RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 May 1936, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP PIRATES, OLD DOTS AND NELSON WIN SATURDAY’S MATCHES The first round of the Nelson Rugby Union’s championship matches was continued on Saturday in ideal weather conditions. At the Park Old Boys defeated Rivals after a keen struggle, while in the country Pirates narrowly overcame Waimca and Nelson rather easily accounted for Rovers on the Wakefield ground. Results at a glance are: — Senior. Old Boys 13, Rivals 8. Pirates 9, Waimea 8. Nelson 21, Rovers 8. J unior. Rivals 3, Waimea 3. Nelson 9, Pirates 3. Third. Nelson 15, Old Boys 5.

OLD BOYS DEFEAT RIVALS

BY 13 POINTS TO S

In a game that was always keenly contested especially towards the close, Old Boys defeated Rivals at the Park by two converted tries and a try to a converted try and a penalty goal. The conditions were excellent for good football, but play was mostly of a scrappy nature, though very exciting at times. Rivals forwards played a spoiling game and were generally successful in preventing anything like an organised attack by the opposing backs. The teams were: Old Boys—King; Rowe, Dee, Vass; Morris, Richards; J. Busch; V. Mabin, Eustace, Craighead, Wood, E. Mabin, Dobbie. McKay, Grant.

Rivals—Cooper, Mclsaac, Pike, Mayers, Snowden, Wishart, McKay, Thompson, Westley, Carey, McKenzie, Yass, Watson, Biggs, Frost. Play had been in progress ten minutes, with Rivals attacking for the most part, when the game was cairied into their 25 for the first time and V. Mabin scooped up the rolling ball on the line for the opening points. The kick was a difficult one but King sent the ball over the bar. Old Boys 5, Rivals 0. Twice Rivals hooked cleanly and twice Carey hung on too long and was downed by Richards. Pike then intercepted a pass well in Old Boys territory, handed on to Watson who was tackled by King. Westley in support received the ball and was nearly over but McKay racing back tackled him in the nick of time for Old Boys. Penalties began to come the way of Rivals and soon Old Boys had been penalised eight times, but the positions were too difficult for Mayers and Westley to bring points to their side. The half-time score was s—o.

Dobbie went away with the ball at his feet, and after a melee Grant scored a try which King failed to convert. Old Boys 8, Rivals 0. Vass securing on the wing raced upfield before centring. V. Mabin put in a determined run from the 25. He beat several men in a dash which carried him right to the line where he reversed passed to Eustace who scored near the posts. Morris added the extra points. Old Boys 13, Rivals 0. Rivals were by no means done, however, and their forwards, securing the ball from practically every scrum gave their backs every chance. Westley at times let it out and 'Watson used his pace to good effect, once going right through only to go clown to King, who was coolly giving one of the best exhibitions of all departments of full-back play seen on the Park for a long time. Biggs, the Rival full-back also gave a sound display. A penalty to Rivals under the posts saw Westley land the goal. Rivals 3, Old Boys 13. Pike almost immediately took the ball at his feet and dribbled it over the line where Watson dropped on it. Westley converted. Rivals 8, Old Boys 13“ With the margin thus reduced Rivals were all t out to add to their score and set up a sustained attack, though method was lacking and Old Boys held their line intact, though a last-minute flank attack saw McKenzie racing for the corner in a dangerous move, until upset by King. Old Boys were penalised on 10 occasions and Rivals on three. The referee, Mr Cooper, found it necessary at various times to warn three Rival players. NELSON DEFEAT ROVER GAME AT WAKEFIELD HAWTHORNE SCORES 15 POINTS On Saturday at Wakefield Nelson defeated Rover by 21 points to 8. Hawthorne, the Nelson forv.tard, had a day out scoring three tries each of which he converted himself, Fleet opened the scoring for Nelson with a try at the end of a forward rush. Rover evened the points when Baigent took a mark and was successful with a drop kick at goal. Rover 3, Nelson 3. Before half time Hawthorne broke away twice to score two fine tries, both of which he converted. Nelson 13, Rover 3. In the first half Nelson had had decidedly the better of the play but on resuming in the second spell the Rover forwards, playing rugged football, repeatedly attacked and were rewarded when Fitzsimmons scored a try which Baigent converted. Rover 8, Nelson 13. Nelson then rallied and Hawthorne ran in for another try which he converted. Nelson 18, Rover 3. Near the end the town team’s forwards again took control and K. McKegney scored a try making the final score: Nelson 21, Rover 8. The Rev. A. Fear was the referee. piratesvTwaimea A ONE-POINT MARGIN These two country teams met under perfect conditions at Brightwater, and filter a fast, interesting game in which both sides threw the ball about freely Pirates emerged'victorious by a single point—three penalties to two tries, one converted.

