Service Tourney.

NZ Truth, Issue 224, 9 October 1909, Page 2

Service Tourney.

. Free ,. from the raicuous-voiced barracking o? the "Miramar Maniac," and the melodious outbursts of the lengthy new champion, the Land Tax and Public Trust Sought out the final of the Civil Service tournament. Though there was a good deal of "Biff .and let b.'lt" tfioiit the engagement, still tnere Was niching to warrant the implication •■ by the "Times" that the' meeting was something of a 'Donnybrook Fair nature. Vhen a game has gone two full 15 minutes an.d an extra fifteen before a score is ies>stered, when the barracking is Htad, the ground hard, the.-NacklU* hard, and>.mdition not hard^ Htre is small pod* l^ that some players - ! «e«« a litMe; i«*s.atiencc—let it pass at o«at. :\ . The' Trust backs were much. the slicker combination,, but the Tax forwards h-id much the advantage m weight, and managed to bring victory to their side. The cherubic countenance of Couvtayne was bobbing up everywhere, and tfiis dial'a

ctinSA- played "a great game. His final effort m crossing the line has surely made Jam famous. Paul, "another forward, is ; eyideiitly a • tradesman, and wanted to -' carve a ; lamb or two c but m Ronaldson "he found a full-grown ram, and things "were made quite ; interesting. • At full- . back; -Bburke was the personification ot . ttefance, and the • half-back belied his name somewhat. His methods were unique^ and hardly of the "love all" naHure.' He played a good game. McLcn-aan-was safe, but not brilliant, and spoke- quite more' than once. Clark, the ex-Ponsonby man, made a; number of mistakes, very nearly got m a beautiful 1 upper-ciri •on one occasion. He will ' be bn "Pakeha's" list if he is not careful. - ; The Trust tonvards battled away m ,greax style against the weighty crowd opposing them. Ronaldson kept his end v up .well, and is no lamb. Myers" waved his .: arms • about on the line-out work m great style, and convinced quite a' num-; "Ler.-Chesterraan showed any amount of • tiashi and will do. Benind the scrum, vyoung; Riddick ' wais very clever, m get--1 tin^r the ball away- on every opportunity,. .- -^ahd ■'stood up to the rough stuff m great Nstvle.' Ryan's defensive wort -'was '- very solidi and his. • left- loot kicking 'powerful 'tl'^e. ' Faire made made some fine, 'Straight runs; and deserved successj At ./•■"full-back, "Old Mother" was ' great ; hfe i '.tackling and < line-kiclring really, up to rep. form. The "Gods" were with him right' thvough— did he speculate, then (there was a clear passage every time, • did he tumble over himself, then his oP- ' ponents did likewise, and, for. the mo\ment seemed paralysed, and certain •scores were lost. : „ i, ,, w,. ;^ .;•• ; 4 V This- tournament has provided . .some ligood and at' ill times hard, "Ipbtball, and i'lie: Rttgbf \uiii6n 'should nts^iswßcmigiVo ■it 'every enrouragement. ; v " .