RUGBY AT THE OVAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19398, 9 August 1937, Page 13

RUGBY AT THE OVAL

POVERTY BAY UNION REPS. FOR TRAINING THIRD GRADE FINAL Though there were the same counter-attractions to Rugby this week as there were last, the dropping off of the attendance this afternoon was not quite so marked at the Oval. The main attraction was •the meeting of the Celtic and Y.M.P. clubs' senior teams and usually that match would have been one looked-forward-to by all followers of the sport. The position of Celtic at the top of the championship ladder was being challenged. Officials of the Maori club expected a strong team this afternoon if all their men were able to be present from the country. This morning there was still a certain amount of doubt regarding one or two players being available. Celtic, likewise, were determined that Y.M.P. would not lower their flags without a good, hard game. Old Boys met Marist in the other senior game, H. 5.0.8., having a bye. In view of the approaching senior representative fixtures with the Bay of Plenty and East Coast, the sole selector, Mr. T.' French, has announced the names of 18 players for training. The first practice will be held at 10 a.m., during the week-end and the following players are requested to attend:—F. McAneney, A. McAneney, J. Milligan. A. Bartie, R. Rogers, W. Steel, R. Patty, D. Vincent, W. Matheson, E. O'Halloran, G. Phillips, R. Spence, A. Reed, J. Leach, E. Grant, G. Sharp, C. Waide, and P. Kaua. " Early results were as follows: Third Grade Championship Playing under difficult conditions, Marist and Old Boys met this afterrioon in the deciding game of the third grade championship. When they took the field as curtain-raiser to the main game the teams were equal in the number of championship points scored during the season. Old Boys were favoured with a strong wind in the first half, but did not take full advantage of the kick and follow up tactics and when the half-time whistle sounded the score was only six to nil in their favour. After the change-over there was a vast imorovement in their forward play and they held the Marist attacks off decidedly well. Marist scored their first point after the resumption of play and looked like scoring again soon after, but play was taken to the midfield area. The scorers for Old Boys were O'Connell and Richards, while Marist's points were registered by S. Lee. The score at the time of going to press was six to three in favour of Old Boys. Mr. W. McKeague was the referee. Junior Grade Old Boys B 20 v. Marist nil. Old Boys A won by default from Waikohu.