FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1121, 5 October 1911, Page 11

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND RUGBY CUP FINAL. CITY DEFEAT MARIST BROS. A CLOSE CONTEST. Favoured with ideal weather for the cup final, between City and Marist Bros., the Auckland Rugby Union had the pleasure of witnessing a record attendance at Alexandra Park on Saturday, when the curtain was rung down on the 1911 football season. Notwithstanding the fact that the City players were fully expected to emerge from the contest victorious —while a drawn game would still have left them with the championship in their possession—the greatest enthusiasm was displayed in the match from start to finish, and when the Cityites left the field triumphantly with the scores six

THE INVASION OF AUSTRALIA BY THE FOUR GREAT COLOURED PUGILISTS : JOHNSON, LANGFORD, JEANNETTE AND McVEA.

points to three in their favour, everybody on the ground was convinced that there was a very slight difference in the relative merits of the two teams. Marist Bros, played with commendable dash, and for the greater part of the game they had City hard pressed, but their efforts were not of the finished order, which characterised those of the City men. The Marist Bros- forwards exerted themselves to a praiseworthy degree, but their backs failed to give them the support which they reasonably expected. The wearers of the light and dark 'blue put no end of vim into their attacking movements, and it was due solely to the faulty tactics of their rear division that they suffered defeat. Honours in the forwards were undoubtedly due to the Marist Bros., for they exhibited far more dash than the Cityites, and but for the lack of assistance from their rearguard, victory would probably have been theirs. The game was too keenly contested at times, roughness being allowed to creep in, and in this respect the winning side were frequently offen-

ders, though the Marist Bros, had the misfortune to lose the services of McDevitt, one of their best forwards, who was ordered off for striking a player in the third quarter. Strange to say, Mr C. W. Oram, who had control of the game, never found occassion to make an example of any of the offenders up to the time he ordered McDevitt off, while the foul tactics employed by several of the forwards were so glaring that the onlookers could not fail to notice them, and frequently shouted their disapproval. Whatever chance Marist Bros, had of winning the match—and no one can deny that they had excellent prospects—was extinguished when in the third quarter they were left with fourteen men to finish the game, and when McDevitt was observed returning to the pavilion, supporters of the Marist Bros.’ team, realising that their case was a hopeless one, threw themselves back in their seats with an air of disgust. Without in any way wishing to uphod rough play, exception must be taken at ordering a man off under the circumstances of Saturday’s

match, as the vacancy m the Marist Bros, team probably cost them the game, and robbed the remainder of the fixture of a large amount of interest. If only in fairness to those who had paid for admission in the anticipation of seeing an exciting cup final, some provision should have been made to avoid one side’s prospects ’being shattered so completely and interest reduced in so regrettable a manner; for instance, it would have been far better to have allowed another man to come on in McDevitt s place, seeing that the championship was at stake. Had McDevitt been the sole offender in Saturday’s match the position would have been far different, but as there were fully half-a-dozen instances of brutal play, the Marist Bros- forward may well consider himself harshly dealt with. The rough element has been prevalent in quite a number of games played at Alexandra Park during the past season and will certainly have to be eliminated at all costs, but when one recollects the questionable tactics and unnecessary roughness that have been tolerated Saturday after Saturday in games played at Epsom, it seems unfortunate that a player should be ordered off. in. the last match of the season, particularly when the A.R.U. championship depended upon the issue. Apart from the fact that roughness was one. of the pronounced features of Saturday’s- match, there -were many bright incidents in connection with the game, Olson’s try, which won the match for City, being a brilliant piece of work that was loudly applauded by the onlookers. The dare-devil rushes of the Marist Bros, vanguard repeatedly had the excitement of barrackers at high tension, and some very lively attacks ensued within a short distance of City’s line, but it was due more to the slowness of the Marist Bros, backs than the sound defence of the Cityites that the red and blacks’ citadel remained free from invasion. The Marist Bros, hookers did well against the City front rankers, which included that past-master G. Tyler, but their backs did not make use of their opportunities to the same extent as the City rearguard. The Marist Bros- backs were greatly hampered by their half-back, who was painfully slow in getting the leather away from the scrum, the result being the City forwards were down on them in an instant. Some golden opportunities were missed by the Marist Bros, when attacking near the line, owing mainly to the ball travelling so slowly to the threequarter line, the wings generally getting the leather when almost in the arms of the opposing players. The manoeuvres of the City backs were the reverse to this. Olson lost no time in sending the leather on to the five-eighths, and seldom did the City backs fail to take the ball cleanly, while their passing was splendidly judged, and it was only the sound tackling of the Marist Bros. that, prevented several tries being registered by the City menConsidering the strenuous nature of Saturday’s struggle, both teams lasted the game out well, and the last quarter was contested almost as hotly as the first spell. This speaks well for the condition of the players, as the day was warm enough to test the best trained men, and a good many weeks had elapsed since the last series of cup matches were decided, which meant that the majority of the players had not donned a jersey except at night practice for quite a long period. City’s win was very popular with the onlookers, although it was plainly evident that Marist Bros, claimed the greatest number of supporters. It is four years since City won the A.R.U. championship, and since their victory in 1900 they, have annexed the cup on no less than six occasions—a record which they may well feel proud of. HOW THE SCORES WERE OBTAINED. The Marist Bros, had the assistance of a strong sun at their backs in the first quarter, but City were early on the attack, and the Marist

