NOT SPECTACULAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22621, 26 April 1948, Page 3

NOT SPECTACULAR

DOUR FORWARD PLAY UNION SENIOR DEBUT DEFEAT OF MAR IST Making their debut in the senior competition. Union had a success over Marist by 14 points to nine in a dour tussle with few spectacular flashes or form. Marist made some strong bids to secure the lead in the second half, but were unable to finish off movements in the face of rugged Union resistance. The teams were: — Union (Royal Blue).—T. Nope; L. Byrnes, B. Peachey, R. Gear; D Atkins D. Ryland: J. Haingahue; I. Pewhairangi; K. Pewhairangi, G. Cairns, H. Wharepapa. P. Ngaira; R- Huston, F Barnes, G. Wharehinga. Marist (Blue).—J. Casey: M. Gergard- H Nelson. P. Carlin: B. Samuels, P Sexton: P. Te Whata: J. Cleary: B. Donovan. R. Rigney, P. Pakura, R. Heeney; B. Pakura, T. Donovan, J. Shasky. , , . , ~ Combined effort was lacking on both sides, but the lighter Marist pack was always dangerous. Union forwards felt the pace and often left their backs with little protection. On those occasions the Union backs were often hardpressed and cleared to touch only with difficulty. Union drew first blood with a short dash over the Marist line by Atkins. The attempt at conversion failed. T. Donovan broke away with the ball at his toe to put Marist in a good attacking position and other forwards took up the chase. B. Donovan went over in the corner for an unconverted try to bring Marist level. Just on the whistle for halftime, Taingahue put Union in the lead with another unconverted try.—Union 6: Marist, 3. Union were full of business upon the resumption of play and Peachey scored. Barnes converted. Marist replied with forward pressure and kept Union penned in their own territory for some time. R. Heeney went over for Marist and the score read—Union. 11; Marist, 6. After a period of indecisive play, during which the bulk of the work fell on the forwards, another Union attack developed and J. Pewhairangi used his weight to bullock over the Marist line. The try was unconverted. Marist returned to the attack and R. Rigney dived over the union line shortly before the call of time to make the final score: Union, 14: Marist. 9. Mr. F. W. Bayliss was the referee. LAST-MINUTE DECISION After having goalcd two penalty kicks during the course of the match, H Tapping crossed the H. 5.0.8. junior line in the last few minutes of play to wrest the decision for Old Boys by nine points to eight. H-5.0.8. points were scored by N. Adcroft and W. with tries and the latter convened one. H. 5.0.8. had held the lead by a small margin throughout the greater part of the match. Mr. P. Habib was the referee. SPEEDY H. 5.0.8. BACKS The pacy H. 5.0.8. back line gave their side the edge on Old Boys, in the intermediate grade. H. 5.0.8. taking the decision by 11 points to three. There was not much between the two sets ot forwards. „ , H. 5.0.8. scorers were B. Gibson and J. Haycock, tries. R. Woon a conversion and a penalty goal. A. MclCnight scored for Old Boys. Mr. S. M- Ritchie was the referee.