HARIST HOLD LEAD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 120, 7 June 1937, Page 9

HARIST HOLD LEAD

Backs Far Too Good For Hastings SECOND-HALF RALLY The competition leaders, Marist, had no difficulty in defeating Hastings in the main game at Napier on Saturday by 16 points to six. Although they held a lead of only three points — gained from a penalty goal — at the interval, Marist used their backs to good account in the second spell to scoregthree good tries that placed the issue beyond doubt. The main part of the game however, was confin'ed to the forwards, and although Marist were able to secure at will in the set scrums, Hastings were just as good as their opponents in the loose. The teams were:— Marist: Hannan, Mclvor, Allen, White, Robins, Benson, Moss, Davis, J. O'Brien, Sorenson, Armstrong, M. O'Brien, Nelson, Ireland, Allsopp. Hastings: Dyer, Wright, Robertson, McNab, Nelson, Gillies, Cooke, Aldridgie, Wallace, Wilson, Croft, McDonald, Muir, Tate, McDonall.

The Marist forwards eet the ball rolling with a fine dribbling rush that reached the Hastings litte, but play swung back to the centre of the field, wher© Hastings wero penalised for a scrum infringCment. With a stiif breeze at his baek, M, O'Brien bareiy missed a 57-yard penalty, the ball scraping under the bar to bd forced. On sevei al occasions the Marist backs broke away, but minor infringemeiits kept them comparatively harihless. It was not UUtil the middlb of tlie spell that Marist scored, a scrufitt infringement by Hastings enabling Robins to kick a neat penalty. ^ Soon after, Allen threw away a certain try when he passed forward near the Hastings line, with three rnen in support and only the fullback to beat. As ihe whistle blew. Robins missed a field goal. The second half coUimenced with a brilliant scoring movement by Hastings. wlien Muir secuTed near the halfway line, handed ou to Ciillies, aud then ran hard to take an in-lield pass tbat saw tlie first player race across to the opposite side of the field, wliere he handed on to Wright for a try in the coriler. Nelsoh missed tbe kick. Tbi? success gava.npw spirit to the visitors, and their fofWafds surged fol'Ward iti an irresistible rush to the Marist gbal. where tiiQ leaders were hard put to it to keep them from scoring. i The MaVist winger, White, turned the tide when he appeared for a brief

way. With a fine burst of speed he broke through the defence, and handed on to J. O'Brien, who carried on until Stopped, when Robins and Benson handled, the last named going over under the poBts at the close of a brilliant movement. Robins converted, and the Marist back line swung into action again two minutes later, also from a scrum near half-way, The ball travelled right along the line, Moss, Benson, Rabins, Mclvor and Allen handling for the winger to touch down well out. The kick failed. At this stage the Marist backs were right on top, and were far too clever and fast for the defence. J. O'Brien then secured, hesitated when tackled, and then walked out of the arms of Dyer to touch down under the posts. Robins converted. Near the close of tbe game Cooke hurled himself over for Hastings from a scrum near the line Dyer's kick failed. The scorers : Marist (16) : Benson (try), Allen (try), J. O'Brien (try), Robins (penalty and two conversions. Hastings (6) : Wright (try) and Cooks (try). Mr. N. Gilchrist refereed.