Waimea opening strongly caught Pirates napping and rattled up 8 in as many minutes, but they were unable to score again, throwing away a golden opportunity of snatch-

ing a victory when right on the call of time they were awarded a penalty almost in front of the goal, and Lovell made a poor attempt at goal. Both sides showed greatly improved football and Waimea being without several of their backs showed that with a full team they will take a lot of beating—provided they remain in the competition after the first round. A feature of the game was the strict and impartial display with the whistle by the referee, Mr Scadden. Nothing was allowed to go by and though the result was an abnormal number of penalties, such strict control cannot but have an improving effect on the game. The teams were as follows: Pirates: Driscoll. Kearns, R. Newman. Falconer, Rogers, Stewart, McKane, Gibbons, Bashford, Max, A. Newman, Challies, Piper, Roughton. Ryan. Waimea: Hart, Lusty, Adams, McJlarg. Craig. Lovell, McLean, Bird, F. Fowler, P. Fowler, Hardy, Rogers, Williams, Gomez, Brooks. Waimea won the toss and at once rushed play to Pirates 25. The forwards dribbled to the line where Hart picking up smartly ran over for a try. Lovell converting with a fine kick. Waimea 5, Pirates 0. From a scrum at half way Fowler cleverly worked the blind and sent Williams away for a try near the corner. Lovell tailed with the kick. Waimea 8, Pirates 0. Waimea forwards led by Craig and Lovell came again and bustling Driscoil looked like adding another try, but Challies cleared and aided by a penalty play was taken to Waimea 25. Hard play followed till Lovell got offside and R. Newman landed a beautiful goal from three yards inside halfway. Waimea rushed play to Pirate 25, but gave away three penalties in succession, R. Newman narrowly missing the uprights with the third, McKane opened to his backs but Stewart was uncertain in his handling. Waimea were penalised when Craig obstructed at the side of the scrum and Newman again narrowly missed. Max and Piper broke through but Brooks cleared well. Ryan bustled Brooks and Waimea were kept busy but the defence held. Waimea were awarded a penalty in a good position, but Brooks failed with the kick. Ryan made a good run and sent to Newman to Falconer who just failed to get clear. L. Max broke through and bustled Gomez Who was penalised for hanging on. R. Newman again missed with the kick. Gomez made a determined run up the line but spoilt his effort by sending in a forward pass. The same player came again but passed blindly to a Pirate player who promptly relieved the pressure. Rogers, with a strong run, relieved still further and a penalty enabled Newman to add another three points to Pirates’ total. Waimea looked dangerous when the ball was punted high to the line, Pirates forcing just in time. A. Newman, who came on about half an hour after the commencement and had been playing a roving game, sent Falconer away but Brooks was equal to the occasion.

The second half opened with passing rushes by both sides, faulty handling in each case spoiling their chances. A. Newman got offside coming round a scrum and Lovell missed with the kick from near the side line. Ryan put his side in difficulties when he miskicked and Hardy whipped through but failed to pass at the critcial moment, Pirates being lucky to force. F. Fowler again worked the blind side and after a good run sent to Gomez who lost the ball when he appeared to have a clear opening. Bashford was prominent in a Pirate rush to Waimea twenty-five; then the backs took a hand but Lovell cleared. Play was now willing with Pirates making a bold bid for the lead. However, they seemed to have lost three points when they were penalised for playing the man but Lovell missed an easy one.

Waimea came again and Fowler had Pirates thinking when he centred to the front of the goal. However. Stewart cleared with a fine kick to half way. McKane opened to his backs and A. Newman joining in ran well up the line and passed in to his brother who failed to connect. Waimea were penalised in front of their goal.. R. Newman converted from nearly half way the ball just clearing the bar. Pirtaes 9, Waimea 8.

Pirates were now leading by one point and excitement ran high. Gibbons secured from a rebound and ran well up but failed to pass to Rogers who was handy and a chance was lost. Lovell led his forwards in a great rush and then the backs took a hand, Hardy being chased into the ruck. A score looked certain when Rogers short punted and caught Brooks in possession almost on his line, but no one was handy to score and Waimea forced. McKane worked the blind side to Stewart who ran well up and returned to McKane who made a determined clash for the line being held up when almost over.

Waimea now took a hand and right on the call of time Pirates were penalised in front of the posts Lovell’s attempt was a poor one and Pirates retained their one point lead.