Marist, Bringing Off Surprise Of The Season, Deservedly Beat Kaierau

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 August 1949, Page 6

Marist, Bringing Off Surprise Of The Season, Deservedly Beat Kaierau

Marist brought off the surprise of the season when they defeated Kaierau by 8 points to 6 On the day’s play the greens deserved their win. Their forwards played well and held their own with the highly regarded Kaierau pack. The game itself was not a good exhibition of football. There was little constructive play and lack of cohesion in the backs.

The Marist pack was a vigorous one and never let up throughout the match. H. O’Leary, D. O’Leary and Crowley were prominent forwards. The O’Leary brothers in particular kept on the ball all the time. The Marist backline again lacked combination. Most of their movements were carried out individually. Corliss, at centre, made some good runs. Asher was reliable at full-back. Olliver defended soundly and saved his team with good line kicks at the time when the maroons were making efforts to equalise. The display given by Kaierau was their worst of the season. It was not their trlue form. However, they have only themselves to blame for their loss. Their two speedy wingers were neglected for the greater part of the game. Dunbar was given two runs, and he scored both times. The maroon forwards were but a shadow of the pack that subdued Pirates the previous week. Ward was the only forward up to form. The backline had no combination and there was too much kicking. Altogether it was not Kaierau’s day. The teams were:—

Marist: D. Asher; J. Heagney, B. Corliss, M. Russell; P. Barron. T. Duggan; J. Olliver; N. Crowley, H. O’Leary, M. Pettis, B. O’Leary, D. O’Leary; F. Huwyler, L. Managh, R. McPhun. M. Daley replaced D. O’Leary five minutes before full time. Kaierau: W. Dawsqn; K. Dunbar, W. Williams, B. Bason; I. Whale, G. Luoni; J. Price; J. McKnight; G. Gerrie, R. Ward, E. Bellis, L. Hill; F. Wanahi, R. Crombie D. Bates. Referee: Mr. N. Christiansen.

Maris® had the better of the early stages and kept Kaierau in their own 25. The maroons cleared with a typical loose forward rush to take play

into the Marist territory. Kaierau were the first to score. From a back movement which started outside the 25, the ball reached Williams, who cut through the defence and passed to Dunbar, for the latter to score near the corner. The kick missed.—Kaierau 3, Marist 0. Kaierau maintained the territorial advantage until the end of the spell. The forwards were gaining a good supply of the ball, but the backs could do little right. Barron, the Marist five-eighth, saved a possible Kaierau try just before the end of the first half.

The greens attacked strongly on resumption. Corliss made a good solo run to the'Kaierau 25, but he was well tackled by Hill. Whale relieved with a 50-yard run down the sideline, and it appeared possible that he would score. However, he elected to centre kick and Olliver saved when he beat Hill to the force down.

Marist equalised when Corliss kicked a penalty from the 25, after the maroons had infringed in a scrum. Marist kept on top and both Corliss rnd Asher made good runs. The green forwards took play to near the Kaierau goal line and from a ruck the.ball was kicked over the fine. Crowley beat the defence in the race for the ball to score 10 yards from the corner. Corliss converted with a good kick.—Marist 8, Kaierau 5. Twenty minutes of play were left. The maroon forwards infused more vigour into their play and gave the backs a good supply of the ball. However, the backs kicked too much and often lost possession at a time when they needed it. Kaierau kept on attack and were rewarded with a try six minutes before full time. From a scrum inside the Marist 25, Kaierau hooked. The ball came to Luoni, who made good ground before he transferred to Dunbar. The winger ran hard for the line and scored in the corner. Gerrie missed the kick, and though he was given a free charge, he was again unsuccessful.—Marist 8. Kaierau 6.

The maroons tried to pull the game out of the fire, but the Marist defence held.