LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1936, Page 4

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

THACKER SHIELD.

RETAINED BY MARIST. The Doctor Thacker Shield, symbolical of premiership in club League football in the South Island, yesterday retained on the West Coast by Marist, through Hornby, the Canterburv challengers, failing to do bettei than make a drawn game of the deciding match, which was played at Unchain Park, under the worst, possible conditions. Heavy rain in the morning had left the paying area wateiloggcd. and although the ram held oi until the last five minutes, a cold southerly gale made ball control extremely difficult. It was only to be expected, therefore, that the game should be primarily a forward struggle. both teams, when given the opportunity. exploiting the high wind by kick and follow up tactics. A hign standard of League was impossible under the conditions, but the good crowd of spectators who braved the elements were rewarded with an exciting, hard-fought match, with a thrilling finale when, right on time, Marist turned what appeared to be certain defeat into a draw and thus retained the trophy. The result was also somewhat unique in that two teams, who had not been defeated throughout the season, met without marring their record, a draw deciding the owneiship of the trophy without cither team experiencing a direct loss. , . On the day Marist would have been a little unlucky to have lost the trophy, in that they scored three tries, all unconverted, to Hornby's one try-, the remainder of the Christchurch team’s points coming from kicks. Hornbv profited by Marist’s mistakes in the first half, but alter the interval' Marist minimised these opportunities by ceasing to attempt to handle the greasy ball in their own half of the field. The Marist pack undoubtedly missed their leader, J. Behan, but G. Scott, W. McNeight, and T. Anisy played splendid football, and a great deal of the credit for the result must go to this trio, although all of the pack worked well. The Marist backs all tackled well, while O’Connor was outstanding on attack. Pollock had a lot of work to do as lull-back and got. through it with credit, although it was an error of judgment on his part which allowed Hornby to score their only try. The Hornby forwards all played well, without any outstanding individuals, and. by hunting in a pack gave Marist a lot of trouble. Never was "ono of their number allowed to break through without support, and they gained a lot of ground by holding the ball in the scrum until Marist broke up, and then sweeping through in a wedge-like formation. The Hornby backs were handicapped by the conditions, and on a dry day would have been much more difficult. J. McCarthy, the half-back, was the brains of the team, and gave a fine display, both on attack and defence. J. Garrett also played an excellent game as five-eighth. Selected as full-back at the last moment, owing to M. Standeven being unavailable, W. Pulamountain was brilliant as full-back, his accurate line kicking, under difficult conditions, being a feature of the match. The teams were as follow: — Hornby: W. Palamountain. P. Baker, R. Timms, E. Hendry, C. Taylor. J. Garrett, J. McCarthy, W. Vivian, J. Airey, W. Woodgate, N. Vivian. 1-1. Standeven, W. Dunn. Marist: R. Pollock, .1. Devonport, J. Roberts, A. Behan, E. O’Brien, T. O’Connor, B. Casey, W. McNeight, R. Williams, G. Scott. W. Seguin. T. Anisy, J. Walshc. THE PLAY DESCRIBED.

Winning the toss, Marist elected to face the gale for the first spell, and ultimate events confirmed the wisdom of this decision. A good kick by O’Connor opened the Marist attack, but Palamountain and McCarthy returned play to half-way. where there was a series of loose forward rucks. Eventually the Marist forwards broke through, but Anisy got in front. Immediately after. Scott was penalised for offside on the half-way, I’alamountain being unsuccessful with an attempt at goal. Marist again pressed, but accurate passing by McCarthy, Garrett and Baker temporarily turned the tables, and A. Beban tackled Baker in the nick of time, Devonport saving the situation with a useful grubber kick. Passing among the Marist forwards gave Devonport an opportunity, but lie failed to take his pass. The Hornby forwards split the defence, and looked like carrying on when Roberts snapped the ball up to save the situation. Garrett, Palainountain and Hendry next figured in n Hornby attack, but this time Devonport saved. Baker, the young Hornby winger, made a determined run, but was tackled almost on the line, O’Brien giving Marist much needed refief by forcing. Marist were penalised for offside on their own 25. but Palamountain was again unsuccessful in his attempt Io goal. Devonport, Roberts, MeNcighL and Scott were prominent in a Marist offensive, which carried play deep into Hornby territory, but the ground gained was lost through an infringement. Palamountain kicked through, and the ball was well fielded by Pollock, just outside his own 25. The Marist fullback attempted to give Devonport a reverse pass, but it was mulled and Taylor, who had followed through fast kicked the ball past the two Marist players and out-paced Pollock to fall on it near the posts. Palamountain converted. Hornby 5. Marist nil. The Marist forwards swept downfield and Anisy kicked across field to Beban, who picked up well, only to be held up. O’Connor gave Marist another opportuntiy when he placed a kick in a gap. but this time Williams was offside. Hornby were given almost an open field when Beban'miskicked, but Dunn dropped his pass and eventually Beban forced. Just on half-time Palamountain was unsuccessful with an attempt at a penalty goal from 40 yards out, and the first spell ended with the score. Hornby 5, Marist nil. SECOND HALF. Casey, O’Brien and O’Connor early placed Marist in an attacking position, but a knock on spoilt the effort. Casey was injured in this movement, and retired, being replaced by L. Burger, who went into the forwards, Anisy coming into the hacks, and«