Bros, had an exciting time in their own 25. After successfully defending their goal line, the Marist Bros, were penalised as the result of B. O’Brien getting off-side, and Magee being entrusted with the kick, he landed a good goal for City- The score registered against them spurred the ■Marist Bros, forwards on to greater efforts, and City’s line was continually in dariger, but time after time the wearers of the dark and light blue spoilt excellent chances of scoring, through over anxiousness. They kept up a dangerous attack on City’s line until the bell rang for the quarter, with City leading by three points to nil.

Even with the sun in their eyes the Marist Bros. • continued to have the best of the game, the excellent work accomplished by their forwards keeping the City men hard pressed. Again and again the Marist Bros, appeared to lose certain chances of scoring, merely because of the. raggedness of their attack, and when half-time was sounded they were still pointless, though the play had been all in their favour.

On resumption City livened up considerably, and both teams set a merry pace, the forwards playing particularly hard games. The forwards were more evenly matched in this quarter, the Cityites showing to better advantage than in the first half. City having a penalty kick given against them near the 25ydline, B. O’Brien had a successful shot at goal, and a great roar went up from the Marist Bros, supporters as the ball soared over the crossbar, thus equalising the scores. Just before the quarter ended, the referee ordered McDevitt off the field for striking Bruce on the line-out, and the Marist Bros, were left to finish the match without the services of one of then’ hardest grafting forwards.

It now appeared fairly certain that City would be returned victors, as the loss of McDevitt was too much of a handicap for the Marist Bros, to overcome. City played with renewed vigour in the final quarter, in which honours were with them for the greater part of the spell. Olson securing the ball from a scrum in Marist’s 25, he sent it on to Stewart, and the speedy three-quarter, after making a great dash for the line, returned the leather to Olson, who raced in and scored. R. Magee failed to convert. City 16, Marist Bros. 3. The match was now practically won, but Marist Bros, continued to dispute their uphill battle to the bitter end. Herring and Grace headed rush after rush for the Marist Bros., and once or twice it looked as though the Old Boys would yet pull the match out of the fire, but City’s determined defence was found impenetrable!. Finally the bell rang without any further score, and City left the field as the champion team of Auckland for the 1911 season. COMMENT ON THE PLAYERS. “Sam” Magee, the City wing forward, played a dashing game, and was a thorn in the side of the opposing backs. Tyler was conspicuous from start to finish, and was one of the hardest grafters among the City pack. Bruce gave a fine display, and was generally to be found at the head of the majority of the rushes organised by the Cityites. Olson, at half-back, fully justified his inclusion in the City rearguard. He is an ex-Grammar School boy, and is well versed in all the points essential for a first-class half-back. He got rid of the ball smartly, giving his fellow backs plenty of opportunities, while his defence even under the most trying circumstances was thoroughly sound- Barclay was a great success at five-eighths, his handling of the ball in the passing runs being the subject of much favourable comment among the onlookers. Webb is a consistent little player, and on Saturday he played right up to his customary form, working in splendidly with the other City backs. R. Magee, at centre, was very solid on the defence. Stewart was the pick of the threequarter line, and though he did not have a great deal of work to do,

whatever came his way he accomplished in smart fashion. Fitzgerald, at full-back, was not up to his usual form, but little fault could be found with his display. Harris', the Marist Bros, winger, got through a great amount of graft in a highly serviceable manner, and deserves much praise for his effortsHerring, though paid undue attention by several of the Cityites, played an unflinching game, taking a hand in most of the splendid onslaughts in which the Marist Bros, forwards figured so prominently. Dennehey gave his best display of the season, and after Saturday’s showing there can be little doubt he is one of the crack forwards in Auckland. He simply revelled in the hard task Marists had before them, and towards the end of the game was playing with greater vigour than ever. P. Sheehan, at half-back, was a big disappointment, and was undoubtedly out of his position. With a player of Olson’s calibre behind the pack the Marist Bros, backs would certainly have given a better taste of their quality. Curran, at five-eighths, showed up well, particularly towards the end of the game, and proved himself a good all-round back. B. O’Brien made one or two mistakes, which, however, he fully compensated for by his brilliant play. White, on the wing three-quarter, was patchy, and was very weak on the attack on several occasions. J. O’Brien gave a convincing display at full-back, saving his side with remarkable coolness and first-rate judgment.