ORIENTAL MAKE MARIST WORK TO WIN.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 107, 7 May 1923, Page 10

ORIENTAL MAKE MARIST WORK TO WIN.

Showing vastly improved form on their earlier exhibitions, Oriental made Maiist put their best foot foremost to win at Petone after a gajne that was fine to watch, for all the unpleasantness of the weather. A bleak southerly blew up squalls of rain across the ground, but, despite the wet ball and the greasy turf, both sides played such fast, vigorous football as to keep the spectators on the tiptoe of interest, though the local team was having a spell through a, bye. Marist won eventually by 5 points to. 3— the margin of a converted try against one unconverted, and on the play there was little to choose between the sides. Had Oriental had one man capable of kicking goals the result might have been very different. They had the lead at half-time by a try to nil, and it was not till late in the second spell that Marist, after tremendous efforts, managed to equalise with a, try. It was Murphy who gave his side victory with a, kick in the teeth of the wind. The ball just dropped over the crossbar. The teams were: — Oriental.—A. Gilchrist; Hume, Dufty, Carroll; Wickens, Mason; Jones ; Simmons ; Brown, Hearle, King, Moffitt, Pringle, Bennett, Butler., Marist.—Murphy; M'Oleary, Mahoney, Mujlins; Markham, Carmody; Brunsell; Connop ; B. Sullivan, Crotty, Troy, P. Sullivan, Hopkins, M'R-ae, Boyce.

Marist kicked off towards the town end, and for a time the play was fast and quite even. A dashing Oriental forward rush found M'Cleary a little slott, and the Greens were in danger. Penalised on their own twenty-five line, they gave Oriental a fairly easy chance at goal, but Dufty's kick was feeble. Play kept naturally to the side of the ground further from the wind, and M'Cleary on one side and Carroll on the other had a busy time, and both showed up well. Marist at this' stage, and later, got the ball in the scrum, but the quick breakup of the Oriental forwards nipped movements early. Murphy was conspicuous with some well-judged line-kicking, which gave his side advantages which they were unable to improve. Wind and weather accounted for some fumbling among the backs. Gilchrist instituted a- nice passing rush by a run and neat delivery to Carroll, who, seeing the opposition too strong, centred." Murphy mulled it, and Oriental were nearly over, when Brunsell dashed up and forced. Marist coun-ter-attacked, and there were some pretty back movements, which, however, failed to materialise in. scores. Oriental were compelled to force in great straits. Then came a sweeping forward rush headed by Moffitt, which carried play well inside the Marist quarter. Here Jones started a really good passing rush, and the ball travelled out with adequate pace,' via Mason and Dufty, to Carroll, who made a great dash for the corner. He was hauled up on the line, and a Marist player shovelled the ball into touch. On the line-out Moffitt got the ball,, and with the ' Marist team on him, forged over—a try. Dufty'failed with the kick. Oriental kept the lead till' half-time. 3-0.

i Marist came back after half-time with' their will to win keener than ever, and the game waxed fast and furious. Adams had replaced Mason, who had been injured in the first spell after playing a very good game. The Marist back's tightened up their formation, and forced the pace. Oriental defended well, and Hume, who had played a poor g_ame the previous Saturday, deserved his place this tim». For a while it seemed as if Oriental would hang it out and secure a meritorious victoi'y. Marist were encouraged by their supporters to special efforts. Brunsell was conspicuous for a remarkable effort to pot a goal, left foot, from some distance out. The ball hit the upright, and bounded back into play. The score came when Moffitt, attempting to mark a centre kick from Murphy, was overwhelmed in a Marist rush, from the tail of which came Mahoney, and in the confusion dived over. Murphy had a hard task with the shot at goal against the strong wind, but his kick was in the right direction, and had just strength to float over the bar. Marist 5, Oriental 3. In the remaining moments Oriental played desperately to recover the lead, and the last few minutes were the- best of all. Markham and Murphy showed their skill and judgment in defence with timely marks and kicks to touch. %. rush led by Adams- and supported by Simmons nearly gave Oriental the victory, but the ball went dead. Time was w called with Oriental attacking strongly in Marist's'quarter. Marist were lucky to win. Mr. O. H. Cleland controlled the game efficiently.