manukau the previous week, it was reasonable- to believe that Marist would bow by a email margin to Ponsonby's The ta'o'.e.s were turned.

Ponsonby were completely outclassed in every department. Marist, vary wisely, kept the game tight in the first half and kept a strangle-hold on the attack of the fast Ponsonby backs. Although there was little colourful football in the first spell, play provided an interesting battle' of tactics, with Marist smashing every Ponsonby attack, and Ponsonby doinj their best to play their traditional open game. The Marist tactics triumphed.

It was a different story in the second spell. Marist, with the sun and a breeze at their backs, started to play Ponsonby at their own game, and adopting the up and under policy, they soon had the Ponsonby defence confused and bewildered. Ponsonby could not cope with the fast-break-ing methods of the Marist forwards, who, inspired by the admirable leadership of S. Hadley, played by far their best game of the season. At times the backs attempted ambitious things, Muller, Bell-Booth and Friend showing glimpses of praiseworthy individual effort. It was a battle o"f tactics, and Marist won. Ponsonby, half way - through the second spell, were demoralised and Marist marched on to brilliant victory.