CHAMPIONS’ DOWNFALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20181, 25 June 1928, Page 4

CHAMPIONS’ DOWNFALL

MARIST KNOW DEFEAT .Pirates and Old Boys Prove Winners.

in Spriggens Park Matches

As a result of Saturday’s Rugby fixtures the Wanganui Metropolitan Sub-Union’s Senior Cup competition bears a more open appearance, for Pirates defeated the hitherto unbeaten Marist team in . the early match, reducing the leaders* margin to three points. In the second game on Spriggens Park, before a crowd that numbered about 2000, Old Boys soundly defeated County, while at Ratana a fairly weak Kaierau team managed to score over the Ratana fifteen by a small margin.

A POPULAR VICTORY

PIRATE’S CONVINCING WIN LAST MINUTE RALLY BY MARISTS Fielding a team which shaped well at practically all stages of play and which held the upper hand until within the last few minutes of the game. Pirates thoroughly deserved the victory they gained on Saturday at the expense of Marists, the hitherto unbeaten champions in the senior grade. If anything, the blacks should have won by a greater margin, for not only did they hold the greens in check until the dying stages of play, but they left the held with their line uncrossed, a tribute to a sound defence.

As a team, pirates played their best game this season. The scrumming was more effective, end the forwards were quick in the loose and gave the green backs no peace. In the blacks their was evidence of that sting which is the telling factor in attack. That, coupled with clean handling, especially when raking high kicks on the full, gave Pirates a distinct advantage. Marists were without the services of E. Fromont and Rankin in the forward®, but the absence of these two was not wholly responsible for that apparent lack of life in the team as a whole. The greens were not the side of the fortnight before. They lacked the dash and appeared stale until the close of the game when a final rally gave a glimpse of their form in earlier games. They were- lucky to gain the points they did. Pirates kicked off end immediately assumed the offensive following an exchange of high kicks. J. Duncan sent his backs away, Lowe and Wakeling handling. The passing was slow, however, and although Lowe beat his man, Wakeling was blocked. Quick to rally, the black forwards, led by Anderson, J.nnis, Tasker and Monigatti. surged at the green defence, effectively preventing R. Coxon from taking a rolling ball. The Marist goal loomed ahead and the Pirate attack swept on unchecked, the ball eventually shooting out too far and crossing the 44 dead"’ ’ line. At the Corner Flag Pirates held the upper hand and Marist remained stubbornly defending against a black pack imbued with rare dash. M. Coxon fielded the ball in midfield and punted for touch with not sufficient force behind the kick, thus enabling Lowe to field cleanly, run until challenged end then show good judgment in cross-kicking to the opposite sending James off in an inspiring run after he had taken the ball high in lhe air when at top speed. The black winger transferred to Wakeling when challenged. Marists were quick to rally to the danger point, however, and three men blocked the Pirate attack and forced Wakeling into touch near the corner flag.

Boraman failed to take a high kick on the full and brought trouble to the greens as Monigatti, Anderson and Co. surged round him and smothered his attempt to clear, a scrum resulting. Out from the tight the Marist forwards came away with something of their expected dash, led by Kruse, who was playing his first game this season. The green attack carried all before it until it reached A. Duncan who just managed to find touch at a critical moment. M. Coxon got a slow pass away from the line-out and Vangioni w'ent down with two black defenders on him, play hovering for a moment just outside the black goal. Heald and Anderson came through the ruck with the ball at toe, leading the black van on the attack once again, but Vangioni stopped them with a neat kick to touch. The Blacks Press Monigatti headed the blacks as they swept forward towards the greens’ last line. Puti stopped the rush and crosskicked, McMillan retrieving a bouncing ball. After a run he let Williams off, a cheer from black supporters rising as the winger crossed the goal line. The Marist defence was sound, however, and before he could ground the ball he was tackled and forced into touch-in-goai. Marist emotions were once more calm. Boraman retired shortly after and F. Crotty went as as half-back. Narbey retiring to the full-back position. Marists were still on the defence and up to this stage had rarely looked dangerous. J. Duncan opened a black rearguard movement, transferring to Lowe. to Wakeling, who punted high. Puti took the ball well on the full and without running up punted for touch, the kick just falling short. The. next instant McMillan was racing down field with Williams in his wake. Challenged, the Pirate centre gave his wing possession and Puti held both Williams and the ball in a loving embrace. It was something of a ludicrous situation. Two players with their arms interlocked and McMillan beseeching Williams to let him have the ball. A moment only and the defence rallied, forcing the attack into touch. Pirates scored first and the effort

