RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 156, 30 March 1937, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Draw in Final of Spillane Cup HASTINGS AVIN B GRADE TROPHY Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, March 29. In a game which would have been good in mid-season but for Easter was outstanding. St. Patrick’s, Palmerston North, 1935. holders of the Brennan Cup and Gisborne Celtic, 1936 holders of the Spillane Cup, played a drawn game for the Spillane Cup at Palmerston North to-day. The work of St. Patrick’s forwards was great. They packed herd and tight iu both set scrums and scrimmages and were fast with good combination in the loose. Ou their display they might have been expt ted to win. The outstanding player on both sides was St. Patrick’s full-back, It. Richards. He never made an error the whole game. It was decided that instead of extra time being played St. Patrick’s and Gisborne Celtic should each hold the Spillane Cup for six months. Hastings Celtic won the Brennan Cup for B teams from the holders, Gisborne Marist. by 15 to 3, and were also awarded the Moran Cup for the best defensive play, the judge being Mr. J. Ryan, an ex-All Black. Other results to-day were:—Wellington Marist .19 beat Napier Marist 3; Hamilton Marist 15 beat Wanganui.Marist 9.

Spillane Cup Final. The Spillane Cup final opened at a fast pace with vigorous forward play and hard tackling when any back movements got under way. There were four stoppages for injuries within the first 25 minutes. St. Patrick’s hail the hardest of luck after a really brilliant play when all the backs handled perfectly. But R. Gillespie, winger. could get no further and he then centre-kicked to the line, where M. Gillespie beat two Gisborne men to the ball and touched down. The referee, Mr. A. Gordon, awarded a try. but it was then seen that the linesman’s flag was up, R. Gillespie having stepped out, and the referee recalled his decision.

Play continued at a speed which it seemed unlikely either team could sustain and there was no score at half-time. Gisborne fought back to St. Patrick’s line and held them there until McCashan started a great dribbling rush, suiting the rainy conditions of the second half, to take St. Patrick’s to Gisborne’s twentyfive. From there Richards put a magnificent kick across the field to the corner flag and from a scrum St. Patrick’s were over, but a hasty forward pass spoilt the chance. There were hard knocks exchanged in forward play and F. McAneney. Gisborne, went oil injured, S. O'Connor replacing him. There was no score with 10 minutes ttf play. St. Patrick's had a great chance right on Gisborne’s line, but Brinsden tried too much alone and Gisborne swept hack into the opposing twenty-five. They 'could not hold it for long, and St. Patrick’s were on their line again for Hehir to touch down. Unfortunately it was after a knock-on. Four men were left on the ground when Gisborne battled upfield in a forward rush. AL Gillespie went off as a result and the Silverstream College first fifteen eaptain. Hampton, replaced him. Five minutes from time, when heavy rain was falling, the hall was kicked right into AleKewen’s hands, but be hesitated and a great chance went begging. Time was then called without score. The teams were:— Gisborne Celtic: D. A’incent, C. AlcKinley. AV. AlcAneney. A. McAneney. G. Soloman. S. Yates. J. Alillinan. McKinley, A. Barty. AV. Steel, F. AlcAneney (captain 1. L. Turnbull. R. Turnbull, W. Alatheson, and S. Tippett. In the second spell Hewson replaced A’incent, who was injured. St. Patrick’s, Palmerston North: Richards, AlcKewen. R. Gillespie, Hehir, At. Gillespie. Brinsden, Fdlin, Aladgwick, Simmonds, Afikkelsen. Tippett, Heeney, A V. Powell, Kelliher, and Fell. In the second spell AleCashan replaced Keddiher, who was injured. Brennan Cup -Match. Hastings Celtic, after being three down in the first spell, took the Brennan Cup with ease from Gisborne Afarist, the holders. in the second spell by a margin of 15 to 3. Play was scrappy and the win was due to some smart individual efforts by Hastings players. Pullen did nice work for Hastings when he cut in from halfway and side-stepped his way to near the li: a, where he handed on to Garvey to touch down. Pullen also converted two tries by Piper and Brown. Tomoana converted one try. The teams were:—

Hastings Celtic: Harvey, Garvey, Pullen. Halligan. Thompson. Brown. Tonioana. Colebrook. AlcCarthv, Piper-, Maaka. McCarthy, Greening, J. Mataira, and B. Afataira.

Gisborne Alarist: Fisken, Ryan, Sexton, Duckworth. Quin, Swinburne. Alorrison. Doyle. Rianev. .T. Bean. Griffin, AVilkins, Green. O’Halloran, and Harrison.

Playing better than they did against St. Patrick's, Palmerston North, on Saturday. Wellington Alarist beat Napier by 1!) to 3 in the match between the Spillane Cup losers. The AVellington hacks were more enterprising to-day and made more use of their opportunities. Stiver, second five-eisrhth. was worth mentioning for two ■fries. Inkpen and Hardgreaves also scored trios. Cunningham kicked a penalty and converted two tries. For Napier M. O’Brien. Hawke's Bay and Blanket Shield cricketer, kicked a penalty. AVanganui Marisf established a lead of 9-3 against Hamilton Alarist in a fair display between the Brennan Cun losers, hut thoir condition gave out and Hamilton made the most of their chances to draw level. A penalty goal put Hamilton ahead and another try clinched the game for them by 15 to 9. Scorers for Hamilton wore J. Trotter. Barrett, and Robertson (tries) and .1. Barnao (two penalties).