Rugby Lead

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 102, 17 May 1937, Page 9

Rugby Lead

EXCITING SERIES Hastings Suffer Their First Defeat VERY CLOSE SCORING Exceptionally close acoring was recorded in all four games played in the Hastings-Napier Rugby club championship on Saturday, when' the most interesting serles to date was played. There were one or two surprises and the star attraction, that between M.A.O. and Technical O.B., at Napier, attracted a record attendance for a club match. The day's play saw two hitherto undefeated teams suffer their first reverse, leaving Marist sole leaders of the competition, and still unbeaten. The game between M.A.C. and Technical O.B. was remarkable in more ways than one, for it was a game of many highlights and incidents. Tempers were short at times, and throughout 1'eeling ran high, three players being ordered off and others being severely cautioned. The Maoris eventually ran out winners by 12 points to nine. Hastings suffered their first defeat when they went down to Celtic by three — nil at Hastings, and Marist were hard put to it to come out on top againat Hastings H.S.O.B., who ran the leaders to a 12 — 8 score. The remaining senior game, at Napier, was also keenly contested, Napier H.S.O.B. just defeating Pirates by' 16 points to 15. There was good, bright and interesting play in this match. The positions of the teams in the competition are now as follow: —

Games Points Ch. W. L. D. For Agt. Pts Marists ........ 5 85 38 10 MAC 4 1 — 94 42 8 Technical O.B. *4 1 — 87 21 8 Hastings 4 1 — 45 40 8 Napier O.B 3 3 — 62 79 6 Celtic 2 4 — 34 73 4 Hastings O.B. 1 5 — 70 107 2 Pirates — 4 1 50 86 1 Havelock North — 4 1 41 82 1