O’Connor taking up the halt-back pos tion. Hornby were penalised on their own 25, for offside, but Roberts was unsuccessful with the kick at goal. Marist were given a great chance when Palamountain was caught i possession, but again the movement was spoilt through offside by Williams. Hornby attacked, but they, too, infringed and Devonport just failed to reach a high kick which Scott placed under the Hornby posts. Maiist were attacking determinedly, and Devonport was twice held up on the line. A penalty allowed Hornby to reverse the position, but, fielding a kick on his own 25, Roberts flashed through half the Hornby team in a tricky run, and passed to O’Brien, to Walshe, who finished off the best movement of the match with a try near the posts. Roberts missed a fairly easy kick. Hornby 5, Marist 3. A brief Marist attack was followed by their being penalised on their own 25, and Palamountain succeeded with a great kick, almost from the sido line. Hornby 7, Marist 3. Hendry broke away, but put his foot. into touch. Charging down a clearing kick by Timms, McNeight broke away and allowed O’Brien to make a run, only for him to be tackled from behind, near the line. Hornby commenced a hot. offensive, and were twice held up on the line, before Anisy intercepted and cleared, although Roberts knocked-on his pass. Palamountain was unsuccessful with an attempt at a penalty goal from the 25, but in the ensuing rush Garrett secured about twenty yards .out and kicked a beautiful field goal. Hornby 9. Marist 3. With a six point advantage, and only about eight minutes to play, Hornby appeared to have .the game in their grasp, but they reckoned without Marist’s fighting finish. Immediately following the kick-off, O’Connor, O’Brien, Beban and Anisy started a lightning passing rush, which resulted in Anisy scoring in the corner, almost before Hornby realised what had happened. Heavy rain was falling at this stage, and the kick was not attempted, with Marist fighting against time. Hornby 9, Marist G. The kick-off went, to O’Connor, and utilising the gale which was blowing, he kicked through to the Hornby line, where a hot forward ruck formed. Hornby were ordered to play the ball, and seeing his opportunity, O’Connor dived on it, to score close in. Roberts’s kick hit the upright, as tlie bell rang, and although one of the line umpires raised his flag, the referee declared “no goal” and the game ended with the scores, Marist 9, Hornby 9. Mr S. Smith was referee. THIRD GRADE. In a friendly fixture at Wingham Park, on Saturday, played under most unfavourable conditions, Marist third graders defeated Whitcombe and Tombs (Christchurch), by 8 points to six. Tries were scored for Marist by Kennedy and Kellj", Ryan converting

one, while Bayliss scored two unconverted tries for Whitcombe and Tombs. Mr R. Williams was referee.

FRIENDLY MATCHES CANCELLED

Owing to the state of the grounds, all of the friendly matches, between Christchurch teams, and local club teams, set down for yesterday, were cancelled, with the exception of the Blackball v. Sydenham game, which was won by Blackball by 14 points to nil. INANGAHUA GAMES. Playing at Reefton yesterday afternoon, on a wet ground, which rendered good play impossible, two Christchurch teams were defeated by local clubs, the results being: Reef ton 12, Linwood 11; Inangahua Junction 18, Woolston nil. Mr T. McKenzie refereed both games. IN OTHER CENTRES. AUCKLAND, September 3. City 17, Newton 15. Manukau 10, Ponsonby 8. Richmond 24, Marist 10. Devonport 20, Mt. Albert G. NAPIER, September 5. Petone 21, Taradale 18. NORTHERN UNION. LONDON. September 5. Northern Union:— Batley 14, Brainley 8. Bradford 13, Swinton 5. Castleford 21, Hull-Kingston 4. Halifax Keighley 5. Hull 19, Dewsbury 5. Leeds 14, York 12. Leith G, Wigan 10. Liverpool 8, Barrow 2. Newcastle 12, Huddersfield 33. Oldham 19, St. Helens Rees. 0. Saltford 21, Rochdale 0. St. Helens 2, Widnes 0. SreathamMitcham 7, Broughton 18. Wakefield 39. Featherston 14. Warrington 26, Hunslet 12.