MARIST ON TOP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 173, 9 August 1937, Page 15

MARIST ON TOP

M.A.C. Dvwned in Thrilling Game FINE RUGBY PROVIDED St&ging one of the flnest exhibitions of Bugby eeen for a long timo, Mariri and M.A.C. thrilled a record crowd at Nelson Fark, Hastings, on Saturday afternoon in what will probably be the deciding game and the final club championship game of the season. Marist won by eight points to flve, but at no stage t» there much between the two teams; the forwards revealed remarkable stainina and form, while the backs of both sides defended tenaciously throughout. The Maoris led 5 — 0 at the interval, having had the wind in their favour, and it was not until the game was well advanced that Marist drew level and eventually ran ont the winners vrtth a second try. The teams wero as follow : — Marist. — Hannan ; Allcn, Mclvdr, Davis j Robins, Benson ; Moss ; Exeter, Sorenson, Armstrong; J. O'Brien Griffin, M. O'Brien, Hardgrave, All•op. M.A.G. — S. Jackson; Meafou, Spadi Poi, A. Watford; Staples, Kurupo; Newton; E.* Jackson, Mataira, Cunningham; Reid, Thompson, Te Ngaio. Greenmg ; Crawford Favour ed with the strong wind at iheir backs, the Maoris promptly set about hustling Marist by keeping the ball in -play. Within a few miuutes they were pressing at the corner, and from a line-out Crawford scored for S. Jackson to convert brilliantJy. The Maori forwards "Wero setting the j>aee and infusing pleuty of dash and speed into their work to keep play continuously in the Marist quarter-Way. .Lbcre was a quick succession of force-downs as the resulfc of hard kicking. These, as Well as several free kicka, providcci Marist with. Welcomo respites. One brief excursion was made by Marist into M.A.C. territory, a series of touch-finders taking them down tho left wing, but the Maori forwards cleared brilliantly and again aitaciied etrongly. Tbough the play was opcn, the forwards predominated, both packs, playing excellently. SeVeral times tho * Maoris just faiied to get over from fast, loose rushes, and gradually they eased the pressurc. The Marist forwards were started oif on a great a\veeping movemeht by Benson, and twice ihe forwards broke away in short-passingj bouts, but they did not reach the danger zdne. Gradually the Maoris took up the attack once inore, and they hammered away in gieat styfe, throwing the ball about with deiightful abandon, but Marist grujily defended and were successful in keeping the Maoris at bay until the interval, whcn the %core was : — M.A.C. f>3 Marist nil. .Expectations of. Marist beipgi carly on the attack after the ehange-cver Wero not rcalised, the Maoris nu re tlian holding their ow.u torritonailv. Both sides were throwing ibe ball cbonf. but possession was givaier with the Maoris whot however, were several times penalised when on attack. Ihe play was fiill of exeiting loose rushcs by both sets of forwardsi and the tackhng was deadly in ita persistency and kccuraQr. Territorially ihe Maoris were more than holding their own, and there Svas a long period of play in neutral territory, tho foi'wards beihg the donnnatrng factor. A long-range attempt at

goal from a free kick by Mat O Bnen started Marist off on another attack, and they made the pace a cracker, the forwards passing splendidly in loose rushes that only solid tackling stopped. Hardgrave took a futile free kick at goal from an acute angle, ard shortly afterwards made a second effort from a long Way in front oi' the posts which fell just short of the har. The Maoris were about to take »p the attack again when the Marist docks initiated a passing bout on the haliway and Mclvor brone througa to ra ro to the quarter-way vuth. three companions lined up. The ball weut to M. O'Brien and finally to Armstrong, who scored a brilliant try. Hardgrave converted with a gdod kick to tven up the 6cores. The crowd became most excited at this stage, for first the Maoris and tben Marist came close to scoring from wonderful loose rushes. The forwards were in exceptional form. A well-judgr ed cross-kick by Davis enabled three Marist forwards to give chase and M. O'Brien was awarded a toueh-down fol' the try.- Shortly afterwards tiitte was called with the Maoris pressing Btroligly but by no means predominating. The seorers were: Marist: , /Armstrong, M., O'Brien. ^try ; eaeh), . Hardgrave (conve;rsion)). M.A.C.: . Crawford. (try), S. Jackson (conversion). Mr J.'SCott was referee. -