ANOTHER CLOSE CALL

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

ANOTHER CLOSE CALL

Hastings H.S.O.B. Just Head Off Pirates 65-yard penalty Desuite their low positlon on the cnampionship ladder, Pirates have given many of tho leading teams close matches during the season, and on Saturday at McLean Fark, Napier, Hastings HS.o.B. mere fully extended to defeat them by 20 points to 16 in tne main attraction. Within 10 minutes of fhe close of the game Pirates wero two points ahead, but a final rally gave the visitors the decision. The teams were: — Pirates. — Ma puhi, Thompson, Lopdell, Hardgrave, Dowrick, Morgan, Lister, Hill, MeKenzie, Bliss, Cook, Lopdell, Fraser, Iveeble, Gilroy, * Hastings H.S.O.B.— MeCarthy. .Tohnson, Holt, Lowe, johnston, Apsey, Alexander, Shrimpton, Thomas, Trumper, Thompson, Irwin, Fargher, Ford, Asliman. Hastings Old Boys began the game with a strong wind at their backK? arid before the spell was three miuutes oio ,tke Pirates forwards were penalised 15

yards within Old Boys' territory. Tho spectators were surprised to see MeCarthy place tlio ball and walk back in an attempt . at a 65-yard ponalty, but their surprise' was increased when the ball sailed between the uprights. Taking full advantage of the wind, Old Boys began an attack, and after imtting ia a pretty run Apsey sen* Lowe over1 in a handy position. The Pirates forwards rushed down MeCarthy 's kick. Pirates attacked, but the well-judged line-kicking of the Hastings team kept them out until Dowrick landed a shortrange penalty. This was followed within a few minutes by another penalty by MeCarthy. At this stage the Pirates forWards dominated the game anj repeatedly made strong attaclcs that faiied by the narrowest of margins. The line-kicking of MeCarthy was excellent, and saved his team a lot of hard work. The spell endod when a strong attacking movement by Hastings H.S.O.B. ended out of play. With the wind at least in their favour, Pirates set out in a strong attack to reduee their deficit, and after several sorties a nice run by Thompson bore fruit, Dowrick converting well to put Pirates within one point of Old Boys' total. However, Thompson, the visiting forward, snappcd up a stray kick near the line and scored for MeCarthy to convert. Pirates attacked again, and in quiek succession two forward movements brought tries from Gilroy and Lopdell and a conversion from Dowrick, and the home side was two points ahead. Weak tackling by Pirates allowcd Thomas to score an easy try in the closing stages, and MeCarthy kicked a penalty on the call of time. Seorers: Hastings H.S.O.B. (20), MeCarthy (three pemilalty goals and a conversion), Lowe (try), Thompson (tryj, Thomas (try), Pirates (16), Dowrick (penalty and two conversions), Thompson (try), Gilroy (try), Lopdell (try).. .Mr J. Laws refcrccd