DYER'S FIELD GOAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 78, 19 April 1937, Page 9

DYER'S FIELD GOAL

Gives Hastings Win Over Pirates HARD-FOUGHT MATCH Past and evenly\ matched football was played at McLean Parfe, •Napier, when a field goal by Dyer in the second spell was the deciding factor in Hastings gaining a victory over Pirates by 16 to 12. Pirates led by six to nil at the intervai, after which Hastings put on a spurt and despite heing handicapp'e'd 'by lighter weight both 'in the forwards and backs, fully extended the home side right until the call of time. Dyer's field goal was registered ahout 16 minutes hefore time, when the score was 13all. The teams were. Pirates. — J. Mapuhi; B. W. Bliss, V. Thompson, L. Patchett ; J. Watts, D. Dowrick; R. Lister; J. Gilroy, R. Keeble, H. Fraser; S. McKenzle, B. Wolstenholme, J. Cooke, Hardgraves; B. Hill. Hastings.— M. Dyer; R. Robertson, J. Nelson, I. Hill; D. Brimmer, A. Gillies; N. Cooke; F. Howell, R. O'Brien, D. Tate; B. Wright, A. Aldridge, L. Wilson, M. McDonald; C. Muir. A greasy ball made conditions difficult for effective handlingj during the first half, with the result that the game was not impressive so far as rearguard combination waa concerned. After a few minutes' play in open territory, Pirates began an attack which brought frequent excursions down to Hastings's line. Dyer, at full-back, was called updn to give his best, and he proved a safe custodian. Pirates had an advantage in weight, of which the forwards made the best advantage, both in scrums and line-outs. The most a'ttractive back movement in the. first spell came when Mapuhi, the exLeague player, turned Hastingis's attaf a into defence by some clever dodging. When eventually tackled he hauded the ball on to Dowrick, to Patehett, who was forced out near the Hastings twenty-five line. From the line-out Pirates gained ground, and the home team opened their scoring aceount when Fraser dribbled over the line and scored. Mapuhi' b kick went siightly wide. He made no error of judgment two minutes later, however, when he kicked a penalty goal from a good position, placing Pirates six points in the lead. Mapuhi captured tbe eye of the spectators more than once. In accordance with the rules of Rugby League he has been used to passing out rather than kicking, and in this respect he kept fche rest of the Pirates backs busier than they would otherwise have been. But his line-kicking left little to be dosired. At the intervai Pirates were still leading by six-nil. Failure on the part of Bliss, Pirates' wing-three-quarter, to. get rid of the ball immcdiately after the changeover, nearly awarded Hastings with a try, but Pirates maiiaged to forc down. Returniug to the attack, however, Hastings reduced the lead when Nelson kicked a penalty goal. I'irates' second try origiuated from solne reniarkalily line fotward work, with Keeble in proininence. After gaining valuable ground, the jiack left the back to carry on, and Watts crossed the line in the corner after the ball passed through three pairs of hands, Mapuhi found the angle too great to convert. Tw'enty minutes after ihe start of the second spell, Mapuhi's dodgitlg tactics led Pirates into trouhle. After a gallop of about 25 yards, he was cUught in possession. "'elson iutereepted a pass on the rebound and daslied down the side-line, scoring near the iorner. The kick failed and Hastings

minutes later Hastings equalised the scores when Aldridge kicked a penaltv goal from a wide angle. Froin that moment both teams giave jf their best. By sheer hard work, Hastings forced Pirates back to their own twenty-fiVe, and the defence broke down when Wright, a forward went. over near the corner. Aldridge' s kick .vas wide and Hastings maintained the lead by 12 to nine. The interest was maintained right to . the end. Ten mdnutes before time Mcfienzie scored for Pirates after a forward struggle on the Hastings line. Dowrick missed an easy kick, the score then being 12-all. Then Dyer kicked «i field goal, putting Hastings four points up. Both teams worked like niggers during the final two or three minutes, play beiug up , and down field. Neither team scored again, however, and Hastings won a well-fought match. The scorers were. — Hastings: Nelson (a try and a penalty goal), Aldridge (a penalty goal), Wright (a try), Dyer (a field goal). Pirates: Fraser (a try), Mapuhi (a penalty goal), Watts (a try), McKenzie (a try). Mr Latta refereed.