FIT MARIST TEAM BREAKS RIFLES’ HEART
WALK-OVER VICTORY Although Marist had no difficulty in running away with victory against College Rifles, the match was not so monotonous as the score of 38 to 6 might indicate. After the first quarter Marist piled up the tries, but the interest of the game lay in the performance of the Marist team. Rarely at the opening of a season is a team as well drilled tactically, and so fit as the Tykes on Saturday. Opposition certainly grew weak as the game went on; but the first tries were the result of clever moves and heady team work. It was in the back division that Rifles were completely outclassed. The defence was weak, and there was nothing brilliantly assertive about the attack when it did come. The forwards, however. were more evenly matched, and there were some good moments. Once Marist broke down the resistance of its opponents, the Rifles’ morale was shattered, and two or three tries were merely presentations.
The absence of sting in Rifles’ attack may perhaps be attributed to the absence of Sheen, who held the backs together last year, but adjustments should be possible, and earnest training should make better exhibitions possible in later matches.
The Marist backs gave a very sound performance as a whole. There was sting in their attack, and a fine spirit of co-ordination. Stoupe, on the wing, was fast and brilliant, and Loft also did good work. Stuart had a real field day; for in addition to scoring two tries, he converted five, a fair performance for one match. In the forwards Macdonald and Locke stood out.
The Rifles’ pack was well supported in the scrum by Page, who managed generally to get a movement started, but enterprise was blocked almost immediately by the sound defence. Th* prominent forward was Gallagher, who certainly grafted hard against great odds. He played a stern game, and should yet be able to get his pack into better order.
The match just showed what a fit team can do with a weaker side.
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Bibliographic details
Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 341, 30 April 1928, Page 6
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345FIT MARIST TEAM BREAKS RIFLES’ HEART Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 341, 30 April 1928, Page 6
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