Rain Saved Athletic Junior From Defeat?

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 June 1948, Page 2

Rain Saved Athletic Junior From Defeat?

By defeating Marton Old Boys on Saturday by 5 points to 0, Athletic juniors preserved their season’s unbeaten record. However, had not the rain fallen after the first 20 minutes of play, the result might easily have been different. Up to then, Old Boys held a s.ight advantage, but the sharp showers with the consequent greasy ball and slippery underfoot surface were not appreciated, and Old Boys failed to adapt themselves to the new prevailing conditions. On the other hand, Athletic did not look back, and in the final session of play were revelling in the mud and had Old Boys sorely pressed. With L. Thompson in good hooking form, Old Boys’ backs saw plenty of the bad, but the players were prone to retain possession too long and movements broke down. It was a nity as they had numerous scoring opportunities early in the -game. They had a useful sort of wing threequarter in A. Stewart, who alone seemed to manage the wet conditions. His handling, too, was first rate. However, weaknesses in the men inside him limited his opportunities, although he tried to make extra play by coming In as an extra five-eighths ■‘cMsienaliy.

11 One pleasing feature of the play I was the accurate handling by both i ’earns before the ball became like a ! slippery cake of soap. They certainly shewed the seniors a point or two. I In the second sped Athletic dicl fated the run of play. Old Bovs' I backs made the fatal mistake of try- ) Ing to pick up a greasy ball, when • the application ol the boot would have I served a more useful purpose. Denied • possession of the ball, very little was seen of the Athletic rearguard, but , D. Barr, on the wing, made one good gallop for the corner flag, only to ' lose possession at the critical moment. A prominent loose forward for Old Boys was H. Lovelock. Athletic's points were obtained in the first spell, when L. Head scored an easy try from a scrum near the Old Boys’ line. G. Pull added the extra points. BIRTHS SHOW INCREASE IN MARTON VITAL STATISTICS Increases in births and deaths, but , a substantial drop in the number of marriage licences issued compared , with the corresponding period last ’ year, are features of the Marton vital statistics for May released by the Postmaster, Mr. G. E. Mitchell, at the close of business yesterday. There were 12 births last month as against nine in May, 1947, while there 1 were three deaths compared with two '■ last year. The number of marriage t licences issued, however, dropped from six in 1947 to one for May, 1948. There was one Maori birth, the same as for the corresponding period last year. For the five months of this year the figures are: —Births 58 ( 64), deaths 6 (14), marriages 28 (42). “ZAM BUK” SHOWS HOW An amusing diversion to a dour for- | ward struggle between the two even--1 ly matched Ohingaiti and Athletic senior packs at Marton Park on Saturday afternoon was the spectacular I antics performed by one ot the St. John Ambulance men on duty. The ball was kicked into touch and the “zam buk" trotted out to boot the ball back into the field of play. Apparently, however, he had been misinformed about the treacherous underfoot conditions, and without warning his feet slipped from beneath him and, losing his equilibrium, he landed with a thud on the flat of his hack. Recovering his decorum quickly, the mud-plastered ambulance man, uttering some inaudible words, retraced his steps to the railings. “SAVE THE CHILDREN” APPEAL Marton and district residents have now subscribed over £3OO towards the United Nations appeal for children, the latest acknowledgments being:— Previously acknowledged. £2SS Ss 7d: Anon £2, F. J. T. Poppe £2. Mr and Mrs Graham Thoms £5, Mrs G. B. Thoms £5, Mr and Mrs A. H. Dales £5, Mr Collins £3, Tim and Derek Collins 10s, Miss M. Howard £3 3s, “E.F." £5, A Mother 10s, Anon £2, Mr Lumley £2, Anon £2, L. E. Swainson fl, Mr and Mrs Martin £2, “L.A.D.” £2, Mr M. A. Brightwell £2 2s, Mr W. H. Hill £2 2s; total, £304 15s 7d. PERSONAL Mr. E. G. Grylls, Wellington, has taken up his duties in Marton as district health inspector, replacing Mr. J. V. Flowers, who has been transferred to Thames. Miss C. Kitcat, librarian at the Marton Public Library, leaves by air from Whenuapai tomorrow for Honolulu, where she will holiday for five months. Miss C. Hope, Marton, leaves for Auckland today to join the Ruahine for Scotland, where she will visit relatives. She expects to be absent from New Zealand for about 12 months. HOLIDAY GOLF Under the auspices of the Marton Ladies' Golf Club, an open day is being held at the links next Monday (King's Day). In the morning there is to be a stableford bogev match for both men and women, while the afternoon competition is a Canadian mixed foursomes bogey match. Post entries will be accepted and afternoon tea only will be supplied. A small entrance fee is being charged. FOUR BROOKS PLAYING Something of a record must have been achieved on Marton Park on Saturday, when four Rugby players, all with the surname Brooks, appeared in I lie senior match. There have been rare occasions when three players of the same name played in one game—the Kereama brothers for instance—but four is extraordinary. The composition of the front row of the Ohingaiti scrum was made up with A. Brooks, J. Brooks and L. Brooks, while playing in the Athletic pack was another L. Brooks. Incidentally, the Ohingaiti L. Brooks played a grand game, while J. Brooks, the visiting rake, besides giving good service in other departments of the game, revealed himself a hooker of merit when he was able to out-hook the redoublable J. Elliott (Athletic). AMBULANCE NOTES (By "Splints") Eight members of the Marton Ambulance Division have now been issued with new greatcoats, and already they have proved their worth for public duty. Club nights are still proving very popular and some keen finishes are being witnessed in the various games. It is intended to start a tourniquoit matcli this coming week, and also I he ladies' table tennis championships. We

remind members that they should endeavour to bring a friend to these evenings. Wi wish to acknowledge a ticket from the Old Boys’ Football Club fci their dance on Saturday night. There will be no parades next Monday, which is King' Day. This applies to all divisions. BAND CONTEST AT SLARTON The annual provincial band contest conducted by the Manawatu and District Brass Bands Association will be I held in Marton this year, probably on Sunday, October 17. The contest was given to Marton at a meeting ot association delegates in Pa.merston North on Sunday. At last year s contest, held in Palmerston North, at which Marton Municipal Band won the C grade selection, eight bands competed.