VICTORY COMPLETES THE TREBLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20031, 1 September 1939, Page 10

VICTORY COMPLETES THE TREBLE

JUNIOR FINAL

MARIST THE WINNERS THOMSON IN TOP FORM PROMISING FULG- BACK OLD BOYS’ GREAT FIGHT . \ By “Emergency” By winning Die junior grade championship' last Saturday ithe Marist team gave their club a notable treble, Marists ' already having . won the senior, and third grade titles l'or 1939; In addition, Marist seniors won the Brennan Gup at the Spillane. tournament In Wanganui at Easter. • final game was a real thriller and was' perhaps the best open match in the grade this season. The ,winners were on top most of .the time, but Old Boys made some swift counter-thrusts, these being checked' by resolute tackling on the part' of Marists. The losers were never allowed to become settled. A noticeable feature of the game was that when: Marists were awarded penalties in their own defensive area or out of striking distance of the posts they wasted little time,, but kicked as soon as they could, often before Old Boys had time to spread out and turn, around. Old Boys fought hard but unavaitingly against a team• which,-on the day, had the best of the play. Marist were certainly keyed up to big things in ithe second'half, during which they gave a brilliant exhibition of open Rugby. i Cleary’s Brilliance

Outstanding for the winners was their tall forward, Cleary, a young player who has a bright future in Rugby. Tall and well developed, he was outstanding in the blue pack and was the leader in all the forward raids. Cleary is fast and active and has a sound knowledge of the game. Robbie Thomson played his best game of the season and was always prominent. He lost his tendency to hold on too long and was a valuable member of the winning pack. Kevin Hall, out of commission for several games earlier in the season through injuries, worked well and used his weight to good advantage in the rucks. Norman Malcon played a hard, bustling game and was always on the ball. - *

The absence of F. Lee from l the blue back-line necessitated a rearrangement of the rearguard, Ray Thomson coming up from full-back to the five-eighth line and Hepburn, a third grade player, being fielded as ;he last line of defence. The experiment, although one of necessity, was a great success, Hepburn being a capable full-back. He had a busy afternoon, but showed that he is a fine full-back, more especially in view of the fact that he has been playing Rugby only for two seasons. Short and .thick-set, he kicked well and tackled solidly, keeping his line intact all day. Thomson Wins Game

Thomson, at five-eighth, can be said to have won the game for his side. He was too tricky for the opposing backs and broke through the defence in magnificent style when he sent the

ball out to Quinn for the latter to score n try. On this occasion, Thomson cut in well, fooling the white defence, which apparently expected him to get the ball out to his wings at once. Holding on just long enough to draw' Ithe defence, he shot the ball away and it travelled 1 out to Quinn, the latter doing the rest. When he potted his field: goal Thomson was very cool and set himself well for the kic-ic, about which he made, no mistake.

Stan Lee and Friar were consistently solid, the former getting the ball away from the base of the scrum in good Style. Friar is a good, strong runner and worked well in this game, his sudden mid-field bursts being hard 1 to check.

For the losing forwards, Neill Summersby was his usual bustling self, but could not .foot it with the aggressive blue forwards. Summerstoy plays good, hard football, but still has a fair way to go before he can be thought to be worth a game in the seniors. Hutchen aliways has impressed “Emergency” with his forward potentialities and on this occasion he played up to the high standard he has set himself this season. Young and strongly built, he grafts in good style in the white pack and can do his shave in the loose. Davorcn worked! in good style in a game which called for some hard rucking, while Eastwood played his customary dashing game. Carroll Works Ills Backs

In I‘ihe rearguard, the whites suffered from the raiding propensities of the blue forwards and seldom cot really going. When they did they were usually checked by the hard tackling of the winners. Carroll played a nice game and gave his backs plenty of chances, seldom electto carry the ball himself, but his efforts did not bring about the reward they justly deserved. Until he went off injured Harry Sebire played well, but he took some very hard knocks from the fiery blue

forwards. There is no doubt that Sebire' can “take it,” despite his derac ors, but he certainly was well •nd truily knocked out When he went off

The lightly built Falconer played i good game and showed plenty of pace. This boy always plays impressive footbail, but is very unfortunate ini having a slight build. With a bit of weight Falconer would not disgrace the senior team. Right throughout the season the Marist pack have lacked that necessary bit of “devil” in their play. The entry of Cleary to the team supplied this and it was this bit of extra fire Which took away from the /whites the covered championship which they have held for the past two years.

A Splendid Referee

A word of praise is due to the referee, Mr. Joe Lockwood. The official was as fit as any of the players and' the game never got away from him. That the game was fast and open is as much due to this ■ fine referee as to the players themselves. This referee is always a pleasure to vatch and he 'has the confidence of the players at all times. His decisions are given with marked surety and he is perhaps the most promising official in the union. The final points in the junior grade Championship series are as

Junior players are still taking part in the Auto Parits Cup series, the points for which arc as follows: —

follows: — P. W. L. Points Ch. D. for ag. pts. Marist 12 10 2 0 159 48 20 Old. Boys B 12 9 3 2 141 48 18 Celtic 11 7 3 1 114 52 15 H.S.O.B. .. 10 2 5 2 108 96 8 Old Boys A 10 3 6 1 G5 142 7 High School 10 3 7 0 102 15G 6 Rovers .. 6 0 6 0 17 160 0

Celtic P. 3 W. 3 B. 0 D. 0 Points for ag. 33 0 Ch. pts. G Old Boys B 3 2 1 0 30 14 4 H.S.O.B. 4 2 2 0 51 38 4 Marist 3 2 1 0 G4 24 4 Old 1 Boys A 3 1 2 0 12 33 2 High School 2 0 2 0 8 68 0 Rovers 3 0 3 0 12 44 0 '