GOOD SHOWING BY MARIST

Southland Times, Issue 23829, 29 May 1939, Page 5

GOOD SHOWING BY MARIST

INVERCARGILL PACK BEATEN BACKS COMBINE WELL IN WET WEATHER Although outplayed for the greater part of the first half Marist put up an excellent showing against Invercargill. Facing a score of 13 to five against it at the beginning of the second half, Marist played as a team inspired. The I forwards took charge of the game, more I or less, -and for almost half an hour kept Invercargill penned in its 25. The scrummaging of the pack was magnifi- ! cent and because of this and the exceli lent hooking of J. Mcßae the Marist backs were able to attack Invercargill’s line many times. Fortunately for Invercargill its defence was sound, otherwise Marist might have put on a good score. The scores of 23 to nine do not represent the difference in merit between the ■ teams. Territorially Marist held its | own, but it did not show the combinaI tion which gave Invercargill its points. I Some of the passing movements of 1 both teams were excellent. The backs handled the ball at top speed and made fewer mistakes than are made when the conditions favour back play. J. Purdue, Invercargill half-back, was at the top of his form, and like M. P. Grace, for Marist, showed up in individual brilliance. Grace made a light-ning-like cut which brought a good try and generally he was the mainstay of the Marist backs. All of the Marist forwards played well. The teams were: MARIST: M. Ryan, R. Ferris, N. Forde, A. H. Brown, J. Geary, M. P. Grace, A. Shepherd; N. Baird, J. McRae, H. Grace, M. O’Callaghan, J. Cournane, P. Connolly, J. Newall, D. O’Shea. INVERCARGILL: J. W. Fleming, P. Johnston, R. G. Mahony, B. L. Tapley, A. G. Sutherland, C. McKenzie, J. Purdue; R. Sutton, F. Walker, O. McKay, V. L. George, S. Purdue, V. Roberts, W. Richardson, C. George. A DASHING TRY Invercargill opened the scoring in dashing style. Within three minutes of the start the Invercargill backs countered a Marist attack which broke down 15 yards from Invercargill’s goal and Sutherland opened up play, which beat the defence and ended in a try. Sutherland twice came into the play and when he received the ball a second time he raced from halfway, fended off Ryan and scored in the right comer. Sutherland was warmly applauded. Fleming failed to kick a goal. Invercargill 3; Marist 0.

! Driving rain helped Invercargill to keep up a strong attack and although the ball was heavy and greasy the backs threw it about at every opportunity. Three times good passing rushes went close to success and after the third attempt Sutherland cut in, but was stopped right on the line. C. George scored in a scramble and C. McKenzie kicked a goal. Invercargill 8; Marist 0. Invercargill scored again when J. Purdue slipped past P. Grace and raced through to the full-back with the whole of the Invercargill backs in support. McKenzie took the pass and scored between the posts. McKenzie converted. Invercargill 13, Marist 0. A brilliant cut-in by P. Grace brought Marist a try. Grace beat McKenzie and kicked over Fleming’s head. Ferris was up with the play and dived on the ball as it went over the line. Grace showed a good turn of speed and was applauded for his part in the try. Baird converted. Invercargill 13, Marist 5. Marist rallied again and attacked with passing movements. Just before halftime Invercargill had a good chance to score, but Tapley failed to gather in the ball when the line was at his mercy. The half-time scores were: Invercargill 13, Marist 5

Marist made all the play for the first 10 minutes of the second half. The forwards won the ball from practically every scrum and the backs made several determined bids to score. Shepherd and Grace cut in and were held up on the line and Newall went close to scoring when he dribbled the ball past three defenders. Scrum after scrum continued to favour Marist and Shepherd (half-back) gave a good display of getting the ball away smartly to his backs. After a long period on defence Invercargill, headed by S. Purdue and Sutton, broke into Marist territory. A

scrum was formed on Maristr’s line, but the ball was heeled by Marist and Grace cleared the line with a splendid kick to the 25 line. Invercargill kept up the pressure, however, and after another break by the forwards J. Purdue got the ball and dummied his way past two defenders before passing to V. L. George, who slid over the line and scored. McKenzie goaled. Invercargill 18, Marist 5. With only five minutes left to play Marist forwards staged a good rally and went close to scoring in the right corner. From a scrum the ball came back to Shepherd, who was caught in possession and the ball was kicked through to Ryan, who drop-kicked a splendid goal from the touchline. Invercargill 18, Marist 9. Invercargill scored another try right on time. Sutherland cut-in in a passing rush but was collared and Mahony snapped up the ball and jinked his way through to the posts for a good try. McKenzie goaled. The final scores were: ' Invercargill 23, Marist 9 Mr D. F. Leckie was referee.