Marist-Old Boys Encounter A Hard Forward Tussle

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 May 1949, Page 6

Marist-Old Boys Encounter A Hard Forward Tussle

Displaying improved form and added confidence, Marist, drew with Wanganui and Old Boy*, 3-all, in a game which was notable for rugged and keen forward play. Neither side had its line crossed, the points coming from penalty kicks early in the first half. In the second session of play Old Boys lost the services of M. Hunter, and he was replaced by Bosher. Many times Old Boys tried hard to break through the Marist ranks, but the tackling of the greens was solid at all points. The score is a good indication of the respective merits of the teams on the day’s play. The teams were: — Wanganui Old Boys: E. Eligh, C. Jones, B. Poananga. G. Smith, M. Hunter, K. Welsh. Matanga, Scott, A. Hackshaw, G. Brown, D. Fitchett, T. Wells, D. McGregor. M. Griffin , B. Jones. Marist: N. Wallace, B. Corliss, H. Takarangi, L. Lamont, p. Barron, J. Oliver, K. Williams, L- Managh. Anderson, M. Pettis, B. O'Leary, N. Lash, S. Daley. F. Huwyler, N. Crowley. Referee: Mr. D. McGonigle. Robust forward exchanges marked the opening of play. A high kick was followed up fast by the green forwards and twice E. Bligh, the fullback, was called on to extricate his side from trouble as Pettis, O'Leary and Lash made bids to score. B. Corliss opened the scoring with a well-judged penalty kick, which put Marist in front 3-0. The lead was

short lived, however, for Old Boys backs, in a spirited move, took play to the Marist twenty-five, where an infringement gave Knox Welsh a chance at goal, which he turned to good account and the score was 3-all. Oliverw as showing up in the Marist •backs with good play, as was Hunter in the ranks of Old Boys. Marist continued to be in the ascendency territorially, and Old Boys were meeting the challenge with resolute defence. In one Marist thrust Takarangi was hauled clown inches from the Old Boys' line and Hunter brought muchneeded relief with a kick to the line. The second half had only been a few minutes old when Hunter received a knock and left the field. Bosher came on and went into centre, Poananga going into the five-eighth line with Welsh. The Old Boys’ backs were making openings for the enterprising Ponanga, but Marist were quick to eliminate any dangerous attack developing too far. Two successive breaks by Jones on the left wing had the Marist defence on its toes, but Wallace saved with judicious kicks to the line. Marist won three scrums on end, but the backs could not make headway against the smothering tactics of the men opposing them. I Stoppages were frequent as players on both sides needed the services of ambulance attention for minor knocks. Near the end of the game Takarangi (Marist) left the field and was not replaced. The game ended with the score still 3-all.