served as a fitting tribute to the value of the centering kick when a winger finds his pathway blocked. Williams took a clearing kick by Narbey on the full and with judgment cross-punted to Wakeling on the other side of the field.

Wakeling drew two men and passed to Head. The latter fended off a tackler and passed back to Wakeling, who had raced round outside him, the black five-eighths topping off a neat movement with a try. James’ kicked failed.— Pirates 3, Marists 0.

Kruse and McLean pressed the Pirate defence, Wakeling kicking from his twenty-five into Narbey’s arms. The green centre raced up to pave the way for a dangerous Marist attack, passing to R. Coxon, to Murray. The Pirate defence held firmly, though, and a promising movement came to naught. Half-time sounded with the score unaltered, Pirates having had easily the better of the play.

Marists resumed with M. Coxon at full-back and Narbey in his original place at centre. The greens immediately attacked. Murray was prominent in a dash down touch and punted to elude the defence, but there was too much force in his boot and the ball ended over the 4 4 dead ’ ’ line.

Pirates came back at the attack again and had M. Coxon in trouble. A scrum got down near the green line and the Pirate hookers gave Duncan possession, to Lowe, to Wakeling, to McMillan. but the centre knocked on. From the* resultant scrum Duncan again sent his backs away, passing to Wakeling, to James, who scored as the result of a determined dive. Head added the major points.—Pirates 8, Marists 0. Marists Show More Vim An eight-point margin against them inspired the greens to greater effort. Kruse, Nicholson and L. Fromont led their van with McLean and V. Crotty in support. Play hung tight on Pirate’s side of half-way. The green pack held together well and forced the defenders still further back until Pirates were penalised and Vangioni goaled.—Marist 3, Pirates 8. The greens remained on the offensive, meeting stubborn black defence. McLean broke clear with the ball at toe but was stopped. Again the blacks infringed.

McLean placed the ball care fully two yards inside half-way. A hush hung over the crowd as he stepped back. He kicked and pandemonium reigned as the ball cleared the bar. It was a great effort. Marists fl, Pirates 8.

F. Crotty sent the green backs off in a promising rush, R. Coxon and Vangioni handling. In trying to elude the defence the Marist five-eighths was collared hard and was carried off injured. Chainey went on as wing-threequarter, Puti taking the centre position and Narbey moving in one. Narbey kicked high after taking a clearing kick on the full and when following up just failed to gather in a rolling ball when an unprotected goal loomed ahead. Pirates came back in more determined fashion. Monigatti, after participating in a passing rush, followed up a high kick, regained possession an.l appeared to score but in reality kocked on within a foot of the goal. The Greens Dangerous The dying stages of play saw lhe greens using their fitness in valiant attempts to pull the game out of the fire.. Crotty passed to R. Coxon, to Chainey, who was collared near the corner flag. Try as they might, however, the champions could not pierce a stubborn Pirate defence, the game ending with the blacks popular winners by two points after having had the better of the play except in the last five minutes. The final scores were: PIRATES 8 MARIST 6 Mr J. S. King was referee.

