VARSITY AND MARIST

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 136, 13 June 1927, Page 6

VARSITY AND MARIST

Prospects o£ football more entertaining than has been the general rule on the principal llugby area this season drew a crowd ot about 6000. enthusiasts'to Athletic l Jark for tho match between University and Marist. Both teams had provided sparkling football on ,the'previous Saturday in .defeating Petono and Poneke respectively,' and it was evident in the early etages of the game on Saturday that both aimed at performing similar operations. University wero quickest to move in open order, and tho spectators did not have to wait loiv for a show, of that Bugby motion which exhilarates. A brilliant try went to their account,, and despite Marist'.s special attention to the sources of combined action .varsity dashed farther ahead to gain an eleven points'.'"lead. This was reduced to eight points before the interval. If Marlst's form had disappointed in the first spell it unproved to mich an extent in the second spell as to arouse great enthusiasm. A further score against them caused Marist to come with a riish and for quite a time the-: ..Varsity -forwards" practically faded out of the picture and the backs in consequence were less conspicuous. Kiish after rush, not so open as tho opposition .advances had been, but very stinging, ennhlcel Jlanst to get within two points of Varsity, and to that point it seemed that the previous week's dashing finish was likely to be repeated. At the right moment, however, 'Varsity realised the serious danger confronting, them, and exertinthemselves to the utmost they rose a sain to top otf a bright and thoroughly cnlovablo game with further sparkling back play. It was quite the best game soon on the park this season. The teams wore:—

University.—Noble-Adams; Foden, Kamson, Mackay; Irwin, Mackenzie; Lews; Sceats; Blakcney, Childs, Burns, Martinsmith. Diederich, Cormack, O'Uegan. Marist.—Cuming, Graham, Condon. G Barry; Johnson, Murphy; Wallace; M'Harfly; Donnelly, Flctt, Griffin, Mahonov, E Barry, Hall, Butler.

Marist wou the tosn yiid elected to play against a very light. breeze.' Within a fe\'v minutes of the start University's backs were. Bounded aud they moved to perfection, with Eamson showing up in ;i brilliant, nm and Muckay finishing off by scoring a line. try. ■. Cormack failed with the kick. 3-0. At this Marist averted themselves, but thehvlnmtling tactics'wove to no avail, 'Varsity coming back in a scries of bright bouts. Errors closed some goed openings, but when a kick by Marist was charged down 'Varsity's forwards picked up smartly, and in a nippy bout Cormack cleared the .way for Diederich to score. Cormack again failed with the kick ti-0.. There were further 'Varsity advances before Marist were able to bring pressure to bear, but in the case of the latter team pood attacking positions were lost through faulty handling. ' Marist • were now making a game of it, but the time came when "Varsity's backs broke away again. From a scrum the ball travelled smartly along the line to Kamson, who evaded the opposition in another brilliant run to score near the posts. He, added the extras. 11-0. At this stage Flett retired hurt, and was replaced by Poach. Marist quickly made amends.by rushing play to the 'Varsity line. M'Hardy led the rush, and Barry topped it off with a try. Griflin's splendid kick' struck the upright. There was no further scoring before the interval. 11-3. Early in the second spell Kamson placed ii fine penalty goal (14-3), and this set Marist .in determined search of points. The backs, with Murphy, Johnson, Condon, and 13. Barry, showing up, supported keen play by the forwards, and, after one or two more ralließ by 'Varsity (in one oi which Mackay made a bold bid to score), Marist made a series of strong rushes. A free kick enabled Hall to goal (14-6). and a little later a bunch of- players dived for a try, Wallace succeeding. Hall failed with Iho kick. M-9. Charging down again, Marist presented danger and were soon successful, Condon being awarded a try at the corner. The kick failed. M-12. Matters were now more interesting lha.ii. ever, but 'Varsity rallied and finally engaged in ;i great bout, which ended in Trwin scoring under the posts. The referee's decision was altered, however, when the line, umpire's Hag was seen to be hoisted. Another effort to score fell just short of success. During the spell Mackay was hurt, and Sceats changed over to the backs to make room for Claridge. The game ended: University 14. Marist 12. • Mr. A. C. Kitto was the referee.