NO RESPITE FOR MARIST –

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 115, 5 August 1927, Page 11

NO RESPITE FOR MARIST -

LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP BATTLE NEWTON TO CHALLENGE LEADERS TO-MORROW will determine whether Marist is to remain at the head of the League premiership table or to drop back into the ruck. Beaten by Ponsonby last week the * Tykes will face another formidable challenge this weekend, when Newton, who are running neck and neck with the Ponies, will tackle the championship leaders.

VJ’KWTOX has shown some good form Jel this season and as this team has stuck to practically the same side all through, it is bound to be hard to dispose of. When these two teams met in the first round, Marist had all the best of the game and won well, but if rumour is correct, Marist is going to start its old game, and after last Saturday is talking of altering the team. This has for years past been a fault of the Marist Club. and one could never expect to see the same team take the field two Saturdays together. “SWAPPING HORSES . . The team that Marist has been playing lately has been good enough to beat all the teams it has met for six Saturdays on end, but as soon as it

is defeated there is talk of a change. The whole strength of the matter was, Marist was getting too confident and perhaps the reverse it met last Saturday may do the team good. There is no doubt the Tykes would have had to be at their best last Saturday to have beaten Ponsonby, which, on the day, played fine football and it is doubtful if there is a team in New Zealand which could have defeated the western suburb thirteen on the day. Both teams are in a good position on the championship ladder and neither can afford to lose a match at this stage, so the game will be contested right to the whistle. On past performances Newton should win, as it has 'had the best of the argument with Ponsonby this season, having drawn the first game and beaten the “ponies” on their merits the last time they met, with the conditions practically the same as they were last Saturday. Herewini, who was missing from the Newton team last Saturday, was away attending a tangi. but will be seen

out in his usual position this week. This will be about the only alteration Newton is likely to have from last Saturday’s team. Marist is evidently trying an experiment in its team for to-morrow, judging by the alterations made. Sweeney, who usually plays half, will go out to wing threequarter, his place behind the scrum being filled by Cronin. King will be tried at centre, and Kirwin, who usually plays there, will go up into second five-eighth position, Brisbane playing first, filling Crewther’s place, who was injured last Saturday. The pack will also be re-sliuffled. O’Brien, who usually plays in the back row, will replace Graham, who will play in the second row and Keenan will be the breakaway. The alteration in the back division has had to be made owing to Crewther, who usually plays first five-eighth, being injured. PONSONBY V. ATHLETIC The other game on Carlaw Park, between Athletic and Ponsonby, should not cause the latter very much uneasiness, as Athletic has not won a match this season, and after the great game the Ponies put up last Saturday it is only a question of how many will they win by. There is one satisfaction that it will at least be a fast, open game. DEVONPORT AND RICHMOND Richmond will journey across the water on Saturday to try conclusions on the Shore ground with the home team. The last time these teams met on Carlaw park was on June 3. It was a fast, open game, full of thrills, and given a fine day on Saturday a good game is assured. Shore has still got a good chance in the competition and will certainly take no risks with the Richmond thirteen. “Snowy” Dixon will not be able to play this week, but will most likely be seen out the following week, but Shore is fortunate in having a fine junior team to fall back on. Richmond missed the assistance of its popular skipper. J. Parkes, last Saturday, but Bass, from the forwards, filled the position well and is a handy man who can be played in any position on the field. The Shore team is always hard to beat on its own ground and should be in front at the finish, but will not have things all its own way, as Richmond is a young team and the players are always fit and well.