CLOSE SCORING IN HAWKE’S BAY RUGBY GAMES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 119, 4 May 1936, Page 3

CLOSE SCORING IN HAWKE’S BAY RUGBY GAMES

Saturday’s Contests MARIST IN THE LEAD Wintry Conditions Mar General Play TWO GAMES DRAWN Real wintry conditions prevailed for the second series of matches in the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Football Union’s combined HastingsNapier club championship competition on Saturday. The playing areas were soft and an exceptionally strong wind, that most of the afternoon was at gale force, seriously affected play. Notwithstanding the wind the games were keenly contested, two results being a draw and the margin in the • ether two matches only a point and two points respectively. As the result of their victory by 5—3 over Pirates, leadership iu the competition went to Marists. The biggest scoring game of the series was the main attracion at Hastings where Celtic ran out winners by a margin of 12—11 against Hastings H. 5.0.8. after a good exhibition. On the adjoining area Hastings and Napier H. 5.0.8. shared the honours three-all. The surprise of the afternoon was the showing made by Havelock North against Technical Old Boys at Napier, the Villagers walking off the field with honours even. The positions of the teams are as follow: —

CHAMPIONS JUST WIN

Match with Hastings 0.8. Although Hastings Old Boys were successful in beating the Celtic defence only once iu the first spell, when they had the strong wind in their favour, goal-kicking gave them a lead of 11—0 at the interval. The championship holders gave a good showing iu every department to stage an exciting finish, taking the lead a few minutes before the call of time. The teams were: Celtic. —Colebrook, Pullen, Kuripini, Garvey, Galgey, Bower, Tomoana, Maaka, Kelly, Hannigan, Maniana, McHardy, Meachen, Brigden, Townsend, Hastings H. 5.0.8.: Holt, Collinge, Johnson, Quigley, Patrick, Apsey, Hardy, Thompson, Denton, lledward, Trumper, Irwin, Flowers, McCarthy, Shriinpton. Using the wind to good advantage Old Boys were quickly attacking, though it was some time before they became accustomed to the strength 01 the wind and reduced their kicking to the minimum. The Celts displayed a stubborn defence but good followingup of a rolling ball enabled Apsey to break through for McCarthy to convert. Territorially it was all in favour of Old Boys but for all that Celtic were fairly successful in keeping the ball among the forwards and reducing Old Boys’ scoring oppo:tunities to a minimum. However, they were frequent offenders and had a number of kicks given against them, two very easy goals going to McCarthy before the interval. Celtic in turn made the most of the wind iu the second spell. A couple of efforts to land penalty goals failed, while Meacham narrowly missed scoring. Eventually Tomoana opened his side's scoring account with a neat field gdal. Using both divisions, but particularly the forwards, Celtic were continu ously on the attack. A good break by Hannigan gave Bowers the ball for a try, which Pullen converted, so reducing the margin to two points. Beturning desperately to the attack Celtic had Old Boys penned up close to the goal posts when they were awarded a free kick and amid great excitement Pullen goaled. A few minutes before time

