CLUB RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 231, 16 September 1935, Page 3

CLUB RUGBY

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Technical 0.8. Down Cekic TITLE STILL IN DISPUTE Hopes of the Hawke's Bay Rugby football club championship competition being concluded on Saturday were upset by the defeat of the competition leaders, Celtic, by Technical Old Boys, and in consequence the season will be prolonged into October. There was a record attendance for the meeting of Celtic and Technical Old Boys and the crowd was given a splendid game. Both sides made the pace fast and there was plenty of action before Technical emerged the victors by the margin of 11 points to 11. Also pluycd at Nelson Park, Hastings, were the games between Hastings and Hastings Old Boys and Havelock North versus Napier Old Boys. In the former game, played early in the afternoon, the play was bright and interesting Hastings coming out victorious by five points In the other game, Havelock North scored a most popular victory, this being their first success of the season.

Owing to the default of M.A.C. to Eskview, the only game played at Napier was that between Pirates and Marists and for the third time this season the Buccaneers proved victorious, this time by the narrow margin of two points.

The position of teams and their points in the senior grade are as follow:—.

LEADERS DOWNED

Celtic Beaten by Tech. 0.8.

The main attraction at Hastings was the meeting of the competition leaders, Celtic, and Technical Old Boys and a big crowd was provided with a most thrilling game. From start to finish both sides kept up a fast pace, Celtic relying almost entirely upon their forwards, while Technical made good use ‘of the backs. The issue was in doubt throughout and Technical walked off with a hard-earned victory by three points. The teams were as follow:—Technical Old Boys.—Brown, Wright, Kauter, Venablesj Burns, Petersen, Jane, Lopdell, Skittrup, Harris, W. Campbell, Poynter, C. Campbell, Bowman, R. Johnston. Celtic.—Simon, Hollis, Pullen, Griffiths, Geddis, Galgay, Tomoana, Cunningham, Kelly, Brigden, Calnan, Townsend, Manaena, McHardy, Bower. The game opened with a thrill, the Celtic forwards sweeping downfield against the breeze to break through, Calnan scoring near the posts within a couple of minutes of the initial kick. Simon converted. —Celtic s—o.

The ex-Collegians raillied promptly, and quickly had Celtic defending desperately for some minutes. Afterwards Brown took a futile free kick at goal, but later he had a second shot and this time was successful in goaling.— Technical 0.8. 3—5.

Celtic retaliated, the forwards taking play into the quarter-way, where Simon bad a free kick at goal to raise the flag.—Celtic B—3.8 —3. The visitors had their revenge a few minutes later when a magnificent kick by Brown, taken about five yards inside the half-way, sailed over the bur. —Technical 6—B.

Celtic took up the attack again after this reverse and the forwards came close to scoring between the posts, Technical conceding a force. bright and exciting up and down play ensued for a time, then the ex-College backs swung into action wright, on the left wing, finishing off the movement with a particularly fine run to score. Brown failed to convert. —Technical 0.8. 9—B.

Exciting play followed, Technical striving to increase their lead. At this stage Pullen retired injured and Garvey replaced him. Play was moving at a fast clip, though there were frequent lulls for free kicks. The visiting backs were most impressive. The whole line swept into action just before the interval for Wright to put in a brilliant run to score near the flag. With another magnificent kick Brown converted, making the half-time score: Technical 0.8. 14, Celtic 8. Technical were early on the attack after the oranges, but Celtic quickly drove them back and strongly assailed the visiting goal-line. For fully five minutes Celtic kept the ex-Collegians penned up within ten yards of the scoring area. Ten minutes after the interval Simon put over another penalty goal making the score.—Celtic 11 —14. Celtic continued to hold a territorial advantage, the forwards playing an excellent game, but the visiting backs made good use of their pace to relieve the pressure. They were directly responsible for eventually lifting the seige, and taking up the attack they gave Celtic a strenuous time co defence. Celtic had the advantage of several infringements to ease the pressure, but the ex-Collegians were persistent, Wright just failing to score from one particularly bright movement. At this stage Hassett had replaced Calnan in the Celtic pack. Eventually Celtic succeeded in repulsing the opposition to take up the attack amid intense excitement. »An infringement almost on the line gave Simon a kick at goal and he raised the flags, but the referee disallowed the gosfl for not kicking opposite the mark. Celtic hurled themselves desperately at the defence, the play being strenuous. Though Technical succeeded in relieving the pressure for a few minutes Celtic returned and a terrific struggle ensued until Simon failed with a “pot” on the call of time with the score reading: Technical 0.8. .. .. 14 Celtic H Mr D. Graham refereed..

