Rugby.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 152, 15 July 1937, Page 13

Rugby.

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LEADERSHIP HELD Tech. Old Boys Return to Form V1LLAGERS AGAIN WIN

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Except that there waa a reshuffling of places lower down the championshlp scale, and Technical Old Boys staged a welcome return to form, the fight for the 1937 i&ugby club championship still lies between Marist and M.A.C., last week's games in no Way affecting the issue. It is certain, however, that both the leading teams are due for some keen tussles and the indirations point to fresh records beins established in the way of attendances for club games.

The absence of the Maoris, and the counter-attraction of the trial and In* ter-island games at Wellington, prdbably accounted for the paucity of attend* ance at Nelson Park on Saturdiy when the main attraotion was tlie meeting of the two "light brigades" in the com* petition, Technical and Hastings High old pupils. They turned on a good bright open game, with the ex-colleg* ians again making a most impressive showing. Hastings Old -Boys did not maintain their recent improvement. In fact they slipped back a little, and it would seern that the absence of Devine and Holt made all the difterence in the rearguard, which lacked its nsual combination and understanding, to s'-t nothing of thrust. Neithcr Palmer or Apsey appeared to be comfortable when. brought a little nearer to the scrum, the Technical forwards being great spoilers and efi'ective onas. Apart from this, however, the backs did not handle tlie ball at all cleanly. Tcchnicql backs went Well togother, with Bill Johnson and Herbert playing right up to representative form. Peterson was responsible for several good piercing runa, while the diminutivo Workman toiled incessantly at the basa of the scrum. Neither full-back was without blemish, the forwards catchiug them on occasions in possessiou. When it came to handling the ball both sets of forwards were good and their footwork also was above the av* erage, but there was not much leal tight scrummaging done, for both sides preferred the open play. The Technical pack did surprisingly well bonsidering they were without the servicea of Bowman and Dalton, and for once their 3-2-3 formation availed 1 them more than a half-share of possession. In the open Hutton, Campbell and McAuslin were well to the fore, with Hutton quite the best forward on the ground. In the opposition pack, Ford was the most prominent player, with Irwiu, Shrimpton and Ashman in order of merit. Teclmical's showing against Hastings Old Boys gave rlse to much conjecture as to the outcome or tneir encounter with M.A.C. next Saturday. It seems clear that they have now recovered from their lapse of form, and there is little doubt that provided condiuons are much the same as last week tnen they will provlde the competitlon leaders with a great hght. There will be more than ordlnary interest in the game on Saturday and the flrst of the "record" gates is anticipated.

Wooden-spoonists Flease. Though they occupied the outer area at Nelson Park, the wooden-spoonists, Havelick North and Pirates, more of less stole the thunder of the main at* traction. They provided an excep* tionally keen and interesting game and especially in the second spell they attracted more attention th'an the other |ame. The first half of the game was dolinitely in favour of Pirates, who were in good form, especially among tha backs. Time and again the rearguard came into action in movements that would have done justice to any of the leading teams in the competition. The moving spirits in these were Lester, Dowriek and Allan Lopdell, all of wfiom were playing right up to best i orui. Dowrick gave a splendid showing in evory respect. While combination was the keynote of the Pirates backs, individualisni was predominate in the opposition, and iu the second spell waa tlie outstanding feature of tho play. All three niernbers of the Joll ilk in the backs were responsible i'or brilliant movements, CJargill being quite the most outstanding performer. Davis, also, was good ut half-back. 'Ihe forwards were evenly matehed in aimost every phase of the game. Apart from Fraser, for Pirates, and Russell and Ferguson for Havelock, none were unduly prominent. Certainly there was not a passenger in either pack. On their previous meeting these two teams drew; there was certainly no more than a point difi'erence between them on Saturday again, though in ac* cordance with the strict merit of the tame as a whole the odd point should have been in favour of Pirates, and not the Villagers. However, there is no gainsaying that the Villagers put up a remarkably fine up-hill fight in the second spell and their win placed them ft couple of points ahead of the Buccaueers, who are now in sole posseaaioa of the wooden-spooa.