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BY FOURTEEN POINTS

COUNTY’S CHALLENGE ANSWERED OLD BOY’S LINE INTACT Old Boys effectively replied to County ’s challenge by winning on Saturday to the tune of 14 points to nil. The blues still had the memory of narrow defeat at County’s hands in the first round and took the field determined to make amends. They did so in conclusive fashion, though had the County kicking been of higher order the final score would have been less one-sided. The blues played good open football while County struggled gamely up in front. The reds were without the services of four of their usual players, notably Wilson and Raukawa, and generally the team lacked the dash displayed in its last match on the main ground. The game was noticeable for the number of attempts to drop field goals. At odd intervals no less than ten such kicks were made and none added to the score. Such is the influence South Africa has upon New Zealand. Play had been in progress but a moment when the blue backs opened an aggressive movement which ended as desired. Blyth sent Ball away in a run which eluded the County inside defence, Carlson accepting the pass nicely to beat his vis-a-vis and transfer to the ever-ready Cox who scored. Carlson improved the try with a good kick.— Old Boys 5, County 0. County Attack Burnett endeavoured to let the red backs away but Phillips was smothered as the blue defenders moved up. County continued aggressively, Connors, Tate and C. Harding being prominent in the van. Calcott, Roddick, Kearns and Murie cleared the attack from blue territory in a sweeping rush. Carlson tried to goal from a penalty but failed.

Again Burnett opened up the County play, Phillips and Chapman handling. The last-named punted and the ball found touch nicely in Old Boys* twenty-five. Joseph marked within distance and attempted to find the bar with a drop-kick, the ball falling short. J. Stewart led the County van in an attack, supported by L. Stewart, Connors, and D. Higgie, but a sound blue defender in Fulton could not be passed, a long kick sending the attackers back to over half-way.

The County forwards were not held for long and they came away again in a dangerous rush, play sweeping close to Old Boys’ line. Burnett got a chance to open a good attack but his pass sent the ball rolling along the ground and

Chapman was unable to gather it in cleanly. Burnett, Phillips and Chapman handled again, the ball being cross-kicked to Joseph. The winger made a dash only to be effectively stopped.

From a line-out Mcßae and Roddick led the blue van. From tight play near the red twenty-live Murie got the ball out to Cox, who appeared to be off-side but the game went on and the blue rover crossed to score. Carlson ’s kick failed and the half-time scores were: Old Boys 8, County 0. The second session opened with desultory play. Chapman headed an attack with a dribbling rush, Cox and Mcßae retaliating by coming away from a line-out in determined fashion to carry play to Thompson, who cleared in the face of danger. Fulton was hard pressed but was playing a sterling game and grubbered to touch. Old Boys’ van held the opposition in their twenty-five, and Cox kicked high to the centre, the ball bouncing under the posts. Blyth came racing up to gain possession and throw himself underneath a heap of humanity and score a great try. Carlson missed a very easyshot.—Old Boys 11, County 0. The “Ice” Unbroken County strove to cross the blues’ line but try as they might the defence was sure. Fulton did everything right and kept the red attackers at bay time after time. Joseph ran into the centre of the field, made as though to “pot” et goal, changed his mind and fooled three blue defenders and ran deeply into opposition territory. Old Boys were penalised but Thompson failed to goal. Chapman let L. Stewart away and he kicked high, the blues forcing. Blyth got his backs away again, passing to Ball, to Carlson, to L. Udy, who broke clear and set sail for the line. Burnett appeared from nowhere and his tackle left no room for doubt as to the movement’s fate. It “crashed” badly. Old Boys were attacking when County were penalised and Carlson goaled, time being called shortly after without County having “broken the ice,” the final scores being: OLD BOYS 14 COUNTY' 0 Mr J. B. Rowe was referee. PRACTICE REMINDERS QUEEN’S PARK CLUE Members of the Queen’s Park Club are requested to attend practice at the Spriggens Park shed to-night (Monday) at 7.15 p.m.

