RUGBY TOURNAMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18988, 13 April 1936, Page 6

RUGBY TOURNAMENT

MARIST FOOTBALLERS LOSERS' GAMES TO-DAY WIN FOR NAPIER The programme of the Marist Rugby Association's annual tournament for the Spillano and Brennan Cups, continued on the Oval to-day, comprised the finals in both divisions, which were set down for decision this afternoon, and the losers' matches to determine which of the A division teams should give place in next year's tournament to this year's Brennan Cup winners. In view of the fact that the Gisborne Celtic and Gisborne Marist teams were engaged in the finals of the respective divisions, to be played during the afternoon, there was no special local attraction for the morning session of the tournament, and the attendance was not particularly large then. On the other hand, the afternoon session promised to be a most popular one, and arrangements were made to handle a large crowd with the utmost dispatch.

NAPIER V. ST. PATS LOW SCORING MATCH In the Spillane Cup losers' play-off, to determine which team gives way in the A division to the Brennan Cup winners, Napier Marist met St. Pats, Manawatu, on the No. 1 ground this morning. The game was not particularly fast in its early stages, St. Pats forcing the play for the greater part, and keeping Napier in their own end for about a quarter of an hour on end, during which the attacking backs looked dangerous once or twice, and Brewer, at fullback for Napier, made some good clearances. St. Pats had the better of most of the scrums, and Bdlin, their halfback, showed a good capacity to handle a wet and greasy ball, but forward passing spoilt some fair chances for St. Pats when they penetrated to the Napier 25yds. area. A nice kick by Brewer returned play to the midfield sector from the Napier end after 20 minutes' play, and Mclvor (Napier) got possession of the ball, having plenty of support. He elected to kick instead of passing, and Richards, the St. Pats' fullback, failed to gather in the kick, dribbling the ball across the field and finally being forced to put it out of bounds near the corner flag in his own end. From the line-out, Napier got the ball again, and Hannan tried a swift drop-kick at 'goal, raising the first points of the game:— Napier 4 St. Pats 0

St. Pats went well in a forward rush following the drop-out from the 25yds. line, and the game wis soon back in the Napier end, where a penalty was awarded to the attacking side. Powell took the kick from a fairly good position, but the ball went astray) and Napier forced. Soon after the St. -Pats' backs went into action with dash, R. Gillespie setting them going with a fine run from a little on his own side of the midfield line, and J. Delaney carrying on the attack. Delaney opened-up a great chance, but his pass to the winger, Hawick, was a disappointing effort, and Napier quickly retrieved the position. For the remainder of the first half St. Pats were mainly on the defensive, and the score remained unchanged at the interval. During the early stages of the second half, St. Pat's again pressed persistently, and suffered a certain amount of ill-luck when in the neighbourhood of the Napier goal line, though on one occasion at least their lack of success was due to a tendency to try for field goals rather than for tries. The Napier forwards were mainly responsible for keeping the line intact, and most of the ground gained by Napier was also due to good forward play, Exeter making one particularly good run on the line which carried the game down to St. Pat's 25yd flag St. Pat's backs showed plenty of speed individually, but their combination was poor, and the passing was weak. The final score was:— Napier ... 4 St. Pats 0

HAMILTON V. WANGANUI FEW BRIGHT MOVEMENTS In the match for the wooden spoon between Wanganui and Hamilton, the Brennan Cup losing teams of the first day, tlie score at noon stood at 3—o in favour of Hamilton, the points representing an unconverted try. Play was of an uninteresting character for the greater part, but a few bright movements were witnessed, mainly as a result of good forward work.

At time, the scores were still even, 8-all, and extra time was played until, three minutes after the resumption, Wanganui scored a try to decide the match in their favour.