Bowers went over for an unconverted try. Scores—Celtic (15): Pullen (penalty goal and conversion), Tomoana (field goal), Bower (two tries); Hastings H. 5.0.8. (11): .McCarthy (two penalty goals, one conversion), Apsey (try). Mr A. Kirkpatrick refereed. HASTINGS LUCK IN Draw With Napier H. 5.0.8. Considering that they had kept Napier Old Boys to a 3—o score in the first spell against the gale, Hastings did not acquit themselves too creditably in only making a draw of the result. The visiting side gave a splendid showing in the second spell when the odds against them were the greatest and they were a trifle unlucky to lose. The teams were.—Hustings; Dyer, McNab, Horton, Wright, Le Quesno, Gillies, Lawson, Muir, Aldridge, Wilson, 'Wcllwootl, Howell, Collett, Tait, Holt. Napier H-tJ-C.B.—Hutchinson, Austin, Cox, Hawkins, Bradley, Palmer, L. Clothier, Rolls, Willis, .Miller, Cox, W. Clothier, Crawford-Smith, Aniner, Lnnor. Exploiting the open game at the outset Old Boys had the home side on strenuous defence. The play was inclined to be drab, due to the excessive wind, which played all manner of tricks with the ball. The Hastings fur wards strove hard to keep the game tight and for sonic time were fuirly successful but the Old Boys were set on using their backs and such movements as they did make were most promising, short passes being exploited. It was not until well after half-way through the spell that the Hustings defence was pierced and then it was the result of passing. A snappy movement emanating from the ruck in front of the posts for the Clothier-Bradley combination to show up nicely and send Hawkins over well out. This completed the scoring for the spell, the remainder of which was definitely in -favour of Old Boys. After the change-over the one ambition of Hastings in the early stages appeared to be landing a field goal and so take the lead. Several futile attempts were made. Curiously enough Hastings, though they naturally held the territorial advantage, failed to use their forwards in the manner expected and as the game progressed they appeared set only on providing Le Quesne with the ball. Eventually it was a cross kick by Le Quesne after he had handled twice in a movement that led to Collett scoring near he posts, but it. was not until during the last five or so minutes of the game that the Hastings forwards did any real scrummaging. On the other hand Old Boys strove, and most successfully under the circumstances, to retain possession and, while many of their passing bouts did not gain much territory they nt least kept Hastings out of the danger zone. Hastings (3). Scorer: Collett (a try); Napier H. 5.0.8. (3): Hawkins (a try). Mr J. Scott refereed. A SURPRISE DRAW Villagers and Ex-Collegians Although the wind upset Technical’s play to a certain extent, Havelock North gave a splendid exhibition in keeping up with Technical, who marked on to the field with the spectators expecting them to win. Play opened without much form being shown by cither team, but before long both fifteens settled down to a grim forward struggle, interspersed here and there with good back movements.

The teams were: Technical O.B.; A. Kauter, McLean, Byford, Guillemot, Rossiter, Petersen, Jane, Hawea Mataira, Morrissey, Johnson, Brooks, Campbell, Hutton, Dalton, McAuslin. Havelock North: Huff, Graham, Roy Joll, Inglis, C. Joll, Gloyn, Rangi JolJ, Ferguson, Jones, Barber, Small, Whitehead, Ross, Russell, Heffernan. Technical 0.8.'s vanguard was strengthened by Mataira, who played a good game, at times being brilliant. Saturday afternoon lent itself to good forward play, and neither fifteen seemed disinclined to enter into the rough and tumble with a will. When Graham scored for Havelock North in the second spell, he finished off the best back movement of the day, the whole line of backs handling splendidly. Joll had bad luck with his attempt to convert, for the ball sailed just outside the upright. Doug. Dalton, of All Black fame, retired with a knee injury, and he was replaced by Poynter. Havelock North (9). Scorers: C. Joll (a try), Graham (a try), Inglis (a try). Technical 0.8. (9). Scorers: A. Kauter (a try), V. McLean (a try), Byford (a try). Mr A. McGlashan refereed. TWO-POINT VICTORY Marist Beat Pirates With the wind against them in the first spell, Marist did extremely well to bold Pirates. The wind at times reached gale force and was of great assistance to Pirates when playing the line. The half-time score was three-nil agauust Marist, who, after the change over, had their share of the wind advantage, but even so found YPiratcs’ defence a strong oue. O’Brien made two or three unsuccessful endeavours to kick penalty goals, but the wind was too tricky. The teams were: M.B.O.B.—Brewer. Griffiths, Allen, Mouglian, Benson, O’Rourke, Moss, Armstrong, Wagg, J. O’Brien, M. O’Brien, King, Exeter, Ireland, Barker. Pirates; Lopdell, Patchett, Russell, A. D. Smith, Dowriek, MeKnight, MeGlashan, G. Keeble, Wolstenholme, Fraser, Burrell, McKenzie, Gilroy, R. Keeble, Hill. Wolstenholme > nemillv goal for

