CLOSE LEAGUE MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21007, 19 October 1931, Page 9

CLOSE LEAGUE MATCH.

SUCCESS OF COMBINED TEAM. VICTORY BY SINGLE POINT. EASTERN SUBURBS DEFEATED. J--4' The success of the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League touring team was checked afc Carlaw Park on Saturday, when a combined Marist-Devonport team defeated the visitors by 14 points to 13. The game was full of exciting incidents, although tho standard was not so high as that of the previous Saturday in the match against Devonport. The visitors, however, met a stronger opposition and there was little to choose between tho teams. The combined backs gave a fine display, and were superior to the opposition. Uncertain handling probably cost Eastern Suburbs the game. • The combined forwards played a great game, and had an advantage in winning the ball from tho scrums. Keen tackling was a feature. The visitors were frequently penalised for scrum breaches, and the forwards caught offside in passing bouts. The home team, although a little lucky, deserved its success. Special mention is due to Ruby and Clark, who played outstanding games in the forwards. Ruby was the best forward on the ground. Brisbane played a fine game and successfully checked Norman. D. Brown was easily the best Eastern Suburbs back, while Pearce and Rogers played good games in tho forwards. The teams were as follows: — Combined Team.—Fullback, N. Campbell; threequarters, Scott, Seagar, Meehan; five-eighths, Brisbane, Smith; halfback, Hassan; forwards, Carter, S. Campbell, Simpson, Ruby, Casey, Clark. Eastern Suburbs. —Fullback, Hong; threequarters, Tottey, D. Brown, Boyle; five-eighths, Norman, Pope; halfback, Thicknesse; forwards,, Stehr, R. Brown, Pearce, Nixon, Dyer, Rogers. An Early Try. Eastern Suburbs was awarded two free-kicks and Pearce gained useful ground. A poor pass by Campbell to Hassan had the home team in trouble. Smith, Hassan and Brisbane were associated in a passing bout, but Meehan gained little ground. . Seagar made a beautiful opening and beat D. Brown before passing to L. Scott, who outpaced Tottey and scored a fine try which Clark converted. Combined, 5; Eastern Suburbs, 0. A few minutes later the visitors were penalised and Clark kicked a goal. Combined, 7; Eastern Suburbs, 0. Thicknesse was successful in beating Scott, on the blind side, but Rogers.was penalised for obstruction and Clark kicked a fine goal. Combined, 9; Eastern Suburbs, 0. The home backs played with confidence and Seagar beat Brown badly, but Tottey caught Scott when a try looked certain. Frequent penalties against the visitors slowed up the game. Although Campbell gave the home backs plenty of the ball Smith was slow to support Brisbane. From the loose near halfway Norman snapped up and passed to Rogers, who made a beautiful opening. D. Brown 1 accepted a pass at top pace and beat Campbell, to score a brilliant try. Boyle converted. Combined, 9; Eastern Suburbs, 5. The home forwards repeatedly broke down the visitors' combination and Ruby stood out for splendid defence. Thicknesse cleverly reverse-passed to his wards, but a forward pass held up the movement. The home team was lucky to clear. Then from a scrum the visitors gained possession and D.- Brown beat Smith to score a fine try. Boyle converted. Eastern Suburbs, 10; Combined, 9. Frequent Penalties. The visitors were frequently penalised for scrum breaches and spectacular play was absent. The home backs were .favoured with plenty of b<dl from scrums, and Seagar raced Meehan into a good position, but delayed his pass, which Meehan took forward. But for the breach Meehan would have scored the simplest of tries. Just before halftime Eastern Suburbs made a great, effort. Pearce raced through the defence and Pope beat half a dozen opponents. His pass to Norman, however, was nullified by Ruby. Halftime came with the score:—Eastern Suburbs, 10; Combined team. 9. On resuming Smith made a nice opening and had Hong and Tottey beaten. Scott, however, dropped the pass, and tho combined team lost a try. Clark headed the Combined forwards in a strong attack and the ball rolled over Eastern Suburbs' line. Instead of touching down, Pope started a passing bout under the goal posts. Pearce and Tottey gave excellent support, but again a forward pass checked the attack. Tho Combined backs attacked and Brisbane raced past Norman, but although Seagar lost possession when Hong tackled him, Brisbane snapped up and scored in the corner. Clark failed with the kick. Combined, 12; Eastern Suburbs, 10. Mistakes in Handling. Ruby and Clark broke away with th® ball at toe. Smith- kicked on to Hong who was penalised for not playing the ball, although he appeared to be injured. Clark kicked a goal. Combined, 14; East- | era Suburbs, 10. The visitors" made mis- ! takes in handling and passes were frequently dropped. Pearce mado a strong run down the. sideline and passed to Tottey, who badly beat Scott and Campbell to scoro a pretty try. Brown failed to convert. Combined, 14; Eastern Suburbs, 13. Eastern Suburbs made strenuous efforts to win the match in the final stages. On time a try looked certain, but a forward pass spoiled the movement. Although the bell had been rung the ball was not "dead" and the referee ordered play to continue, and the ground was cleared. The game ended with the score:—Combined team, 14; Eastern Suburbs, 13. Mr. P. Rogers was referee.