LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 21749, 18 June 1934, Page 5

LEAGUE

CHRISTIAN BRDTHERS BEAT CITY GAME KEEN BUT PATCHY On the Oval Christian Brothers again proved themselves superior to r 'ity., but for the most part there seemed little between the teams, the Brothers eventually winning by 8 points to nil. Both sets of backs tried to get going, but the spectacular movements were few and far between. The teams were :

Christian Brothers. —Pollock, Walsh, T. Woodhouse, Reid, L. Schmelz, Reekie, B. O’Connor, M'Namara, J. O'Connor, T. O’Connor, A. Culling, Brosnan, and Aston. City.—Hayden, N. Barbara, Morrison, °H opera ft, W. Schmel/., Nelson, Richards, Findlay, Cinders, Bartholomew, F. Barbara, Brown, and Woodhousc.

The Brothers won the toss, and in the first minute started passing. Pollock gaining ground with a jinky run. Further passing was countered by City’s bustling tactics, the forwards showing up well. Two free kicks to City gave the team relief, Hayden finding the line deep in the Greens’ territory. Reid cleared with a fine run down the wing, and the Green rearguard swung into action for Schmelz to finish off a good movement with a try. B. O’Connor failed to convert. After a period of even play the Christian Brothers’ backs got busy again, Walsh on one occasion coming' up to Teed them. Then Morrison intercepted a pass and was mainly instrumental in carrying play to the Greens’ line. The defence held good, and the Brothers’ forwards worked back to near the halfway line, where some loose exchanges took place. The Brothers, with Reekie prominent, were getting dangerously near the City lino when Hopcraft cleared with a good run and passed to Morrison, who streakei well downfield before sending on to Nelson and Cinders. T. O’Connor started a Green passing rush which gained fifty yards, but a knock-on near the line Held up the attack. At half-time the score was 3-0 in the Greens' favour.

Early in the second spell the Greens launched a series of attacks in City’s twenty-five, but solid defence' held them up, and at length Morrison- intercepted a long pass and gained sixty yards before being well collared by Walsh. In subsequent play Ginders and Nelson were going well near the Green line, but the movement lacked finish and was smothered. Reid, Woodhouse, and Pollock carried play into City’s twenty-five with a good combined rush, and Schmelz, snapping up the leather as it bounced off an opponent, scored behind the posts, for B. O’Connor to convert.

Gindefs and later Morrison and Brown gained ground for City, but the Greens again broke loose, M‘Namara and B. O’Connor staging a bright rush which nearly ended in the latter going over near the corner flag. For a time play became very ragged, City concentrating desperately on defence. At length N. Barbara dashed away down the toiiehline for fully sixty yards, but the ball went out. _ City was attacking when the whistle blew for full-time, with the scores at Christian Brothers S City 0 Mr W. Watts was referee.

WIN FOR PACIFIC

In a good even game Pacific beat Athletic by 10 points to 5, the superiority of the former lying chieflly to a little extra polish in attack. The teams were:— Pacific. —Blackwood (2), Brown, Curran, Burns, Foote, Bryan, Parker, Pearce, MThersou, MTndoe, Smith, Rennie. Goldsmid, Byrne. Athletic.—L. M‘Donald, Aitcheson, A. Gray, M‘Gee, Holt, Barbara, Gardiner. 'Crosado, Stewart, Lawless, Townsend. Healey, Clydesdale. Pacific forced the pace from the kickoff, and play was in Athletic’s territory for some time. Athletic cleared, and play was removed to halfway. M‘Gee then secured, and was responsible for Athletic penetrating deep into. Pacific’s territory, but MMncloe relieved with a strong kick. Barbara cleared nicely from a scrum past halfway, but after M‘Gee and Clydesdale had handled Gray missed the latter’s pass, and a, certain try was lost. Again Pacific cleared, and the next minute Athletic was busy defending .its line. A few minutes later Bryan made a fine opening, and sent J. Blackwood away. He raced down the line, beating several opponents, and scoring at the corner. Foote converted with a splendid kick from the sideline.

The Pacific backs were passing the ball in great style, and a line movement in which Blackwood and Foote figured ended in the former going over for a try between the posts. Foote converted. Just before half-time a rush by Athletic removed play to Pacific’s twenty-five. Pacific 10, Athletic 0. Immediately after the resumption Blackwood dribbled through almost to Athletic’s line, but _M‘Donald kicked out of touch just in time. The Athletic backs were functioning better at this stage, and Gray started a movement inside Pacific’s twenty-five which Gardiner almost topped oil’. Clydesdale then secured, and broke through, but was not supported, and Athletic lost a good chance to score. The game was now being played at a fast pace, and the scene of play quickly shifted from one end to the other. Rennie headed several strong onslaughts for Pacific, but Gray, M‘Gee, and Clydesdale saved Athletic repeatedly. Some fine back movements by Athletic followed, and after the ball bad been handled by L. M'Donald, Clydesdale, Stewart, and Lawless the latter scored a fine try at the corner, M'Donald converting. Athletic had the best of play in the last few minutes. Final scores:— Pacific 10 Athletic 5 Mr A. Eckhoff was referee.

IN OTHER CENTRES

CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 34, Linwood 6. Sydenham 22, Ruru 7. Brighton 4. Hornby 2. AUCKLAND, Devon port 10, Newton 6-. Richmond 26, Ponsonby 10. Marist 22, City 13. Richmond now has a four-points’ lead in the championship.