VILLAGERS’ FIRST WIN

Lead Napier 0.8. by Three Points Tn a ragged game at Nelson Park, Hastings, Havelock North gained their first success of the season by defeating Napier Old Boys B—s. The play was not very interesting at any stage, being confined mostly to the forwards. The teams were a, follow:— Havelock North; James, Lunn, Eddy, Whitehead. Gloyn, Joll, Meads, Heffernan, Cough lan, Russell, Small, Jones, McCormick, Huff, Brown. Napier H. 5.0.8.; Palmer, Austen, Rolls, Cox, Grace, Bradley, B. Clothier, Bartlett, McClusky, Briscoe, Cox, Heffernan, Miller, W. Clothier, Willis. Though the villagers were the first to settle down and attack they found the going hard, the speed of the ex-students eventually driving them back. A good piece of combined play took place close to the village goal-line, and a long pass in the open enabled Rolls to score. Bradley added the extra points. Napier 0.8. s—o.

The ensuing play was in favour of Old Boys, who held a decided advantage in the backs, the visiting rearguard putting in some bright runs to severely tax the defence. There was a surprise when Gloyn, gaining possession near half-way, broke through to send Russell over near the posts for a great try. Eddy converted. —Havelock North 5—5.

Up and down play followed, each side taking it in turn to attack. The villagers had three chances of taking the lead with free kicks at goal, but the interval found the honours even at s—all.

The second spell opened brightly, both sides making the game open, though the play generally was ragged on account of the frequency of mistakes in handling. A determined rush by the village forwards eventually broke down the Old Boys’ defence, Small forcing his way over for an unconverted try.—Havelock North B—s.

Up and down play ensued for the remainder of the game, neither side being particularly impressive or dangerous. The final whistle went with the score reading: . Havelock North 8 Napier H. 5.0.8 5 Mr A. Kirkpatrick refereed.

A CLOSE CALL

Pirates Again Beat Marists

The final scores (11—9) in the Pirates—Marist game at McLean Park, show the tight squeeze Pirates had in getting the majority. In the first spell Pirates played poor foetball, but brightened considerably in the second, and occasionally had the crowd on to its feet. Marist forwards were definitely superior during practically the whole of the game.

The teams lined out as follows: Marist.—T. Mahony, P. O’Rourke, Allen, Jordan, Brewer, Moss, Fulton, J. O’Brien, Mclvor, Armstrong, Hargreaves, Dennett, Ireland, Exeter, W. Benson. Pirates.—Lopdell, Smith, Russell, Patchfett, Grace, Webb, MeGlashan, D. Keeble, Frazer, Cooke, McKenzie, Frank, B. Keeble, Marshall. Pirates kicked off with the wind, and within two minutes had secured three points from a penalty kick right in front of the Marist goal. Webb took the kick, an easy one, and piloted the ball between the posts. Both sides were very keen, and scrum infringements frequent. In the first 15 minutes Pirates, hard on the defensive, had two penalties awarded against them, and were lucky not to have the points scored against them. The Marist forwards had the advantage in the lineouts and in 90 per cent, of the scrummages, and they made the most of what was offered. “Chum” Ireland made an opening for O’Rourke, the Marist winger, from a tussle just inside Pirates’ territory, and O’Rourke outstripped the defending backs and scored between the corner and the posts. Exeter did not convert. Shortly after that Pirates' forwards, led by Frazer, bullocked their way down to the Marist goal mouth, and in the scramble of defending and attacking forwards on the line, Marist were penalised for offside play by Ireland. It looked a sitting shot for Webb, but his kick went astray, though it looked like a present of three points. Pirates then had a turn at attacking, and for some time kept Marist busily defending. Just before the half-time whistle, Marist put in an extra spurt and made a drive which carried them down to the Pirates twenty-five, but without result. The first points scored in the second spell came from Exeter, who saw an opportunity when the Marist forwards pushed their way far down into Pirates territory, where they had been practically till half-way through the spell. He picked up the ball from the middle of a forward tussle on the Pirates twenty-five and scored a good try midway between the corner and the posts. Hargreaves did not convert. Marist launched a series of assaults which seemed to bewilder the Pirates pack, and it was a rarity to find them beyond the half-way. Suddenly, Russell turned the tide. From the Marist twenty-five he galloped away, eluded the majority of the forwards till he reached the point about 20 yards inside Marist territory, then passed to Patchett, who ran away from Mahony and scored behind the posts. Webb converted. Marist scored three points shortly afterwards when Mclvor raced away downfield, passed in to O'Rourke who re-passed to him and enabled him to score a very good try near the corner. O’Brien’s kick missed. The crowd was on its feet a few minutes later when MeGlashan began an attacking movement in which Russell made a contribution before passing on to Patchett, who streaked over the line with Mahony hanging on to him. It was a good try, and to MeGlashan should go the major credit for making a bright opening. Webb’s kick missed. Pirates continued to press very hard, and only resolute defensive work by Marist kept them out. Mahony twice averted dangerous situations. The final count read: — Pirates H Marists 9 Mr Ellis refereed.

