Rugby Season Opened

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 85, 12 April 1937, Page 8

Rugby Season Opened

INITIAL MATCHES PLAYED IN HAWKE'S BAY From Our Own Correspondent. NAPIER, April 10. Tbe 1937 Rugby football season in Hawke's Bay was opened this afternoon when the senior club championship competition was commenced at Napier and Hastings. Four games were played, and generally the standard of play was high for the first of the season. Tho attendances were also good. Results were as follow: Napier H. 5.0.8. 16 v. Celtic 10. Marist 12 v. Pirates 8. Hastings 13 v. M.A.C. 12. Hastings H. 5.0.8. 17 v. Havelock North 11. Marist’s Lucky Win. Marist were lucky to come out on top against Pirates and certainly they did not come up to expectations. Though against the wind in the first spell they led 6—o at half time, but territorially the honours were definitely with Pirates, who in the second spell again had the better of the game and put on eight points to Marist’s six, leaving the final at 12—8. A penalty goal to Hargreaves gave Marist the first “leg-in” and this was followed by Sorensen scoring an unconverted try. For the most part Pirates dictated the play by reason of their advantage in the scrum where they invariably secured possession, bat their handling was poor. After the change over Marist were expected to swamp Pirates and these anticipations appeared likely to eventuate when Hargreaves scored within a few minutes from a forward rush. However, Pirates adopted loose rushes and set about running Marist off their feet and their first success came when S. McKenzie topped off a fine 35-yard run with a try, Dowrick converting. Then Patchett scored a great try from a characteristic race along the side line and the margin was only a point. Pirates, for the next 20 minutes, did everything but score and it was only a few minutes for from a line-out J. O’Brien sent Hargreaves over for a third helping of points. Pirates were back again when time was called but they had not crossed and Marist walked off lucky winners 12—8. Mclvor, Benson and Hargreaves were the pick of the Marist with McKenzie, Hill, Lopdell and Patchett shining for Pirates.

Mr. N. Gilchrist refereed. Hastings Down M.A.C,

Hastings * sprang a surprise in the main attraction at Hastings by defeating the redoubtable Maori side, M.A.C., after a thrilling exhibition of hard a“nd interesting Rugby, the final margin being 13—12. The Maoris set the pace in tho first half, having the assistance of the wind, and they led 9 —o at half time. The Maori forwards, with Tori Reid, Everard Jackson and Greening very much to fore, and Crawford flashing into the limelight occasionally, sorely troubled the lighter Hastings side but Dyer played a wonderful game at full back. E. Jackson opened the score with a typ*jal forward try, and his brother Selwyu shortly afterwards landed a good penalty goal. The League convert, Meafou, scored the only other try of the spell. Hastings stopped the “rot** promptly after the interval when Dyer kicked a great goal and in the next ten minutes he came close to a further penalty and a field goal, but it was left to Wright to actually pierce the Maoris’ defence and he scored a pretty try, which Nelson converted. The ensuing play was sparkling, with both sides going full out. Nelson put Hastings ahead with a thrilling run from halfway, and converted his own try. The Maoris camo to light again towards the close of the game, Newton scoring a clever try from a scrum on the line, but the conversion missed and Hastings came out the winners by 13 —12. Dyer, Nelson, Wright and Howell were the best for Hastings and in the opposition camp Kurupo, 8. and E. Jackson and Crawford collected tho honours. Mr. J. Scott refereed. High Scoring Game.

In the highest scoring match of tin series Hastings H. 5.0.8. defeated Have lock North at Hastings by 17 points to 11, the game being interesting and bright at all times. Old Boys revealed a surprisingly good combination for so early in the season and it w*as only determined, and rather fortunate at times, tackling by the villagers that kept the score down.

With the wind in favour of Havelock North in the first spell the honours were fairly even; certainly the scoring was for each side collected eight points. Fast following-up enabled Ferguson to open the scoring for Havelock, C. Joll converting, but within a few minutes Holt ran through the side to score near the posts and McCarthy evened up the scores. C. Joll put over a long-range penalty goal to put his side ahead but Jonsou equalised with a try in the corner.

After the interval C. Joll again put Havelock ahead when he scored the best try of the game but Jonson was equal to the occasion and he also scored a try. The remainder of the scoring was done by McCarthy who kicked n couple of good goals, but territorially Old Boys had the better of the game. The two Jolls, Ferguson and Small were the best of the villagers and Old Boys* outstanding players wero Holt, Palmer, Jonson and Irwin. Mr. A. Kirkpatrick refereed. Old Boys Victorious.

A good win was scored by Napier H. 5.0.8. over Celtic, the gamo being keenly contested throughout. That Old Boys emerged victors by 10 points to 10 was largely due to their superiority' iu the rearguard, especially in the first spell during which they secured a lead of 11—5.

I The scoring opened when G. Cox put lin a fino burst down the side line to 1 give Old Boys “first blood” and shortly afterwards Hawkins, on the other wing, did likewise. The margin, however, was reduced to one when Maaka battled his way over from a forward scramble and Pullen converted to give Celtic five points. Old Boys were making full .use of the wind and pressing Celtic hard for the greater part of the spell but Amner was the only other to