NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 216, 19 September 1910, Page 6

NOTES.

(By "Spectator.") Saturday'a match' must be* considered the best seen here this year. It was a splendid display of Rugby in every respect. The teams were well matched, and the struggle which ensued- from the time the game commenced until it ended was terrific. The Marlborough men played a- vastly different game -. on Saturday from that played against Wellington the previous Saturday, when .the "devil" so necessary amongst forwards was an unknown quantity. There was ample "devil" amongst the home vanguard on Saturday; in fact, they seemed at times to be beset by the Evil One. The first spell lacked the brilliancy which was looked for, but both, teams made amends in the second half, and played, as one enthusiastic, spectator put it, "like a .German band." The' pace was a cracker, and the ball took ' some lightning passages from one end | of the field- ; t6 the other. The ex- | citement which prevailed was only to j bo expected. The local men realised ' that "Marlborough expected every ! man to do his duty," and they en- j deavored to do this. The visitors I also knew that their friends at home had pinned their faith in them to carry back to the Coast the muchcoveted Seddon Shield; and the grim determination to be read on the players' faces showed that a great and deadly struggle was raging. With no score at half-time, and ■ with the wind against them, the sup- | porters of the local men became I anxious for the safety of the Shield; j but- they were assured that it would not leave Marlborough, one forward | saying, "We are just commencing to get our second wind." , Those who doubted this statement had not long: to wait for its verification,, for no»sooner had* the ball been kicked off by "Dick'1 * * Hegglun than away the local giants went like a hi-rricane, ■ sweeping everything before them. No sooner did an opponent get the balL than he was laid low without any "beg pardons." They rushed the sphere to Coast's line, but time and , again chances of a score being effected wore lost. The visitors were hard pressed, and they marked^ and kicked to touch with short kicks 'to save the ' situation. The inevitable happened , at last. A scrum was formed close to Coast's gpaL The balL came out to Oben, who worked the "silly" side ! of the scrum and passed to O'Brien, ] who sent it on to Strickland, who '< streaked across the line like a hare j and touched down. j The excitement which followed was [ intense. Men and women alike participated in the general demonstra- j tion, handkerchiefs, hats, and urn-; { brellas being waved, and yells from men, "Well played, Marlborough!" : and shrieks from the fair sex denoted the prevalent feeling. These demon- ] I stratkms were renewed when O'Brien ! ) kicked a splendid goal from a diffij cult angle. j The ardor of the local barrackers ] was somewhat damped when, almost : immediately from the kick-off the I visitors .scored, the try ebing con- \ verted and Maryborough's score] equalled. However, the local men I came away again. They ran, kicked, ' and collared, invaded Coast's 25 and besieged ' the visitors' goal-line, ; eventually breaking through the human fortress, C. Hegglun scoring a brilliant try. O'Brien was again equal to the occasion, and added the major points. Coast attacked from the drop-out, and Marlborough were penalised in front of their own goalline. No charge was awarded the visitors', and two attempts were made at goal, but without success. A third kick was allowed owing to a local forward, .endeavoring to stop the ball in its flight, and this time Irving kicked a goal. The boll vsounded a few minutes later, and thus the game ended. . ' ■ • It would he a difficult matter to individualise any of the. local forwards when they all played so well; in fact, there was not a passenger in the whole pack. All share at times, and all worked splendidly all the time. It was unfortunate for Casey that he should get hurt, as he had been : lacking forward to this fixture. Howover, there will be other matches next year, and his services will be needed more than they were on Saturday. "Jack" will be given an opportunity of meeting the crack wingers of New Zealand ,and he will prove equal to holding his own.

O'Brien and Costello were carried off the field shoulder high, and without a doubt, they deserved this honor. They played fine football, particularly the Little Footballer, who was as safe as a house.. His. line kicking was brilliant, and in this respect he saved his' side time after time. O'Brien's kicking also was ...splendid, I and his work generally was or a high •order. There was one back on the ground who did more work than any of the others* and that was Oben. He played with great judgment. Wherever convenient he opened up the game, and when necessary played the safe game. He v/as the best back on the ground, and he did more to retain the Shield than many people imagine. He received a great gruelling from the visitors, his face being decidedly marked. It must not be considered that this was done purposely, for such is not the case. The game was naturally v hard, and the knocks he got were unintentional. Horgan did not handle the ball as well as he might have, but this was due to a very badly sprained thumb,1 which happened early in the- game. Mogridge played a good game, and tackled in good style. He was' all right. Daly played the game of his life; in fact, he was brilliant. I am pleased to. say this, because it becomes monotonous having to take "any player to task for his mistakes after every match. This has certainly been the case with Daly this year, but on Saturday he- shone out like the eun' after a shower of rain. It is to be hoped that he- will continue: to play as he did on Saturday. My best wishes are extended to him for his future success. : i Strickland gave a decidedly better exhibition than lie has done hither- . to, and his try was the result of abrilliant run. The visitors were collectively a better lot ,iw the- rearguard: than thelocal men, but they had no Obens, ; Costellos, or O'Briens, which made ! all the difference. Irving and Wat--1 son were with one exception the pick. of tho backs, and' played' fine footi ball. Sotheran was the best of the visiting backs. He received rather a rough time, as did Oben. The forwards were y a good lot, but "Tiny" Bennett was not as good as he* might be. ■ He lagged a lot. at the i'finish. His " line-kicks were good., Heslop, Power, Greig and. Brown were a fine combination,' but none of [ them could compare witK the Hegg T j lun brothers, Forbes brothers, Webster or Southgate. Duggan, on the wing, was a host in himself.