Will Marist Be Cock of the Walk?

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 141, 5 September 1927, Page 6

Will Marist Be Cock of the Walk?

ROOPE ROOSTER SURPRISE

“POSSESSION IS NINE POINTS OF THE LAW”

MARIST’S DEMONSTRATION

Such a complete reversal of form as Newton showed against Marist on Saturday is not wholly explained by the absence of Dufty and Clark. Driving its way through the club championship games week after week, Newton developed what the psychologists would term a “winning complex.” The team was out to win; every man had got it into his head that it could and would win; and as the saying is, Newton played above itself. On Saturday, the old atmosphere was broken. The game against Marist served as an abrupt transition to every-day football, and in the process Newton fell away to very ordinary levels indeed. That grim do-or-die defence, against which every other club bad hurled itself in vain, sagged hopelessly at times, and the individual stars

the team lacked their wonted lustre. With the solitary exception of Mclntyre, the most that could be said for them was that they sparkled with spasmodic brilliance. Marist. on the other hand, fell out of the psychological puzzle earlier than did the other leading teams. The spell has done the greens a world of good, and on Saturday they reproduced all their old brilliance on attack, at times reaching the high-water mark of successful combination. Galvanised into new life, the Tykes showed the fans a better brand of League football than has been seen at Carlaw Park for many weeks. THE TURN OF THE TIDE Up till half-time, when the score was 14 —10 in Marist’s favour, Newton had shown glimpses of its true form. Wally Somers was sending the ball back with his accustomed regularity, and Mclntyre was as brilliant as ever on attack. Favoured by a generous slice of the luck that was going, the red and white still had a winning chance in the second half. Gradually, however, Newton’s morale wore away to shreds. Whether the champions had adopted the misguided belief that by letting Marist hook the ball they could break up their (the Tykes') back combination, or whether the failure of their hooking was part of the general collapse that had set in, this deponent knoweth not; but the fact

remains that Newton was so badly beaten for the ball in the second half that only a miracle could have stopped that axiom of the game from coming true, “if you’ve got the ball, the other side can’t win.” Marist had the ball, and despite the weakness of a half who would consistently race out'and jam his supports, they clearly demonstrated that the side that retains possession of the ball must be very small potatoes indeed, if it can't write W-I-N in capital letters opposite its name. Attack is always the best defence, and in losing possession of the ball from sot scrums, Newton drove a sixinch nail into its coffin. At times the Marist defence sagged badly, and during the game Newton got the benefit of two or three soft scores, but consistent attack on an extended front enabled the Tykes to pile up a points margin that brought them out winners by a two to one margin. jt may be that a new star has arisen in Auckland football—or, rather, that a former bright light in the League firmament has broken out in another place with meteoric brilliance The reference is to “Pope” Gregory, who took on the key position in the Marist backs, and made a brilliant success of it. He was the king-pin of the Marist attack, and reinforced his usual sound defence with a delightful variety and resource on attack. THE NEW TREND The standard method of attack from sot scrums has had to take second place in both codes of Rugby these days to sectional passing rushes from loose play. The reason, of course, is the ban on the touchline. With tighter limits placed on the ball to keep it infield, the opportunities of initiating an attack on an extended scale when play is swinging from side to side are much greater, because of the fact that it is much easier to catch one's markers out of position than it is when both sides are formed up with each man marking his man. It was this factor, no less than its superiority in set scrumming in the second spell, which enabled Marist to so decisively defeat Newton. Further than that, the Marist style of play is .better suited to a dry day than that of Newton. Without disparaging the red and whites’ brilliant record in the championship games this season, there is no gainsaying the fact that a continued spell of wet and muddy grounds provided them with their great opportunity. It is to their credit that they made the most of it. Fonsonby and Devonport provide another comparison on a somewhat similar basis. All told. Marist scored seven tries. Noble, an exuberant, auburn-crested forward, scampering across for two of th m, and O’Brien. Knott, Drew, Brisbane, and Sweeney getting one each. Conversions were made by Gregory, Knott, and Cronin. The goal-kicking was probably the weakest part of Marist’s equipment. Newton’s tally wras three tries, Hardgraves, Mclntyre, and Little being rtkjs the scorers, while Herewini converted ii nd landed a penalty. The last kirk <»t tie- day met with a curious and gg|B unexpected result. Mcrewini getting iX'Wor'ul bout behind an acute-anc 1-d B|B L k. thudded against the ere.--.--

