MARIST TAKES THE LEAD AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 10

MARIST TAKES THE LEAD AGAIN

LEAGUE RUGBY PREMIERSHIP GAMES

GREAT MATCHES SPOILT AT CARLAW PARK

THE estimated attendance at Carlaw Park on Saturday was 11,000, which is second only to the 14,000 crowd at the New Zealand-Auckland match at the start of the season. In the main attraction, Marist defeated Devonport by the unexpectedly large margin of 16 points to 6, and on the adjoining area, Richmond defeated City by 16 points to 11.

It was an afternoon of sensational incident. After a thrilling first spell, in which Marist established a commanding lead, the game in the second half degenerated into a gruelling forward tussle. The play at times went perilously close to getting completely out of hand, and after a general warning to the two teams, O’Brien, the Shore captain, was sent off the field. At the end of the game, there was a demonstration against the referee, Mr. H. Taylor, who was deputising for Mr. W. Ripley, the latter having been prevented from taking the match owing to illness. THE CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE MARIST TWO POINTS AHEAD By defeating Devonport on Saturday, Marist is two points in the lead in the Senior A competition. The postponement of the Newton-Ponsonby match leaves the two teams with another match to play to catch up with the rest of the teams, while the weekly bye further complicates matters for those who set store on the weekly table as a means to arriving at the relative strength of the different teams. The positions of the teams to date are as follow:

‘WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN’ STAR ATTRACTION THAT WASN’T The main area at Carlaw Park was in very fair order, considering the amount of rain that* had’ fallen, when the big game between Marist and Devonport commenced. In patches, however, the turf was very sloppy, particularly in mid-field, where the drains burst last season. Play started off at a rattling pace, Ruby and Beattie leading the Blacks in fast, loose rushes on the far side of the ground. The first quarter of an hour’s play saw the Devonport men in complete ascendancy. A finely-

judged cross-kick by Alf Scott, with Beattie filling the try-getting role in brilliant style, gave Shore its first score, and within a minute or two L. Scott had scored another, as a result of a great run on the blind side by Webb. Neither try was converted, leaving Devonport six points up. Then Marist cut loose. Great forward play started Graham on the first of his try-getting missions, the exchampion boxer diving over for his first score with only Perry on hand to attempt the impossible task of stopping half a dozen emerald-jerseyed attackers. Gregory added two more points. In the flurry of flying feet, Graham again broke clear, with the crimsoncrested Keenan on his heels. A long ground rush, with the ball cleverly propelled to the Shore line in a succession of grubber kicks, found the Devonport defence in complete chaos, and Graham shot over for his second try. No goal. BRILLIANT WORK Playing with superb dash, the Marist thirteen crashed into the fray afresh. Brisbane, handling the greasy ball with Cinquevallian touch, set his backs alight. King, Brisbane, Sweeney, Noble, O’Brien and Johnson handling in that order in a magnificent exhibition of passing, which ended in Jonson racing over in the top corner amidst prolonged cheering. Gregory roused the fans to fresh plaudits by landing a beautiful goal. At halftime Marist led by 13 points to 6. Any hopes of an equally spectacular second spell were rudely shattered. Both sides settled down to a dour forward struggle, in which tempers rapidly got on edge. At one stage, the referee was observed to be in close colloquoy with Webb, the Shore half, and a little later Beattie (Shore) and Johnson (Marist) got to grips, with the result that the game was stopped, the teams called together, and a general warning issued. GRAHAM'S “HAT TRICK” For a brief space, the game returned to more conventional channels, Graham diverting the fans from their breezy vocal admonitions to the referee, by scoring his third try. His “hat trick” was loudly cheered. Possibly, the excitement was too much for Gregory, who missed the easiest kick he had all day. Marist, 10 up. Then the fireworks started again. There was a yell from the crowd when a Devonport man lashed out at a nearby opponent, and pandemonimu followed when a forward melee broke up, and O’Brien (Devonport) was seen to be making his way off the* field at the referee's behest. His namesake in the Marist thirteen left his place to shake hands with the departing player, while Kirwan appeared to be appealing to the man with the whistle to allow O’Brien to stay on the field. There was no recall, however, and when O’Brien reached the main stand there was a noticeable demonstration in his favour. The closing stages of the game were fought out to a finish without any further “incidents.” Devonport went within an ace of scoring on one occasion, Cleaver, who had been pla.ying splendidly, making a final effort to get Rule over; but the speedy Shore forward came down just outside the line, and the game ended without further score. A DIFFICULT GAME Taken by and large, it was a great game spoilt by the bickerings and turbulent happenings of the second spell.

