SPILLANE CUP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 100, 30 March 1937, Page 8

SPILLANE CUP

RESUMPTION OF TOURNAMENT. Dull weather conditions prevailed at the Showgrounds yesterday for the continuation of tlie annual Spillane Cup Rugby tournament but, despite, the fact, there was a large attendance, who again witnessed interesting football. Conditions underfoot were heavy, but this did not militate against a lively display between the teams who on Saturday suffered defeat in the Spillane and Brennan Cup matches. In tho former match 'Wellington beat Napier by 19 points to .‘l, and in the latter Hamilton won by 15 points to 9 against Wanganui. WIN FOR WELLINGTON. Lively football was produced on the Oval, when Wellington Marists secured a comfortable win over Napier Marists. Despite the southerners’ high score there was a good deal of give and take, and there was not a dull moment in the match, which was happily free from casualties. The teams were as follow:

Napier (green and black). —Brewer, Scoble, Cawston, Mougham, O’Kaine, Moss, Hayes, O’Brien, Nelson, Howell. Hargreaves, Sinden, King, C. Jones. Wellington Marist (green and white). —Frost, Rennie, Quin, Scanlon, Langdon, Brown, Tietiens, Hargreaves, Inkpen, Donohue, Stiver, Reid, Peters, Cunningham, Elliot. For the first quarter of an hour tho match produced little of interest, though tho balance of play definitely lay with Wellington. Their passing work was superior, and they had little difficulty, after a mass invasion of Napier’s twenty-five, in forcing the issue to a successful conclusion, Rennie diving over near the Hag and converting.—Wellington 5, Napier 0. Wellington kept up the pressure and again invaded the enemy’s territory, but to little advantage for a time, and when they did get into close range the defence was sound. Shortly before halftime Napier were awarded a penalty, O’Brien taking the kick, but the leather struck the crossbar and half-time sounded shortly after with the scores unchanged. The territorial advantage continued to lie with Wellington on resumption, and only Napier’s good defence frustrated a dangerous passing rush in which Langdon was prominent. Wellington continued to make the pace hot and a few minutes later Stiver was across for an unconverted try.—Wellington 8, Napier 0. Scoble endeavoured by smart solo dashes to improve Napier’s position, but he met with little support, and Wellington continued to hold the upper hand, so it was not surprising when Stiver repeated his performance; the kick failed.—Wellington 11, Napier 0. Scoring came in rapid succession in the ensuing ten minutes, when, as a result of better cpmbinntion. Napier at last made their presence felt and in an invasion were awarded a penalty, which O Brien took to open their account successfully. A few minutes later Wellington snapped into action and Jnkpen secured an unconverted try. Just on time Hargreaves dived across again and Cunningham added the extra points, the final score reading:—Wellington 19, Napier 3. Mr A. Weston was the referee. A LIVELY ENCOUNTER.

The Brennan Cup game was a lively encounter, in which fortunes were completely reversed after half-time. At that period Wanganui led 9—3, but on the resumption Hamilton outclassed their opponents, who failed to add to their score, and were beaten 15—9. The teams were as follow: Hamilton Marist (green and white). —Robertson, Barakat, Trotter, McIntosh, OHearn, Trotter, Carter, Barrett, Belcher, Lang, Shannon, Taylor, Corliss, Glynn, Devchich. Wanganui Marist (green with white band).—Cronin, Inglis, Currie, Kirkwood, Williams, Reardon, Corrigan, McCashin, Grilfin, Martin, Butler, Ford, Reynolds, Morgan, Irwin. A great deal of open play was featured in the first half, in which Wanganui held a good advantage. Up-and-down plav occupied the first few minutes, till'Wanganui, in a concerted passing rush, invaded Hamilton’s territory and Williams, on the wing, dived hetween the uprights. 'I he kick was deflected.—Wanganui 3, Hamilton 0. Spurred on by their success, the River City side continued to invade, and a few minutes later Williams repeated his performance, the kick again tailing.— Wanganui (5. Hamilton 0. Hamilton found their feet and carried all before them in a nice passing rush, penning in the Wanganui backs. Robertson scoring. A little before half-time Griffin added to Wanganui’s total, making the half-time score: Wanganui 9, Hamilton 3. The match assumed a different complexion on the resumption, when Wanganui were surprised by the splendid combination presented by Hamilton. It was now a real battle of strength, and at a rapid pace the Waikato side piled on points. Barrett proved himself a splendid rover, and he lessened the margin between the teams with a nice try, which was not Shortly afterwards Trotter evened the scores with another unconverted try. The pace was willing and there were several delays through minor injuries sustained in the serums and rushes, but the advantage continued to lie with Hamilton, for whom Barakat secured two penalties, to make the final score: Hamilton 15, Wanganui 9. Mr" A. Gordon was the referee.