IF there is a tendency to regard the Roope Rooster as the "dead-end” of the League season in Auckland, that impression is due for substantial readjustment after Saturday’s games. They were full of surprises. The sensation of the day was the decisive defeat of the club champions, Newton, who, although weakened by the absence of Dufty and Clark, never had a look-in against Marist. Now that the tension of the club championship finals has worn off, all teams are playing better football, and brilliant and spectacular back movements were the order of the day on Saturday. Firmer grounds and a dry ball also played a big part in the improved standard of play.

piece, and spun like a circular saw back into the field of play.

THOSE WHO TOIL IN THE PACK Noble, who showed a surprising tarn ! of speed for a forward built on gener- ! ous lines, played with immense gusto I from start to finish, and when the ball j was put into his hands galloped for the line like a Gloaming. Johnson. I too, had a habit of coming from no- ■ where with a lightning dash, and in the loose was (next to Noble) as good a forward as there was on the ground, j Moisley, showed out well, and that j cheerful and rugged gentleman, dames O’Brien, spent a merry day of combining brains with brawn in a manner pleasing both .s.to himself and those of the fans who know a footballed when they see one. even if they don’t agree with some of his unconventional. ways on the field. In the best circles one doesn’t argue with thing to do is to assume a statuesque pose, raise one hand to the heavens, and wait for the powers that be to give due recognition to one’s mute appeal to the gods who preside over the destinies of League football. Scmethe referee and the fans. The correct times, of course, it doesn’t work, and the fans howl derisively, but even then it is better not to be found gently caressing the nasal organ with the thumb of the outstretched palm. It is so liable to misinterpretation. AT HIS BEST Coming to the Marist backs, it can be said that Brisbane, apart from one or two little faults in handling, has seldom played tjetter this season. The try he scored was a beauty, and he had a disconcerting habit of arriving at the centre of operations with a whirlwind rush that proved most annoying to the opposition, and most profitable to his'iside. Knott made

quite a good job of the centre threequarter position, and at times set a good example by not trying to pick up a rolling ball on the ground. Keep it at your feet until the ball bounces up to vour hands is a good motto for forwards, and very often for backs, too. At times Jack Kirwan was inclined to be rather casual at fullback, and was badly beaten once or twice through this fault, but in the open he fielded well, and kicked with power and judgment. Drew made a promising debut on the wing, and once when he went racing in support of Noble showed a surprising burst of pace. He got his reward a little later on, when fast following-up gave him a well-merited try. Among the Newton forwards, Henry showed a return to his best form, and Stack fully maintained the reputation his trail at the rate he is going, ho has been building up lately. He will have the Auckland selectors on The inside backs were rather so-so, being too often caught in possession. Little and Hardgraves got few chances, but both proved very dangerous at times. Herewini played a solid game, but at centre was inclined to pe too ?ord of sticking to the ball, although he seldom had much room to work on. Playing at fullback, he got in some rattling good kicks in fact, . * ■ , through, his kicking was a feature of his play. Mclntyre was—well, jusi Mclntyre.

