STRENUOUS FORWARD PLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 13

STRENUOUS FORWARD PLAY

MAR IST TEAM SUPERIOR The first spell of the match between Marist and Manukau was fairly interesting. Territorially Manukau had the better of the exchanges, hut it was unable to obtain possession of the ball from the set scrums, Hadle.r's hookiug for Marist robbing the opposing hacks of opportunities for getting into action. There was a good deal of straggling play, due to the fact that the backs of both sides kicked far too much when on attack. It was 23 minutes before Marist opened its account. Curtayne made a nice opening before sending Cooney and Bell-Booth away, Cooney taking an in-pass from his wing to score. Play betweeD the forwards then became willing and Manukau attacked strongly, but Its backs threw away a golden opportunity by lob passing. Pearce picked up in the loose and potted at goal, the ball hitting an upright and rebounding. Five minutes before half-time Cooney kicked a penalty goal, and immediately before the interval Littlejohn, the Manukau fullback, dropped a field goal from outside Marist's twenty-five, this giving Marist a lead of U—i as the teams changed over. It looked at this stage as if Manukan had a chance of success, but the potted goal proved to be its only score. Ten minutes after resumption, the Marist backs were seen in the best passing rush of the day, Bell-Booth scoring in the corner. Thereafter tries were scored by Toye, Aitken and Butler, Cooney converting two tries. Forward play continued to be strenuous and willing throughout the second spell, and the referee was seen pointing a warning finger at players on either side. There was too much indiscriminate kicking, and a Marist forward was fortunate that he did not injure Pearce when he kicked out at the Manukau forward while the latter was lying on the ground. The Manukau back team was rearranged after half-time. McLaren, the half?.' did not resume, and Brimble played behind the scrum, Flett going on at centre. Brimbie and Littlejohn were the. only backs to impress. The lastnamed fielded the ball brilliantly at times, his speed enabling him to get into position where other fullbacks would probably have had to wait for the bounce of the ball. He made one or two bad mistakes in the second spell when he tried to speculate, but otherwise gave a good exhibition of fullback play. The forwards worked hard, Pepper's follow ingr up being a feature, although he spoiled his display by one or two late tackles. Pearce was always in tlfe thick of the fray and Wiklund and Smith were both conspicuous. With the amount of ball they received the Marist backs should have been seen to better advantage, their showing being a long way below that given when the side defeated Grammar a fortnight earlier. The forwards packed three-four, Toye being given a roving commission. Whenever he stood at first five-fiighths he was invariably caught flatfooted and this threw the combination right out. The understanding between Curtayne and Cooney was good, but the absence of Logan from the centre position was sorely felt, Lane being unable to feed the speedy wingers to advantage. Bu'.lcr was the outstanding forward, his play in all departments being high class. McCirory, Mcllugh and 'Aitken were always in the picture, although the others all did their share towards gaining victory. The persistence with which Hadley secured the ball meant a great deal to his side. Mr. J. Finlayson was referee.