THE SEASON OPENED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 83, 7 April 1924, Page 10

THE SEASON OPENED

INTERESTING GAMES AT THE PARK

SPLENDID FORM SHOWN

It was indeed Rugby 'weather on Saturday afternoon, when the season was opened with a series of matches in aid of thu gymnasium fund. The air. was crisp and bracing, and the wind, a light southerly, blew across Athletic Park in a manner which gave no team any outstanding advantage. For. the first day out, the standard of play was particularly high, and the many enthusiasts who viewed the matches from the bank were treated at times to some splendid exhibitions of New Zealand's national ball game. Athletic and Poneke provided the main attraction on the Park, and for the first ■twenty minutes of play, the speed and general cleverness of the teams' ap-i proached representative standard. It was it hard, exacting struggle, interesting all the way, and Athletic, the better • team, won decisively by 14 points to 3. Marist did not seem to be able to get going during the 'first spell of their game with Berhampore, with the result that the suburban men had the advantage of eight points when the interval was announced. 'Ino wearers of the Green jersey made a surprising recovery in the second half, however, and outclassed their opponents by 13 points to 8. Wellington, always good triers, made a valiant attempt to extend Old Boys, but the ex-collegians easily secured the honours by 18 points to 7- 'Varsity, in the remaining game on the Park, defeated Selwyn by 11 points to nil, the winners proving too fast a combination for Selwyn. Neither Oriental nor Petone Clubs, which tried conclusions on the'Petone Oval, had their best teams in the field, advantage being taken to try-out some of the youn^e" players.' After a fast and attractive game, the town combination secured the honours by 16 points to 9. All players, as a mirk of respect to the memory of the late Dr. A. K. Newman, wore armlets, and the fla" at the Park was flown at half-mast. Details of the games follow :— - A WIN FOR MARIST. Despite the fact that Berhampore seniors had all the Better of the first spsll of their game with Marist, the latter team came back in the second like giants refreshed, and so determined were they that, even though the score at the interval stood at 8 to nil in favour of the Blues, Marist won through by 13 ..points to 8. It was a hard, exacting struggle with neither team sparing their opponents, and on the day's play it was certainly the better fifteen that secured the honours. The teams were:— Marist (Green and White): Sidet ■ Holtet, Carcnody, Dennehey; Murphy, bneehan; M'Gleary; Connop, M'Rae 0 Sullivan, Hopkins, Griffin, Hall, M'Xvee, Bowman. - Berhampore (Blue): Walters; Nicholls, Matheson, Lewis; Charles, Lan" • ■1« raser; Pope, Macartney, Mason, Glennie, Lhnstie, Gunnion, Allen, and R Brown. ' An aggressive opening by Berhampore was the signal for much cheering from -He bank, but the Green forwards were not wanting in the spirit of attack,- and for a time the half-way line was the scene of a miniature battle royal. Eventually, however, the Blues broke through, ' and Brown carried the ball over the line to the delight of Berhampore's numerous supporters. Lang, place-kicking accurately, added the further points Berhampore 5 Marist 0. Up-and-down play followed, and Berhampore, when on vie defensive, were penalised for "offside The kick at goal ..failed, and Walters returned the leather. Berhampore had the better of matters in a series of scrums, ai.d Nicholls, on the win"' eventually scored a good try on the ri^hi of the posts.' The kick brought no further points, and half-time was called, with istO showlll S: Berhampore 8, MarThe.second spell was dominated throughout by the Greens, and at times the fast work of their backs was pretty to watch and effective in result. Carjnody got away nicely, passed to Sheehan, who scored between the ' posts. Murphy added the-further points Berhampore 8 ; Marist 5. The Greens were now qmte confident1 that they could win and time and time again they went within an ace of scoring, until, finally, Hopkins, with a good try, evened the scores, Murphy failing to convert. Marist 8 Berhampore 8... "It's , level peg-in-Blues, cried out a Berhampore luphad the game well in hand. Several promising movements had no result but bneehan saw an" opening, and-sprinting speedily, placed again the ball between^ the posts From this position Murphy had no difficulty in converting, and Marist had an advantage of five points. Marist IS, Berhampore 8. There was no tm-tlier score registered on either side iv-tlV' Bi™T, n gilVe every satisfaction with the whistle.

Athletic 11 Alarist 13 Old Boys 18 'Varsity' 11 Oriental u Poneke 3 Uerhampore ... 8 Wellington 7 Selwyn 0 l'etone »