Obviously, the ordering off of O’Brien did not meet with the united approval of the fans, especially as O'Brien has the reputation of playing hard, but not “dirty,” football. Mr. Taylor had a difficult game to control, but quite a number of his decisions were by no means popular with the crowd, which had every reason to feel disappointed at the inglorious fiasco which developed in the second session of the game. Graham, the nuggety Marist forward, was the hero of the day. He was well supported in the Green pack by Keenan and Johnson. Brisbane was outstanding in the rearguard. He is playing at the top of his form at present. With the exception of an occasional mistake, excusable under the conditions ruling, Gregory showed that he has lost none of his ability at fullback. King, on the flank, was very solid. The Devonport forwards were rather off-colour. “Snowy” Dixon was missed in the open-field forays of the transharbour men, although Douglas deputised for him in sterling fashion. He was one of the best forwards on the ground. Rule showed pace and dash in the loose. Ruby, who constitutes a danger zone in himself when scoring opportunities are about, might display a bit more energy in the close stuff, with advantage to his side, if not to himself. Cleaver, at five-eighth, played one of his best games this season, and Webb, as usual, was always in the thick of the battle. Seagar, too, showed up prominently, and A. Scott at centre was very solid. RICHMOND DEFEATS CITY IN MUD AND SLUSH Had the playing conditions been better on Carlaw Park No. ,2 on Saturday afternoon, when Richmond defeated City by 16—11, the game in all probability would have been fast and open. The ground was like a bog. and it was difficult for the rearguard on either side to plod through mud and slush and handle a greasy ball. However the back play was excellent, considering the circumstances. Until nearing half-time when Brown, Davis and Lennie had all managed to score from the ruck, making the score 11 —0 in favour of Richmond, City was pressed hard, and, forced to play a defensive game. Occasionally a fine solo run would take City up the field, but the side was soon driven back, and most of the time it was hard at it keeping the opposing forwards at bay. Wetherill here proved himself a great asset to his team. His good line kicking was a constant menace to the attackers. Then suddenly the tables turned, and for the first time in the game City was seen on the attack. Although the ball was awkward and greasy to handle, the City backs soon formed a dangerous passing rush, which ended in the finest score of the game. From a scrum near the line Ghent, playing half, secured, and delivered out to the backs. Lewis, Wetherill, Perry and Wade all took part in this swift bout, and Wade scored in the corner. Dazzled by this somewhat erratic performance on the part of City, Richmond became aggressive, and charging furiously succeeded in taking play down the field. Carrol, always on the ball, was a shining light in this attack, which came to an end when Taylor, taking a penalty, was successful at goal, making the half-time score: Richmond 13, City 3. It was in the second half that City gained its points. However, for the first ten minutes after the spell, Richmond battled hard at the attack. The backs made various attempts to cross the line, but could not keep possession, and on one occasion when the ball slipped from their hands it rolled over the line and Swift managed to race up and force. From now on City seemed to get the ball from the scrum more often, and, with this advantage, the backs soon assisted in forming another surprise attack, and from this position Ghent, who played well throughout, scored. Attacks on the part of the City team were expected now, and were no longer looked upon as a surprise. Within a few minutes City was pressing hard, and a City player, picking up from the loose, dived for the line. But as he fell and was about to hit the ground, a Richmond player jumped in and lodged himself between him and the ball. Then the spectators could see no more, for members of both teams charged up and jumped on top of the two after the style of the old game of “sacks on the mill.” The referee, crouching down Ipw, endeavoured to see who the score belonged to, but whether he saw or not is hard to say, but City was given the benefit of the doubt. Shortly after this incident, Wetherill, taking a penalty, was successful at goal. The game ended with a win for Richmond by 16 points to 11. Senior B Grade The game between Kingsland and Parnell at Victoria Park was a good hard fight, but Kingsland was much too good, winning by 23 points to 7. At times Kingsland completely dominated the game. List was the best back on the field, scoring four tries. Carter also scored. Herring was in form and kicked four goals. For Parnell S. Clarke scored the only try and Patton kicked two goals. GAME IN AUSTRALIA N.S.W. BEATS QUEENSLAND By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright SYDNEY, Sunday. In a Rugby League match yesterday, New South Wales beat Queensland by 13 points to 11.—A. and N.Z.

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P. W. L. D. Pts. Ch. Marist .. .. 8 8 2 140 79 12 Devonport . 8 b 3 158 84 10 Ponsonby .. 8 4 1 1 97 65 9 Newton 7 4 2 1 103 99 9 Richmond .. 8 3 4 1 101 95 7 City .. .. 8 2 5 1 97 153 5 Athletic 7 7 61 188 0