BY ONE POINT

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

BY ONE POINT

Pirates DefeateJ by Napier H.S.O.BBRIGHT FOOTBALL Napier H.S.O.B. narrowly averted defeat by Pirates in a bright, open game at McLean Park, Napier, drawing one point ahead 'after being nine points behind at the intervaL On the day's play, Pirates were a shade better than their opponents, who did not go into action until the closing stages of the match and were completely outclassed in the forward department, the rally in the latter stages being due solely to the inside backs. The teams .were:— Napier H.S.O.B. — Hutchinson, Ausfltin, G. Cox, O'Rourke, Marr, Bradley, Clothier, Butler, Biskop, Bayne, E, Cox, Amner, Griffiths, Lnnor. Pirates. — Mapuhi, Bliss, Thompson, Christie, Lopdeil, Dowrick, Lister, Fra-. ser, Wolstenholme, Bliss, Cooke, Austin, Rossiter, Keehle, Hardgrave. Old Boys set the ball rolling in fine style, but an error of judgment by Bradley, who lield the ball too long after a very good run into Pirates' territory, robbed his side of a try The opposing vanguard then went into action and rolled their opponents back from the line. Prominent in the pack were Wolstenholme and Fraser, each at the top of his form and jvorking hard. The former, after five minutes of p'ay, secured on the Old Boys twenty-tivc mark and made a very good run through the defence before passing to Austin, who scored easily. Dowrick added the extra points. Cox then picked up well in a race for the ball and went over, and soon after Hutchinson landed a penalty to place Old Boys in front. For a period the Old Boys had Pirates defendmg stubbornly, but when a kick went astray the Pirates back line swung into action for a run down the field, Christie toucliing down well out. Dowrick converted with a good kick, and shortly before the intervgj Wolstenholme was again prominent as he led a forward rush and scored under the bar. Dowrick' s third conversion put Pirates nine points in the lead. Griffiths scored for Old Boys when they began the second spell at top speed, and Hutchinson converted. Following this, the play varied, and several movements by each side came close to bearing fruit. The Pirates forwards, who had borne the brunt of the work, seemed to become tired, partly due to injudicious kicking by their backs. Kicks which did not find the line had the pack busy "racing about the field to no good purpose, and this fact contributed to Old Boys' gaining the upper hand as the game progressed. Near time Bradley put in a fine run that ended in a try under the posts. He hjmself converted. Scorers Napier H.S.O.B. (16): 'Bradley (try and two conversions), . Cox (try), Griffiths (try), Hutchinson (penalty). Pirates (15): Dowrick (three conversions), Wolstenholme (try), Austin (try), and Christie (try). Mr L. Cleary refereed.