MARIST DO UNEXPECTED.

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 139, 15 June 1931, Page 14

MARIST DO UNEXPECTED.

There is no telling what Mariet are jjoing to do. That had been proved time land again,, and once more on Saturday by, their surprising defeat o£ Wellington at-Newtown Park by, the decisive margin of seven points in a good scoring game. The quidnuncs, if they have not already given up the task as hopeless, must think again- about this perplexing combination. Marist bob about like'a cork, giving one ■week an inglorious display that makes) their? supporters sick at heart, and, then, next time out making a great showing And beating the best. Wellington struck Marist on a day when they came out and really played.football, and all Wellington's armoury, was. of no avail. Marist came out of the game with flying colours. One or two of their tries were perhaps rather- lucky, but even so the ,win wad deserved. But "fpr a time in: the first spell Marist supporters did not make much noise; they could not be /-certain, and as a matter of fact it Hooked at one stage that.Wellington were going to have a comfortable win, so fast Trere the points rattled on in Wellington's best style. Marist, however, steadied up, and a. couple of tried gave ' them .new leart. : ■' • ..' '

The game supplied plenty of action. There was some solid work by two keen packs, in which Marist proved very much stronger than possibly was generally anticipated, and this was nicely spiced with good dashes by the Wellington backs in the flrsft spell, and a measure o£ bright, spectacular individual effort by Marist hacks, but particularly •by Macdonald, ■who/played a very fine game.

Igi the first spell Marist had the advantage QL-^the cross-wind, and for a time after •■ the'start, with forwards and Hack.l? playing" well'up cm Wellington, they hold their own. There was a. very sudden gbsnge, though, when the Wellington

backs swept into action. Out the ball came to the fleet-footed Ball afc the end of the'chain, and the speedy little winger did the rest.- Kilby converted. Then Marist had a turn, Condon, from a lineout, stab-kicking through,'for Stiver (who was played as wing-three-quarter) to rush up, after Condon and Macdonald had further improved the situation, and go across for a try. . There was no conversion. Marist in the next few minutes seemed to be unable to cope with Wellington, and when Ball scored two tries, neither of which was converted, "after the backs had handled in attractive movements, it looked as though things were all up with Marist. The score was: Wellington 11, Marist 3. In a flash, though, the outlook for Marist brightened. Robins cut a big hole m the Wellington defence by a clever piece of play, and then handed on for Macdonald to complete the movement. Keegan converted. Another fine try, engineered and scored by Macdonald from midfield and converted by Robins, gave Marist a lead of two points at half-time. . , . ~ With the advantage of the wind lnthe second spell, it seemed possible that Wellington might gain the upper hand as they had threatened in the first spell, but from first, to last Marist.were never headed. ! They took their score to 21 points (another splendid try by Macdonald converted by Keegan and an unconverted try Dy Stiver), whereas Wellington were only able to add another three points, making their total 14. Ball was again the scorer. The game was refereed by Mr. A. de Cliflon.