EXTRA time

RICHMOND JUST WINS When Richmond defeated CiU tu/ 22-17 at Carlaw Park No. 2 area on Saturday afternoon in the first round of the Roope Rooster competition, the game could not really be tabled as a startimg exhibition of the code, although in the last few minutes of the tussle, when the score was 17 all, things were very willing and many of the fans foresook the main area to join in the excitement being stirred up by the minor attraction. Richmond's wing threequarter, Taylor, was the first to open the game up when he broke through, making a nne dash up the field and by a good cross kick put the ball in the hands of fan ift. who had no trouble in running over to score. On the day Taylor proved himself to be one of Richmonds m It prominent backs, but of course lie was well fed and was thus given some good chances. Spencer kicked a penalty for City, but after that the game was very quiet until Taylor agakin came out into the limelight. On this occasion he took a p tss and sprinted over three quarters the length of the field to score. Half time came with the scores; Richmond 6, City 2. Play in the second half was much more* lively and for the first six minutes Richmond went to a solid attack and held City well penned up. From a scrum only a few yards from the line Davis secured the ball and sent his backs sailing away in a passing rush. Jenkinson scored. Jenkinson played a very safe game throughout, although he is certainly not the type of back who comes out in a flurry into the limelight. He passes the ball out well, but at times is perhaps a little slow on the attack. V/ADE’S DASH City came to light with an aggressive attack and things looked very dangerous for Richmond. Taylor, however, had a golden opportunity to relieve on one occasion, but he failed tc put the boot in and was grassed before he made any headway in his proposed breakaway. The ball rolled away from his arms and with this Pascoe. making the best of Taylor’s mistake, took up and scored. Tli is score seemed to buck City ur and in a few’ minutes their backs were

Lgain dashing away in fine style. Reynolds. Perry and Wade combined well

and rushed play down the field. Wade scored. Wade is certainly a fast and dashing wing, but at times during the game he did some silly things and lost a lot of energy through unnecessary runs. His upheld kicks have no direction and if he had put some of his

WaHp short punts straight up the field instead of twisting them toward the centre he would have certainly improved the score for City. However, give Wade the ball with plenty of room to work and one may as well call the silver melted and sold. Taking up from the loose while Richmond held City on the defence, Taylor scored an unconverted try. LIVELY FINISH In the last seven minutes of the game things were very snappy. Turton scored an unconverted try for Richmond, and within two minutes Pascoe rushed through to score for City. Pascoe was one of the most useful and best scoring forwards on the field. He does not stop to hesitate to make the best of an opening once it is given. “Giggv” Wetherill was just the same old “Giggy,” always in the limelight and appearing to be everywhere at The score was 17 all and time was up, but being a knockout competition, the game continued, but not for long, for Telford rushed through and scored for Richmond. Taking the rearguards of both teams on the day’s play, they handled quite well considering the state of the ground, but they both made the great mistake of not running straight. Time and time again the rearguard men handled the ball, but by the time it reached the wing he was usually left about a couple of yards in which to work. Wing threequarters like Wade require more than a couple of yards to work when they take possession.

ATHLETIC EXTENDS PONSQNBY

LOSERS’ GALLANT FIGHT

Although there was a difference of 11 points between the Fonsonby and Grafton Athletic scores, the latter team gave the runners-up in the League championship a great fight. The light-weights for Grafton found it rather difficult to stand up against the heavier Ponsonby pack. A more intimate knowledge of the game was also a forte of Ponsonby, but, with another season’s play, Grafton Athletic will have to be watched. Lucas, half for Grafton, gaye a sterling exhibition. Always into the fray, he gcive his men

some excellent chances, and despite his smallness was able to send more than one man on the way to a score. Longville, McGregor, Yardley, and Allen were also prominent throughout for Grafton, and Ponsonby did not have everything their own way. For the winners, Delgrosso proved consistently good, and he was ably supported by Col?, the latter playing one of the best games of the day. J. Peckham, K. Peckham, Fagan. and Usher were also playing great football. The match was lively and interesting throughout, and provided keen excitement.

CHAMPION LEAGUE TEAM OF SOUTH ISLAND

HORNBY BEATS ATHLETIC (Special to THE SUN.) DUNEDIN, Sunday. In a Rugby League match yesterday for the Gore Cup, a trophy presented for competition between the champion teams of the South Island, Jiornoy, Christchurch, defeated Athletic, Dunedin, by 19 points to 5.