MARIST’S FIRST WIN

Southland Times, Issue 23817, 15 May 1939, Page 5

MARIST’S FIRST WIN

OLD BOYS BEATEN BY SIX TO THREE WINNING FORWARDS PLAY WELL Marist scored its first win by beating Old Boys in a ragged game by six points to three. Old Boys held Marist when playing against the wind, but failed to use the wind to advantage in the second half. The Marist forwards packed well and although conceding weight in the scrums got a bigger share of the ball. Newall, H. Grace and O’Shea were the leaders in a good pack and P. Grace, Ford and Shepherd played good football in the backs. The play by the Old Boys’ backs was poor. The forwards worked hard, but they got little support. The teams were: MARIST: M. Ryan, R. Ferris, N. Ford, A. H. Brown, V. Pasco, P. Grace, A. Shepherd, H. Grace, N. Baird, P. Connolly, M. O’Callaghan, N. Ward, J. Mcßae, J. Newall, D. O’Shea. OLD BOYS: G. Anderson, E. Jackson, N. Polson, R. H. Mackrell, A. W. Wesney, W. Spence, T. Mackie, C. Wilson, A. Smiley, W. Fleming, E. Gumbley, A. Marshall, G. McLauchlan, G. Baker, H. Armour. Marist scored within three minutes of the start of the game. P. Grace received the ball after a forward scramble

in the Old Boys 25 and, cutting in smartly, scored a good try. Baird failed to goal. Marist 3, Old Boys 0. Old Boys set up a counter-attack in which both backs and forwards participated and play was carried deep into Marist’s 25. Old Boys was awarded a free kick directly in front of Marist’s goal and Wesney kicked a “sitter.'’ Marist 3, Old Boys 3. Marist was playing with the assistance of the strong wind and used it to full advantage in long line-kicking. Several times play was taken into the Old Boys 25, but faulty handling spoiled some good chances. D O’Shea (Marist forward) showed up in some excellent dribbling and Pascoe (fiveeighths) put in a long line kick which gained 50 yards. For the first part of the half Marist made practically all the play and assisted by the high wind, was able to keep Old Boys on the defensive. P. Grace and N. Ford combined in a move which beat the Old Boys defence and Newell dribbled the ball to the line. Old Boys forced. Grace sent Old Boys back to its line again with a well-judged line-kick, and after the throw-in a Marist forward went close to scoring. Old Boys tried the passing game, but the handling by the backs was poor and little ground was gained. . The half ended with the scores: Marist 3; Old Boys 3. little interest was shown in the sec-

ond half of this game on the No. 2 ground and, peculiarly enough, the standard of play fell accordingly. Marist’s forwards made a good showing, however, and assisted by individual breaks by P. Grace, N, Ford and V. Pasco they were able easily to hold Old Boys, whose general play was disappointing.

Although playing against the wind Marist made most of the play. A few minutes before the finish Baird kicked a penalty goal and the game resulted: Marist 6; Old Boys 3. Mr T. Roberts was referee.