CHAMPIONS EXTENDED

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

CHAMPIONS EXTENDED

Marist Just Win Against Hastings Old Boys Marist were again allotted the outer ai;ea at Hastings, and on this occasion they had to extend themselves against Hastings Old Boys, w!ho came very close to lowering the colours of the competition leaders. The game was a hright and interesting one, with plenty of back niovements and good forward play. Marist won by 12 points to eight. The teams were:— Marist. — Brewer; Allan, Hansen, White; Benson, Robins; Moss; Sorenson, Irela'nd, Exeter; 'D'avis, Griffin, M. 0 'Brien, Armstrong; ' Mclvbr. Hastings H.S.O.B. — McCarthy ; Lowe, Holt, Avery; Devine Patriek; Hardy; Rankin, Redward Slirknpton; Irvvin, Fargher, Rawiri, Ford; Ashman. Marist early lost their full-back, Brewer, who retired injured, and his place was taken by M. 0 'Brien, wliile Hargreaves caffie on and went into the pack. Old Boys opened with plenty of dash against the wind, the forwards more than holding their own and receiving good backing-up from their backs. It was some time before Marist definitely took up the attack, and when they did Robins secured in the ruek on the home quarter-way and dashed over for a well-earned try after evading - three defenders, Up and down play ensued for a timo; then White secured possession of the ball in the open when about ten yards from the intersection of the half-way and the touch-line, and he dropped a magniflcent field goal, putting Marist nine up. Before the interval each side gained a penalty goal, but Old Boys were' showing excellent form and repeatedly came close to seoring tries. Devine and Holt were in excellent form and added sparkle .to the game with their excellent brealcs. The spell ended with Marist leading 12 — 3, a flattering niiurgin indecd. The second half of tho game found Old Boys staging a great iight to do what others had failed, tliat of lowering the champions' colours. The pace was a craeker, with both sides working their back lines in great style and rcvealing splendid combination. Robins, Hansen and White, on the one side, and Devino aud Holt on the other, attacked and counfer-attacked in sucb swift succession that the crowd was kept in a eonstaut state of exciteinent. Old Boys' territorially, were having the better of the game, and McCarthy nffssed goaling twice by narrow margins. Some success came their way when Holt finished off a brilliant piece

of .passing by tho Old Jif>y backs, but this was the only try ofMihe spell and Marist walked off winners by 12 — 8. The scorers were: — Marist: Hargreaves (penalty goal and conversion), White (field goal), Robins (try). Hastings O.B.: McCarthy (penalty goal and conversion), Holt (try). Mr. J. Geenty refereed,