TOURING SOUTH ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 47, 24 August 1925, Page 9

TOURING SOUTH ISLAND

WAIEARAPA DEFEAT MARL-

BOROUGH.

BLENHEIM, 22nd August The first matoh of Wairarapa's South Island tour, resulted in their' defeating Mariborough by 14 points to 6, after a fast and exciting game, in the presence of a big crowd. The weather was. fine, but cold, with a strong wind blowing down field. Mariborough had the disadvantage of playing against this and a strong sun in the first spell, whereas when the .positions were reversed the wind had dropped and the sun was obscured. The visitors' backs were a revelation to the local" side, .their speed in action and clean passing being quite remarkable. In the forwards, Marlborough had much the Better of the encounter, but the local backs were weak,, and the loss of Phillips and Booth, the old Mariborough five-eighths, was sorely felt. The first spell .was all in the visitors' favour, and only determined tackling prevented 'their knocking up a big score. As it ,was,. Strihgfellow, Guy, Booth, acd R. Booth.got over, Frank Booth converting one. All Mariborough could "reply with was a penalty goal by Leo O'Brien. The firet spell ended 'll points to 3■ in the' visitors' favour. In the second spell, Mariborough forwards kept the visiting backs iruiet, and the game was mainly in tho home side's favour, but they missed many opportunities through lack of cohesion among" the backs. For Marlborough, Jimmy O'Brien scored a try, and just on time Frank Booth scored a penalty goal for the visitors; The game ended 14-6 in Wairarapa's favour.