CLOSE LEAGUE MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 15

CLOSE LEAGUE MATCH.

MAMSTS' GOOD WIN.

SOUTH SYDNEY DEFEATED.

'GREGORY SCORES ALL POINTS,

NUMEROUS PENALTIES AWARDED

'lllO Rugby League match played between Marist and South Sydney at Cnrlaw J'ark. on Saturday resulted in a win for Marist by 10 points to 9. Marist scored tw u tries, ono of which was converted, .mill kicked a penalty goal, while South j-ivdney's points were made up of ono conceited try and two penalty goals. tin the play, tho one-point margin in J ivour of the winners is not a fair indication of their superiority, ns they were jii least a better team by three points on if lie day. The gamo was strenuously * untested throughout, with occasional brilliant movements by either side. . Lack of j lure of these can bo accounted for by Hie splendid tackling, and in this department Marist quite excelled itself.

The South Sydney team took tho field jfcith live forwards and eight backs, playing three halves and four threequarters. L\fter the first iow minutes Marist counseled this by taking Clarko from tlic j,: runi and placing him insido Hassan and (Iregory. For a commencement this jimveinent somewhat upset the Marist rmnbinution, as Clarke was a little too tlow in getting the ball away. Nevertheless ho improved as the game pro pressed, and for a forward played a fine «;;itne in his new position. Gregory was aho hero ot the match by scoring all Marist's points, and his first try was a Lrilliant effort. The combination of the Marist backs on the whole was equal to uiiything shown by the visitors.

Uncertain Handling. As a matter of fact, the Marist in.sitlc Vai'ks were not guilty of uncertain bandLug, which was the case at times with the fjouth Sydney halves, and this often juoved costly to their side. The visitors gained the ball from the scrums in the rally si ages, but later on Campbell secured more than his share. The match was marred to a certain exirut by the unusual number of penalties ittfainsl both teams. When the visitors trained the lead late in the second spell it looked as though they would win the match, but a brilliant rally by Marist in which Brady was very prominent for «lever play ended in Gregory scoring the ■winning point. South Sydney was unfortunato in losing the services of Williams, a threequarter, about half-way through the second spell, owing to an injured ankle. The conditions for the match were ideal find there was an attendance of 15,000 spectators. The teams were as follows :

SOUTH SYDNEY

Fullback, A. Spillane: threequarters. B. "Wearing, 0. Qtiinlivan, H. Eyers, T>. Williams; halves, P. Williams, A. Blair, J. IWliy; forwards. I). Watson, A. Binder, C. Eggen, F. O'Connor, A. O'Connor.

MARIST. Fullback:, N. Campbell; threequarters, Jl. McDonald, I'. Brady, H. Batchelor; live-eighths. H. Brisbane, C. Gregory, F. Clarke; halfback, W. Hassan; forwards, .1. O'Brien, N. Campbell, I\. Moiseley, J. tiraham, J. Johnson. ' An Early Penalty Goal.

Australia wou the toss and commenced an attacking movement immediately, Binder cleverly changing his direction, but 'bo gave a bail pass to Quinlivan. Marist bustled the" visitors and carried play to 1 fieir twenty-live, where Why intercepted cleverly and made a good run past halfway. Offside play by Marist saw Wearing kick a fine goal from well out. Kicking exchanges followed, until Brady took a cross-kick well and set off, but Brisbane failed to take his pass when a likely opportunity offered. South Sydney was indulging in the. short, sharp passing game, but the Marist defenco was pound Twice Blair placed his team in a good position with splendid line-kicks from penalties, which had been fairly frequent up to this stage. Once tho visitors' backs seemed certain to score, only a fine tackle by Brisbane saving tho situation for Marist.

Spillano made a brilliant run down the line, gaining over 50 yards before sending an in-pass to Willliams, whose transfer went astray right on the line. South Sydney maintained the pressure, a freekick relieving Marist. _ Batchelor and Clarkn were prominent in a blind side movement, the latter delaying his transfer too long. Marist continued to attack, juid Moisley dribbled over and touched down, but the ball had gone into touch-in-goal. Quinlivan intercepted in a Marist attack, but lost the ball when he had almost' a clear field ahead. Marist was penalised a yard outside hlf-wav and Quinlivan kicked a magnificent goal amid great applause.

Gregory's Clever Try. The Marist forwards carried play to 11 io visitors' twenty-five, where Hassan rut through well from a scrum, and Moisley and Clarke joined iri for the latter to miss scoring by inches. r i hen Gregory pained possession about fifteen yards from the line and "dummied" a couple of opponents, to score a fine try between the posts. He easily converted. Clever play hv tho visiting forwards had Marist on defence. From a scrum Blair cut through cleverly, but again Marist saved by splendid tackling. Numerous penalties continued to be given against each side. Just on half time If. O'Connor charged down a kick by Gregory mid a try nearly resulted, but an offiside pass held up the visitors. 'J he scores V.ere : Marist 5 South Sydney 4 Immediately on resuming, Brisbane broke awav when a South Sydney passing movement broke down, but his pass was taken by' Wearing. Marist kept tho visitors penned on their line for a period nnd there were some strenuous tusslas right under the goal. Eventually Eggen ]fd his forwards in a counter rush to halfway. The visitors' backs set, off in a line passing bout and Wearing made a good run, but Campbell lowered him with n great tackle. South Sydney kept up tho attack and 'A. O'Connor just, failed to touch down, losing possession in making his dive. Iho visitors were making desperate efforts to M'nre, but Marist's splendid defence held them out. Clarke eventually relieved '.Marist with a fast follow through. Offside plnv bv A. O'Connor gave Gregory «i chnnrn and the Marist player kicked a nice goal. Visitor's Only Try. T;., Williams was injured shortly afterwards and retired. Brady made a great inn from halfway and was unlucky not/ to score after beating Spillane, being thrown into touch-iii-goal. A penalty against South Sydney saw Gregory just fail at goal with a good kick. Marist was haying all th'> bettor of the exchanges until Wearing made a great break through, but Campbell again tackled him safely. Still maintaining the attack South Sydney was icwarded when Eggen broke awav, and although he was tackled, Why, who was in support, gathered in and touched down near the posts Blair easily converted. Thy visitors did not hold the lead long, ss Brady made a clever opening before sending on to Brisbane. 'lhc latter transferred to Gregory, who raced over well mil Gregory's kick hit the upright. Marist had the better of the remaining play, but there was rio further scoring, the game ending: Marist 1° South Sydney .. .. ..9 Mr. A. Harlock, Munlly, was referee. South Sydnev will play a match against South Auckland at liuntly on Wednesday nnd will meet Marist in a return game Carlaw Jfark next Saturday*