A STIRRING STRUGGLE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 85, 13 May 1929, Page 4

A STIRRING STRUGGLE

HASTINGS DEFEAT H.S.O.B. BY 13 TO THREE. HARD AND FAST RUGBY. A Jarge crowtl of spectators gathered at Nelson Park, Hastings, to witness the game between the two unbeaten teams, Hastings and H.S.O.B. The crowd were nofc disappointed, for they witnessed one of the hardest and fastest games seen for a long time, and on maiiy occasions tlie play reached a high standard of Rughy. Hastings establislied an early lead. whicli they maintained throughout, hut towards the end tlie H.S.O.B. rearguard provided a very sparkling display. Old Boys won tlie toss and played witli tlie wind and snu, to help tliein. I1 islier kicked off, and from a scrum at inid-way Hastings were penalised and Bradley sent the leather to the Hastings line, where a liectic struggle ensued. Mill cleared from a scrum, but using the wind well, Old Boys pressecl again. A sliort punt went to Mill, and he drove the invaders back to half-way. From the line out. Hastings went down field, a scrum being given in tlie "Wliite 25. From this Grenside markcd and tlien olfside plav hrought a scrum in tho goal mouth. J Grenside sccurod and almost got over. hut Fishor was off-side, and another scrum was given. From this Mill sqcnrcd, aml in liis host style. he dived over near the ]iosts with two Old Boys hauering to him. He convcrteil his own try Hastings 5 H.S.O.B. 0 Old Boys attacked and an iniringemenfc gave them a chance. "\\ ishart took the kick, but the ball went wide, and Hastings forccd. Play liovered at centre for a time, hut wlien Wilson was caught in possession tliings looked. serious. Mill saved, liowever, and enablcd Hastings to force. A had miss hy Appleby enabled Canipbell to break away but lie had not the pace to carry through, and in a raee behind the line Ncal won and l'orced Mill, witli a tricky run, put Hastings 011 tho attack again. but it was fruitless. Hastings, however, continued to give the Whites 110 peace. Off-side play by Pearson hrought relief for the Whites, and then a mark by Neal sent them further down field, but Shepherd retaliated and play went to mid-way. A good forward foot rush _ brought an advantage to Hastings, but the White forwards relieved the pressure. A penalty to tlie Whites gave Neal an opening to line well down and from the scrum tlie ball went behind for Grc-nside to force in timo. Two line outs in succession 111 the Hastings half followed and Soutli got away, hut he "spoilt tlie chance through throwing forward. Canipbell lcd a hnrd forward rush, which was stopped by South. An obstruotionnl free • kick to Hastings was takcn hy Roacli hut. tlie hall fell short. Beuth kicked through for Hastings, hut Thompson relieved and refurned play to half-way, where tlie Yellows were given a penaltv, hut little advantage came from Mill's kick. From a line-out, Hastings broke through, Neal saving well, but tho Yellows were not to he denied and from another lineout the hall travelled through to Grenside, who scored right at the oorner flag. Roacli failed with the kick. Hastings 8 HS.O.B 0

On resuming, the Whites attacked strongly, nccessitating a force-down by Hastings. Ensuing play found Hastings again making things merry in the White 25, where Glenside missed from a penalty. Neal cleared and a had miss hy Kingston gave McDonald an opening, hut he failed badly and when lie was puslicd oufc the half-time whistle sounded. With the opening of the sccond spell there was an .ahsence of wind and Hastings quickly took advantage of this. A splendid Hue kick hy Beuth placed them near the White line, where MeXeil got offside and gave Fislier an easy chance to goal, but his kick went astray. Hastings continued to worry the White defenders, hut offside play hy Wellwood enabled Neal to return the leather to tlie Yellow 25, where Holt lost a groat cliance through failing to pass. Grenside cleared with a kick to Neal, but the latter returned plav right up to the Hastings line. wliere South secured and after 'a trickv run, dropped over under the bar. He was pulled back, however. hy the referee's whistle. the hall having gone out of play. The Whites kept up steady pressure, being almost over on several occasions, hut at last Camphell broke awnv and with Cnrtaiu, Roach and Grenside launched a hard rush, which was only stonppd bv an infringement. Bputh. Mill and Grpnside wpi*p noxl to shine in a forward move. hut Gronside was pushed out in the corner. From tlie throw-in, however, Roach gathered in tho leather and dashed across near the posts. Fislier easily goaled. Hastings 13 H.S.O.B 0 Old Boys made desperate efforts to retricve their position, hut were unable to penetrate tlie defence, and it was not long before they were again defending in tlieir best st.vle. A serics of penalties, however, enabled them to drive back tlie Y'ellow advanee, but it was only momentarily, and when Rolis got offside Mill liad an unsuccessful shot at goal. Three further penalties in succession enabled the Whites to work upfiocl, and a further penalty in an eas.v position saw Bradley slioot at goal, hut he missed badly. With their backs now working in unison, Old Boys were sliowing up well, but with time against them tlieir .ppsitipn was liopeless. They did not give up, however, and a determined attack took them to tlie danger zane, but Hingston cleared and sebt Grenside awav, the latter feilding off four taeklers before being up-ended. Then followed the tit-bit of the match: - With plav at midway, the ball was secured hy Lambie, who passed to Bradley, to Holt. The latter cut in beautifully and passed to South, who sent tlie leather 011 to Appleby, for the latter to score right in the corner. Bradley failed to convert. At this stage Rickotts had to leave the field through an injury, his placo^ being taken by Mnrdon. The closing stages found Old Bovs' hacks working well, hut the defence was too good and the whistle sounded with play at midway and the final seore: Hastings 13 H.S.CLB. ... 3 Mr W. O'Neill was referee.