CLASH FOR RUGBY TITLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19701, 5 August 1938, Page 11

CLASH FOR RUGBY TITLE

CHAMPIONSHIP IN DOUBT POVERTY BAY UNTON TO-MORROW'S FIXTURES By "Sideline." Both the Celts and H.S.O.U. will have to win their matches to-morrow to have any hope of winning the Poverty Bay Rugby Union's championship this season. It is the second last match of the series and it is sufficient to say that the end-o*-sea-son strength of Old Boys and Marist is threatening both the leading teams. If one of them goes down to thenopponents that team will automatically drop out of prominence. If both leading teams win, or ll both are beaten, it will mean that there will be a play-ofr as there has been for the past few years. With the withdrawal of the Old Boys Car:. team from the third round, oi tne series the last of the club games will be played between Old Boys and Marist, the other two teams having a bye. In the event of the leading teams being level after to-morrow's fixture the play-off will be stagecT- on the day of the next club matches. Close-Fought Games The first time Marist met Celtic theMarist side startled their opponent and were beaten only in the last few minutes of the game by 13 points to 11. In the second round the Celt? were prepared, but there was only three points separating the two Warns at the close of play. Marist has now a penetrating live-eighth in M. Smller and it would not be surprising u thev turned the tables on the Celts. The Marist forwards will be just rugged as their opponents and shoulo have the condition to last the CliStance at a hot pace. The ex-students had a fairly comfortable win over Old Boys in tin first round, winning by 15 points to six, but the second time the twe teams met they were beaten *oy li .joints to eight. H. 5.0.8. will mis; the services of J. Leach and P. Kutia who are with the Maori Ail Blacßs. and will have to work hard to hole. oIT defeat against a willing pack >l forwards and, at times, inspired unc of backs. The championship points are a: Collows-.-Celtic, 18, H,5.0.8.,18. Old Boys, 12, Marist, 8.