NEWTON RANGERS FORCE MARIST BROS. TO A DRAW

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1065, 1 September 1930, Page 6

NEWTON RANGERS FORCE MARIST BROS. TO A DRAW

Sefcfc© ANB COMBINAT*e*i The closest of all the League games on Saturday was that between the Newton Rangers and Marist Brothers’ Old Boys, which ended in a draw, 16 points all. It was not generally expected when the game began that Newton would have any sort of a chance of forcing Marist to a close finish, more especially as Marist was reinforced by the reappearance of Gregory, of the New Zealand touring team. However. O'Brien was missing from the Marist forwards and Hassan from the backs. Xewton excelled itself. Of late, it has not shown the results of its early season promise, but on Saturday it brought dash and combination into the fray which all but turned the scales against the heavier Marist men. Ted Brimble was the star of the Red and White constellation, and in fact there can hardly have been a better back than he on the field on Saturday. He is a wonderful opportunist, and on many occasions Marist was loft lamenting when he intercepted iob passes. He has pace above the ordinary and was thus able to come to the rescue of his side frequently. The Xewton back line as a whole worked much more smoothly than did Marist’s, and this, coupled with the fast following up of the Xewton forwards, was the reason for Newton's unexpectedly fine form. C. Brimble and Hill were about the pick of the remaining Xewton back*. Francis was the star of the forward division. He has a fair amount of pace and tons of energy, and as he was in the very pink of condition ho steamed away all afternoon. He would be a really great player if he were schooled in the finer arts of the game. His passing was poor, and on at least one occasion on Saturday hr threw out a blind pass where a welldirected one would probably have meant all the difference between a draw and victory. He was ably supported by his five comrades. The Marist backs were not too fcSPP as a combination, but were brilliant at times as individualists. Young was about the best of the pack, but it was unpleasant to see him pay more attention to the man than the ball. Altogether. Marist seemed a little below par and will need somr gingering up if it is to retain the champion, of champions trophy. Scoring register: Xewton: 16 points (tries by C. Brimble (2). Francis and Allan. a*d one conversion each by Dempsey afid Hill). Marist: 16 points (tries by CrojMH (2), Webberley and Young, and rw° conversions by Gregory).