WELL-DESERVED WIN Hastings Beat Hastings Old Boys Though there was only a small attendance for the early game at Nelson Park, Hastings, between Hastings and Hastings Old Boys the game proved interesting and bright, both sides playing the open game. Hastings were successful in winning by file margin

of eight to three, their success being well deserved.

The teams were as follow: —Hastings—Le Quesne; Wright, Nelson, McNab; Gillies, Lawson; Dyer; Wilson, Collett, Pearce; Wellwood, Kirschberg, Eredsberg, Holt; Muir. Hastings H.S.O.B.—Vartan; Jonson, Johnson, Rainbow; Apsey, Holt; Hardy; Agnew, Colwill, Tipping; Flowers, Trumper, Irwin, McCarthy; Collinge. Playing with the breeze in their favour Old Boys had slightly the better of the play in the early part of the first spell, the fast-moving forwards being instrumental in gaining good slices of territory, only for the backs to fail when they took control of the ball. Hastings were responsible for some bright movements, the forwards breaking downfield to gain one corner then send the backs away, to move play across the goalfront. It was just one of these combined movements that enabled Wright to score well out. Nelson failed to convert. —Hastings 3—o. Old Boys attacked strongly following this reverse and both Jonson and Rainbow just missed getting over in their respective corners. Hastings eased the pressure for a time, but Old Boys returned, and from a line-out at tbe corner Collinge battled his way across. McCarthy’s kick failed. —Hastings 0.8. 3—3 The ensuing play lor a time was uneventful, being confined mainly to the forwards. The spell ended with honours even.

“Make it open’’ was the policy of Hastings upon resumption, and they early had Old Boys on defence, the backs putting in some bright passing bouts that fully tested the defence. Territorially Hastings were well in the ascendancy and a good portion of the play in the early part was in the exstudents’ quarterway. Nearly halfway through the spell Horton replaced McNab on tbe wing. Old Boys relieved tbe pressure for a time shortly after this, but with honours even, each side set out to take the lead and play was brightened considerably. Catching Varton in possession and unsupported near the posts Hastings were successful in taking the lead when Gillies and Muir after some hesitation, sent Nelson across well out. Nelson’s kick landed a lucky conversion, time being called with the score reading: Hastings 8 Hastings H. 5.0.8 3 Mr W. Holder refereed. JUNIOR RUGBY Hastings 0.8. Beat the Rest The only junior game at Hastings was the meeting of the section winners. Hastings Old Boys versus the Rest, the former being victorious by 15 points to 13. The scorers were Taylor and Palmer (try each), Weymouth (field goal), Pratt (penalty goal) and Reid (conversion) for Old Boys, and Alexander and Tait (try each and Brimmer (two conversions and a penalty goal) for the Rest. —Mr J. Geenty refereed. TECH. BEAT WAIROA PIRATES Technical juniors met and defeated Wairoa Pirates at McLean Park with a score of 36 points to 9. For Technical tries were scored by Riddell (2), Annan, Watts, Prebble, Byford and Dallimore, Kauter converting three and Boyle one. Skinner kicked a penalty and Shields a field goal. For Wairoa, V. Harker scored a try, while Renouf and Hapi kicked penalty goals. THIRD GRADE In the third grade, Napier High School defeated the Rest by 9 points to 8. FOURTH GRADE FINAL The fourth grade final was won at McLean Park, Napier, by Hastings High School, who defeated Napier Boys’ High School by 8 points to nil.

p. W. L. D. ForAgst Pts. Pts. Pts Ch. Celtic .. 16 12 3 1 201 109 25 Tech. O.B. 16 11 3 233 139 24 Pirates .. 15 10 5 —— 156 154 20 M.B.O.B. 15 8 7 148 107 18 Hastings 16 8 fl 2 186 141 IS H. H.S.O.B. 16 8 7 1 142 138 17 M.A.C. .. 16 6 8 2 155 149 14 N. H.S.O.B. 16 7 9 — 152 158 14 Eskview 16 1 15 — 83 275 6 Havelock N 16 1 15 — 103 218 2