Pirates in the first spell was well-earn-ed, for though the wind came from behind, it came diagonally, and careful judgment was required. The Gilroy-Keeble-Hill front row combination was definitely a better trio than Marist’s. Time after time Pirates won the ball in the scrummages, and had the bucks handled better, result of the game must have been different. On the day’s play, Marist had the better line of backs. The handling was better. But Pirates’ vanguard played a game out of the box and stood up splendidly to a heavier pack. M. 8.0.8. (5). Scorers (Moughan (one try), M. O’Brien (a conversion. Pirates (3). Scorer Wolstenhalrne (a penalty goal). Mr H. Gilchrist refereed, JUNIOR GRADE Hastings Matches Hastings H. 5.0.8. scored a comfortable win over Celtic at Nelson Park, the final count being 15—0. Play at Napier M. 8.0.8. (18). Scorers: Benson (two tries), Seoble (u try), Hayes (three conversions and a penalty goal). H. 5.0.8. (nil). McKinley retired from the field with a badly sprained ankle. Technical 0.8. (3C). Scorers: Garnhan (two tries), Kauter (six convcr sions). Shields (try), Dunnett (try), Faulknor (try), Brown (try), Dallimore (trv), Sharpies (try). H. 5.0.8. Colts (nil). Pirates (3). Scorers: Harrond (a try) Eskview (nil). THIRD GRADE Hastings Section High School 25; Hastings H. 5.0.8. 3. Hastings 19, Celtic 3. On the Havelock North Domain Hastings defeated Havelock North by six points to three. Napier Section High School 26; M. 8.0.8. nil. H. 5.0.8. 7; Pirates 3. FOURTH - ”GRADE Hastings Section High School 11; Hastings H. 5.0.8. 3. Napier Section High School (A) 30 v. H. 5.0.8. 3. M. 8.0.8. 6 V. High School (B) 3. FIFTH—GRADE Napier Section Pirates 6; High School 6.

RESULTS ELSEWHERE

Results of Rugby matches throughout New Zealand on Saturday are as'follows:—■ WELLINGTON. Senior A, First Division: Poneke 15, Wellington College Old Boys 6; Wellington 3, Eastbourne 6; Athletic 0, Petone 0; Hutt 9, Marist 5. Senior A, Second Division: Pirates 9, St. Patrick's Old Boys 21; Johsouville 3, University 0; United 3, Oriental 0; Athletic 15, Miramar 9. WANGANUI. Marist 3, Technical old Boys 3; Waverley 43, Old Boys 3. MANAWATU. Old Boys 8, KiuToa 6; Feilding Old Boys 42, United 5; Massey College 17, Feilding B 16.

SENIOR GRADE P w L D For Agt Pls Pts Pts Ch. M.B.O.B. . 2 2 — — 20 11 4 Hastings . 2 1 — 1 20 17 3 M.A.C. . o 1 — 24 6 J Napier O.B - — 2 6 6 2 Pirates 1 1 6 1 Havelock N 2 1 1 16 33 1 ‘Tech. O.B 2 1 1 23 26 1 Celtic . 2 1 1 — 23 26 Hastings O.B. 1 1 — 11 15 0 ♦Drawn Game. JUNIOR GBADE. Napier Section. Pts Pts Ch. P W L For Agt Pts Tech. O.B. ... . 2 2 — 48 3 4 Pirates .... o 0 - 14 6 4 M.B.O.B. .... 1 1 21 17 o H.S.O.B. .... 2S —— z 6 29 0 Eskview 1 — 1 0 3 0 H.S.O.B. (colts) 1 — 1 0 31 0 THIRD GRADE. Napier Section. Pts Pts Ch. p W L For Agt Pts High School .. 2 65 3 4 Tech. O.B. • . . . 1 1 — 36 0 o H.S.O.B. 1 1 — 7 3 o 1 2 — 2 6 0 M.B.O.B. — 2 0 62 0 FOURTH GBADE. Napi er Section. Pts Pts Ch. P W L For Agt Pts High School A o 2 — 55 o 4 Tech. O.B. 1 1 — 11 0 M.B.O.B. 2 1 1 6 19 9 H.S.O.B. 2 — 2 3 50 0 High School B 1 — 1 3 6 0