ASSISTING WAIROA TECHNICAL OLD BOYS’ VISIT HOME SIDE DEFEATED The Wairoa Sub-Union, a live part of the Wanganui Rugby district, made an appeal early in the season to the Wanganui Metropolitan body to assist the progress of the game in their area by encouraging the visit of Wanganui teams to Waitotara and Waverley. Alive to the need for assisting in the direction asked the Metropolitan executive arranged to send the team which had drawn a bye for last Saturday and Jhis team happened to be Technical Boys, who journeyed to Waverley on Saturday to play Wairoa. The magpies dominated the game and scored a decisive victory by 29 points to 9. Winning the toss the visitors’ backs opened aggressively, Reid taking the ball from a kick, and passing to Dyke, back to Reid, who scored and. later converted—Technical Old Boys 5, Wairoa 0. Stiver came at the home defence in a dribbling rush and scored with the defending full-back making a game effort to check his attack. The scorer addjed the major points.—Technical Old Boys 10, Wairoa 0. Canterbury goaled for the home side as the result of the visitors infringing. —Technical Old Boys 10, Wairoa 3. Wairoa set up a series of hot attacks in which Broughton and W. Hakarua were prominent, but the visitors’ defence held. Play fluctuated considerably and centred first at one end of the field, and then at the other. Wairoa gained several free-kicks and on most occasions tried to goal, but the kicking was poor and failed to add to the score.

Tilley increased the visitors’ lead by goaling from a penalty.—Technical Old Boys 13; Wairoa 3. East open play followed. and ended in Malcolm scoring for Wairoa. The kick failed.—Technical Old Boys 13, Wairoa G.

The home side infringed once again and Tilley found the uprights.—Technical Old Boys 16; Wairoa 6. The magpies were penned on defence when a penalty was awarded against them and Malcolm goaled.—Technical Old- Boys IG, Wairoa 9. Territorially Wairoa held the upper hand at this stage. Verry and Hammond handled in a passing rush but the magpies’ <1 -co was too sure.

The visitors rallied and the forwards gave Reid possession and he transferred to Dowsctt who scored. Tilley added two more points with a good kick.— Technical Old Boys 21, Wairoa 9.

The visitors dominated the final stages of play and two fine tries resulted from brilliant passing by the backs, Tilley gaining the first and converting and Reid the last which was not improved, the game ending with the scores TECHNICAL OLD BOYS .... 29 WAIROA 9 THE LEAGUE CODE WHITE HORSE CUP BULLER HOLDS OFF WEST COAST CHALLENGE [ Per Press Association ] WESTPORT, June 23. The Rugby League match between Buller and West Coast for the White Horse Cup was played at Vctoria Square to-day in the presence of a large gathering. Buller (holders) defeated Coast (challengers) by 15—12. Although the ground was heavy from overnight and early morning rain, the players gave an excellent exhibition of the code. Buller led by 10 to 3 at half-time and -had a decided advantage but in the closing stages the visitors were dominating the game and the holders had a hard fight to stall them off. Goodall scored 11 out of the 15 points for Buller with three tries and one try and Longstaff kicking a penalty goal. The try-getters for the Coast were Mason, O’Loughlin, O’Malley and Berrett. INTERNATIONAL MATCH ENGLAND THE WINNERS . AUSTRALIA NICELY BEATEN . [ Australian Press Assn. J Received June 24, 5 5 p.m. BRISBANE, June 24. A record crowd saw the first Rugby League test match. The following were the teams: England.—Sullivan (captain); Askin, Brough, Oliver, Elarby; Rees, Fairclough; Burgess, Bentham, Bowman, Sloman, Horton, Fildes. Australia.—Craig; Aynsley, Gorman (captain), Handy, Freestone; Laws, Edwards; Steinhort, Justice, Yorke, Dempsey, Armbruster, Treewcekc. The match was up to international standard and England, who won, deserved the victory. Their team has improved wonderfully since their match against Queensland. They dazzled the spectators with their three-quarter work, dribbling, intercepting and. hustling forward play. It was expected that the speed of the Australians would tell in the second half but in the gruelling latter part of the game the visitors retained their form and speed, finishing strongly. England built up a substantial lead in the first half and in spite of 8 determined effort on the part of Australia to snatch victory England, successfully held them in check. Faulty kicking on the part of Australia lost points. Scorers for England were: Fairclough, Horton, Elarby and Sullivan and for Australia: Armbruster, Craig, Freestone and Aynsley. The final score was: England 15, | Australia 12. I