VICTORIOUS TYKES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 401, 9 July 1928, Page 6

VICTORIOUS TYKES

SHORE AGAIN DOWN JIM O’BRIEN RETURNS Aft- enjoying such an extended period of outright supremacy, the fahore Leaguers met their second successive defeat on Satur mJAUk" they went down to Marist by a mere one-point margin. It was a distinct “wet weather day triumph for the “Tykes,” who whmH d % h j ar .u Slogging game, which suited the conditions. Shore, finding the greasy leather impos,throw about successfully, adopted loose, ragged tactics. Mud and slush and a greasy hall undoubtedly hampered Shore a great deal, and the speedy, strong-running winger. Len fecott, who has proved himself a. regular scoring machine for the seasiders, was only given a chance now and then. Beattie, the versatile centre, did not make his usual bright showing, and Simons, playing on the wing, was solid and no more. Further inside, Seagar, Preston and Cleaver lurking behind the scrum, did a heap of sound defensive work, but with the playing conditions so much against their usual style of throwing the ball about the attacking efforts were seldom the work of good combination. The Marist rearguard, however, did not attempt too many passing bouts but did the right thing for the day ilsmg plenty of boot for short punts and then following up fast. This particular style tied the Shore backs in a knot more than once. In fact, the Tykes owe much of their success to the tactics taken up by the inside men of their rearguard. In this respect Brady, who in previous matches

1’ has been considered one of the weak links in the Green’s five-eighth line, had a day out, and was certainly the first to start the short punts which S saw Brisbane and others rush up ! quickly to play havoc. | Brisbane, by his fast following: up. gave Shore some anxious moments and showed that he has still that same dash of old which certainly warranted him a position in the last Auckland rep. team. Cronin at half was a regular tiger behind the scrum, and fed his backs well to enable them to put the ball down-field. Marist was also favoured with a j good, hard-working pack, who positively astounded some of the onlookers by their fine dribbling' rushes, which, relieved them from the defence on so many occasions, and raced play to the other end of the field. A notable inclusion among the Tykes’ forwards was Jim O’Brien, who has not been seen in action for some time. A hefty chap with a power of strength, he made a heap of difference to his side. He is an old hand at the game, and was always on the spot when anything was doing. The try he scored was quite unique, j Simons attempted | to clear, but before I he could get his I kick in O’Brien grabbed the ball out of his arms and almost turned a flip as he heaved himself for the line. He is undoubtedly the type to meet the Englishmen Iveenan is another Marist forward who enjoyed the limelight, and the majority of dribbling rushes were usually led by him. Ho is a good bustler, and together with Koble was always in the picture. St. George, hooking for Shore, met plenty of opposition in “Stump” Campbell, who indirectly had much to do with Marist’s victory. •Jock” Graham was another very handy many in the pack and played a good sporting game, in spite of a very doubtful decision given on one occasion by Referee Chernside. Devonport also had a J. O’Brien on its side who put in a lot of hard, battling work. Ruby, Rule and “Snowy” Dixon proved a good bustling trio. Ruby, especially, a real run-about style of forward, was seen to break through on many occasions, and with a j good fast set to follow him would I certainly have given Marist a deal of trouble.