HARD GAME

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 152, 13 June 1932, Page 10

HARD GAME

M. 8.0.8. v- HASTINGS 0.8. DOUR FORWARD STRUGGLE GREENS AVENGE DEFEAT. ONLY ONE TRY SCORED. In the hardest game seen In Hastings this season Marists avenged the defeat inflicted in the opening game of the year by defeating Hastings Old Boys by three points to nil. Play was confined almost solely to the forwards, who worked with great zeal. Efforts on the part of the rearguards were futile, the spoiling tactics of both sets of forwards making com bined back play out of the question. The first spell was a bloodless affair, and it was not until ten minutes before time that the first and only score, a try, was recorded. The teams lined out as follows:—

Marists — Couper, Kenny, Brown, Morrisey, Hannan, Clothier, Mahoney, Brady, King, McCormack, Satherly, Brodie, Ireland, Mason, Wagg. Hastings Old Boys—Varton, Graham, McCarthy, McKenzie, Botherway, Patrick, Heaton, McDuff, Palmer, Hannigan, Grace, Fleming, Milburn, Colwill, Symons.

Marists set the ball rolling and the forwards, led by Brodie and Satherly, presseo past the quarterway, where they opened up the play. First on the left wing, then on the right, the Marist backs swept into action. Morrissy made a bid for the corner, only to be carried out with the flag. Botherway and Heaton eventually showed the way to neutral territory, Varton lending support by successfully defeating an attack initiated by Clothier. The visitors set a hot pace, the forwards breaking up fast to upset Old Boys’ attempts at passing. A blind side sortie by Heaton enabled McKenzie to put in a piercing run, but Couper laid him low and Clothier found the lino. Old Boys pressed, but the bustling Marists disorganised the home rearguard and the visitors’ line was not endangered. A cross-field kick went to McCarthy, who essayed a field goal but failed, and Couper forced. Following up the drop-out, the Marist forwards, with Satherly, McCormick and Brodie figuring prominently, launched a hot attack.

A sensational break saw Wagg draw the defence, but his pass was forward and Old Boys experienced a fortunate let-off.

While Old Boys managed to keep play near the quarterway for some time Manets exerted great pressure, Clothier securing a generous share of the ball from the rucks, scrums and line-outs to give his backs plenty of openings. They, however, were well marked and slowly the defence prevailed, Marists falling back to halfway, from where McCarthy took an ambitious free kick at goal. • The effort went wide and Couper, with a splendid return, found the line at half-way. A nice break by Satherly placed Marists again on the attack; then a promising passing bout broke down through a dropped pass. The forwards of both sides were putting plenty of pep into their play, and the referee issued a caution. A nicely-placed kick into touch by Graham gave Old Boys a turn at attack, but the period was brief, Marists using their feet to good advantage and Varton had to work quickly to clear. A pretty piece of passing by Botherway, Milburn, Colwell and McKenzie terminated in the last-named being carried into touch. The Marist forwards lost no time in clearing to the safety zone. Brown and Clothier put in sound defensive work repulsing Old Boy thrusts. HANNIGAN TO THE RESCUE. Hannan intercepted a pass and broke away with Brodie in attendance to pass the Old Boys’ last line of defence. A try was imminent when Hannigan brilliantly came to the rescue and grassed Brodie, giving the home side time to rally. The interval found Marists pressing hotly with the score reading Marists 0 Hastings O.S 0 THE SECOND SPELL. Early after resumption Marists launched a’ hot attack, the effort being nullified by offside play. Led by McDuff, the Old Boy forwards broke away, and then transferred the ball to their backs, who, in turn, were penalised. Old Boys resumed the movement, and passed the quarterway, where there was another desperate forward melee. Marists gained the upper hand and almost reached the half-way, where they were penalised. McCarthy essayed a goal, the ball falling short to Brown, who found the line near the midway flag. The bounce of a kickthrough beat Couper. and the Old Boy forwards gained possession only to give a forward pass. The ensuing play was confined almost exclusively to the forwards. Marists held a slight advantage and were more frequently in possession of the ball.

The going was hard, both sides tackling with grim determination.

Slowly Marists fell back, but it was with the utmost reluctance. At this stage McKenzie retired injured, and was replaced by Jonson. The Old Boy forwards were up better in the loose play. A HASTY RETREAT. A great piece of bustling work by Satherly. King, McCormick and Brodie caused Old Boys to beat a hasty retreat. In their efforts to stem the tide Oil Boys were penalised, and Satherly took a free shot at the goal. The effort failed, and McCarthy forced. Back came Marists, Kenny kicking across field, where his forwards gathered in, only to lose the opportunity of scoring through a knock on Keeping it up Marists just failed to break through again when King was called baek for a knock-on, after crossing. From the resulting scrum Mahoney, who had been playing a good game behind the paek, used the blind side to send

Kenny cn route to the scoring area. Though tackled the Marist winger made a praiseworthy effort and hurled himself across the line for a well-earned try. Satherly failed with the kick. Marists 3 Hastings 0.8 0 Old Boys rallied under this reverse, mid after being given a start by Heaton the forwards took play into the visitors’ quarterway. A number of minor infringements against Old Boys allowed Marists to clear to past the half-way. A kick through called for a forcedown. Midfield play ensued until time was called with the score refillMarists 3 Hasti'ies 0.8 0 Mr. W. Thurlow refereed.