MARIST BACKS TOO SOLID FOR SHORE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 389, 25 June 1928, Page 6

MARIST BACKS TOO SOLID FOR SHORE

HOME FORWARDS FIGHT HARD Shore’s appalling slowness among the backs was the cause of its defeat at the hands of the Marist fifteen at Pevonport on Saturday. The seaside forwards played good football, packing, heeling and following up splendidly, only to have their good efforts spoiled by faulty handling and lack of snap on the part of the backs. On the other hand, the Marist backs and forwards worked in cohesion and repeatedly penetrated the mediocre back line opposing them. Though the ground was a trifle sticky, the atmosphere made the day an ideal one for football. From the kick-off Shore forwards swept down the field and had Marist fighting hard to clear. Heeling from the scrum, the ball was sent away in what looked like developing into a scoring movement. Walsh, however, decided to go solo and was promptly swamped. From the ensuing melee Jeffries, for Marist, swooped on the- ball and, swerving through the opposing backs, sent the ball well down field out of touch. Getting the ball from the line-out, Wright sent the Marist backs away, the leather passing from man to man out to Stoup, who centred. Jeffries coming up fast accepted and put in a great run, only to be forced out in the corner. Howard secured from the lineout and dived across. Peters failed with the kick. The Shore forwards were fighting hard and gave Tykes many anxious moments. In the second quarter the finest movement of the day was brought off by the mlue and blue back line. Wright, who was playing a game out of the bag, snapped the oval away to Malloy, who sent it on to Earlly. The latter, cutting in nicely, sent it back to Johnston, who tossed it out to Earlly again for that player to gallop across in a good position. Peters made no mistake with the kick. LIVELY WORK Stoup was playing a particularly sound game for Tykes on the right wing and time after time had the Shore backs tied in a knot. Following a slightly hectic patch when players on both sides were cautioned, both sets of forwards went to it with a will. The green pack swept down field and, with the exception of Cornthwaite, who

was playing a sterling game, liad the opposing backs severely harassed. Cornthwaite, however, was like a glowworm—when things looked darkest, he shone the brightest. His fielding and positional kicking was a treat to watch. Fielding from a silod Shore rush, Wright handed on to Stoup, who proved too elusive for his vis-a-vis and scored a good try, Howard’s kick fell short. Johnston, the Shore fullback, is a good nlan, though on Saturday he indulged in a fair amount of aimless kicking that simply ran his hard working forwards to death. In the last quarter play was more even than at any other period of the game. With Clark, D’Authreau and Paisley leading, the Shore pack was going great guns. Keeping the ball at their feet, they pressed down the field, leaving the Marist pack at the post. Time after time they were unfortunate in not notching a try, only the good work of the tireless Jeffries and Johnny Loft keeping them from crossing. From a line-out Wright pounced on the ball and consigned it downfield per his backs, Jeffries, being the last to handle, finally delivering the goods. Peters converted. Game to the last, Shore came again, and this time there was no stopping them. With D’Authreau in the van the green pack scampered down the paddock for this good forward to go over for a splendid try. Stokes was unlucky with the kick and Marist thus won by l£ points to 3.