CLUB RUGBY IN THE MUD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 155, 19 July 1937, Page 9

CLUB RUGBY IN THE MUD

Pirates Just Defeat Napier H.S.O.B. FIVE POINTS TO THREE Pirates BlicL to Victory to the sole senior cOmpetition imatcli played in the Hastings-N apier COmpetition oh Saturday, defeating Napier H.S.O.E. by five potots to thiree tn the quagmire that waB McLean Park, Napier. Throughout tlie game it was impossible to control the ball, the game deveioptog into an feveniy-conteStfed iofward struggld. Firates' last-minute tklly gave tliem victory. The teanis Were;— Napier H.S.D.B.— Hutchinfeon, Austin, ltees, O'Rourke, G. Cdx, Marr, McKinnon, Ennor Amner, Hutchinson, Bayne, K. Cox, W. Olothiei1, Mathieson, Butler, Pirates; Mapuhi, Boardmnn, Lopdell, Wickham, .Dowrick, Morgaii, H&mmond, Lister, Gilroy, M&i'sliajl, I. Lopdell, Wolstenholmo, Bliss, Hill, McKeUzie. The playing area w&s a sheet oi water, dooted here and there with patches of green girass, likb islands in a muddy sea. The gamo Was played in slow Uiotion, becadse players fell if they attemptcd to run fast. Intermittent storins of heavy rain drenched the players. Owing to the treacherbus lfature of the ground and the slippery ball, passing rushes were practically ndii existent, artd the bali was diffiOult to control even in dribbling. Old Boys held a territorial advantage in the first Spell, but were unable to round off their attacks. Ennor was prominent in a fine dribbling rush that almost reached the lihe before the ball was found into toUcli, and as the game prbgressed both teams conceUtrated oh this iorm of attack, Pirates puttitig several oi their forwards amoiig the backs vviieU they found that weight iti tlie scrum counted for Uothing on the glassy fieiu Thero was 00 scure at the ihterval Souli after play begau once more W. Clothier crossed for Uld Boys hui Was recalled lor a 1'orWdfd pass, and I'iratos cleared. The play "slid" to aod fi'o aloug the field, dnd botb sides had udrlow escapes, Old Boys dropping tin ball twice When tliGy were a lew yaids from the line with an open field. I'lilah ly Mapuhi slipped ds he attempted to force. and G. Cox touched down. HntchiusoiTs kick, altbough it went over, was disallowed because McKenzie touched it en route. Three tuiti ites later Bliss scored uilder the posts foi Pirates and Dowfick coliverted -m rhcall of time. The sCorers were : Pirates io) Bliss (try) and Dowrick- (conversion). Napier H.S.O.B. (3): 0. f_>x (try). ' Mr R. Marcroft refereed.