THE BEST OF FIVE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12538, 30 August 1926, Page 11

THE BEST OF FIVE

MARIST DEFEAT Y.M.C.A. "HAT TRICK" FOR MARSHMENT. Y.M.C.A. and Marist met at the Basin in the championship, the points concern ing Marist more seriously fhan their opponents, as they still have a chance to win the event. Marist. losing the toss, kicked off against the wind, and exchanges were fairly even for a spell. McGirr headed away from a threatening move by Maritst, and Roberts finally cleared well. Trott cleverly beat Burke and Budolph sent to Worth, who also beat Budolph and centred, where Fitzgerald cleared. Ballard' made a couple of excellent shots. Fitzgerald then conceded a corner, and from Worth's flag kick McGirr headed just over the bar, a close call. A sprint down the left wing saw a clinking centre from Cudby, but it gathered speed from spin as it hit the grounde and just eluded McElligott, who was well placed with open goal. Thomas made a bad miss, but Fitzgerald just prevented Wilkins taking advantage of it. Dempster was parting with the ball very much better, ana gave Ballard a nice opening. A crashing shot hit Rudolph and rebounded, and Dempster sent in a beauty, bringing Fitzgerald to his knees and forcing him to throw over the goal to save. The corner brought no result. Y.M. were having the better of play, but were not scoring. Pearson showed improved form and tackling. Marist suddenly attacked on the right wing, Pope having beaten Stark. Two or three times the ball flashed across goal, and then McElligott returned at very close quarters. Cudby looked certain to' score, but Ewing flashed his hand out and just diverted it beyond the far post. A rather lucky escape. Marist were then given a spell on defence, and Trott did good work for Y.M. Thomas dropped nicely to Budolph at centre-forward, then to Cudby, and McElligott missed an easy chance in not netting from Cudby's centre. A ! minute later Cudfiy went through, touched to Marshment, and this time Ewing was beaten. Marist 1, Y.M.C.A. 0. Burke handled just outside the penalty area, Worth dropping the kick well in. front. Several shots weT© frustrated through the goal being packed, until Pope gave a corner, from which nothing came. Wilkins brought Fitzgerald to his knees again, and was overwhelmed by the forwards, until the referee gave a free kick to Marist for obstruction. A good pass or shot by Pope saw Marshment net the ball right inside the post, and Marist had a two-goal lead. From now to the interval Marist had the best of matters and were pressing. MARSHMENT MAKES SURE On resuming Marist carried the attack to Y.M.C.A., and Cudby hit the bar, heading in from Hickey. Dempster gave Stark an opening, but the latter shot poorly. At last Y.M. managed to get in, Ballard going through too fast for Budolph. Fitzgerald partly saved, but Worth, following up, netted. Marist 2, Y.M. 1. Within a minute Fitzgerald made a wonderful save from Ballard. Cudby went on a solo run to try Ewing, the latter lying on the ball and then throwing behind with his opponents standing over him. Roberts tripped Marshment badly when the Mari6t man was getting through, but the free kick went behind. At the other end Ballard had another try to even up the score. Twice more Ballard and Stark looked like doing the needful, Worth just failing to get the ball past Fitzgerald. Ballard was hurt at this stage. Y.M. had one or two narrow escapes following this, mainly due to good work, and some lively exchanges followed. Worth received from Stark and was through with only the goalie to beat, but Fitzgerald went out to meet him and saved. From a throw-in Wilkins sent nicely into the goal mouth, and Ballard netted. Marist 2, Y.M.C.A. 2. From the restart Fitzgerald only just staved off Worth from giving Y.M. the lead. This saw Y.M. put on pace, and for a while Marist were hard pressed to keep the Young Mon out, Wilkins sending in some splendid centres. Twico the goal had a lucky escape. Stark and Dempster missing. Suddenly Marist broke away, Hickey sent in a splendid centre, and Marshment headed in the hest goal of the afternoon. The closing stages of the game were the most exciting part, for Y.M. strove hard to draw level once more, and came very close to succeeding. Marist defeneo prevailed, however, and tho odd goal being in their favour, they now have a chance in the- championship, although this will mostly depend upon tho results of other games ami whether Hospital can win the remaining games. Should Hospital win the rwt of their League games, the championship is assured to them. Teams:— Marist—G. Fitzgerald; E. Fitzgerald and IF. Rudolph; Pope, Thomas, and Burke; Hickey, McElligott, A. Budolph, Marshment, and Cudby. Y.M.C.A.—Ewing; Prince and Roberts; McGirr, Pearson and Trott; Worth, Dempster, Wilkins, Ballard, and Stark.