HASTINGS BEATEN

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 169, 19 August 1929, Page 4

HASTINGS BEATEN

H.S.O.B. RETAIN HAWKE'S BAY CHALLENGE SHIELD. . AN EIGHT-POINT VICTORY. H.S.O.B. retained the Hawke's Bay Cliallenge Shield, for the champion club of Hawke's Bay, by eigbt points to nil in a challenge match vvith Hastings, senior eliampions for the year, on McLean Park on Saturday. The match was also the semi-final round of the Lane Cup knock-out competition. The game as a spectacle was not very entertaining, but it was hard fought riglit through, neither side having a very material advantage at any stage. Both teams were below fail strength, Hastings having Carnpbell, Roacli and Cairn s away with the representative team, while Old Boys were miniis Heffernan and McNeill for the same reason. Ground conditions were excellent for a fast, open game, but a strong wind was disconcerting to the players when tbe ball was kicked high. Hastings liad tbe wind in the first spell and quickly rushed play to the Okl Boys' end, where Fislier narrowly misscd a shot at goal within tbe first two minutes, tbe ball goilig under the bar. The play hung in Old Boys' end for some time. Twice tlie forwards brought welcome respite by dribbling away, but, using tbe wind, Hastings returned tbe play. Okl Boys then set up a series of attacks, throwing the ball about amongst the backs and forwards and working to the Hastings end. The play, however, was not very fast on exciting, a good deal of kickiug for the line hoiding the game up, necessitating a monotony of liile-outs. On the whole operations were confined to the Old Boys' end, Hastings using the wind to advantage. Once or twice the holders of the shield made bursts into the enemy territory, but these were of a temporarv nature. Once, however, they made a fine assault. Stewart intercepted a clearing kick and despatched Appleby away down the right wiug. Tbe winger kicked ahead and cliased tbe leatber, just failing on it before a Hastings man. There appeared some doubt about the result of the movement, but finally the referee gave no try, apparently because the ball had gone over the dead-ball line before tbe winger reached it. Old Boys kept the ball in the Hastings quarter for a while and wheeled the scrum over the Hastings liue, but Hastings forced. Old Boys were now having the better of it , and despite tbe wind the play was in the visitors' territory. They opened the scoring in great style. Stewart and Gillespie dribbleu away from a* loose ruck at half-way. As the ball bounced tbe man from Woodville snapped it up and made off for tlie goal-lipe. Despatching two dummies en route, he sped over after a clever run to score near -the posfcs. Bradley had an easy shot with the conversion kick. H.S.O.B. 5 Hastings 0 Hastings now staged a come-uack, working the ball to the Old Boys' territory with long kicks with the wmd. Fisher at this stage suffered sartorial damage, and there was loud laughter when someone took him out a nevv jersey intended for the frarne of a boy of ten. It did not reach to his belt and the sleeves did not cover the elbows. Shortly afterwards half-time came with the score still : H.S.O.B 5 Hastings 0 SECOND SPELL. Old Boys had the wind in the second session, which opened with Hastings awarded a penalty kick near half way, - Grenside's attempt to goal being upset by the wind. Old Boys' profiting by the breeze, used long kicks to gain ground and rushed tlie ball down to witbin 'five yards of the Hastings line. There, from a scrum, tbe ball was heeled to the White backs and Lambie, Bradley and Holt conveyed it to Soutih. Tbe centre was tackled by Shepherd, but wriggled out of ifc and passed to Gillespie, the left-wing crossing for his second try half-way out from the posts. Bradley's attempt to goal failed to rise. H.S.O.B. ... 8 Hastings ... ... ... 0 Hastings took a tum on attacfc after this, Hutcliinson, Grenside, Wilson, Shepherd and Rose handling, the latter making a good run and centring, the forwards almost carrying it over. Then Grenside made a blind side dash from his position at first five-eighths, but was heavily grassed before he got over. Suceessive liners by Neal and South placed Old Boys on the assault again, and Bradley made a swerving run from a scrum near half-way, Steere going over, but being recalled for a knock-on. Hastings now revived in great style and carried the ball up to tbe "Old Boys' end, where Thompson lost his trousers. Neal's lengthy kicks to touch again saved Old Boys, the custodian liniug at half-way. The .Hastings forwards, who were now playing well, dribbled tlie leather into likel.v land again, but this time it was Lambie who repulsed them, kicking into deep field. Back they came again, Pearson, Wellwood and McKennie dribbling down to Neal, where theattack broke down. Old Boys tlien went rigbt down to tbe other end. Thompson, Brown and Gillespie taking the ball down at the toe.- Hastings forced, but tbe Wliiies maintained their pressure, offside play by the forwards twice spoiling their advances. They narrowly missed a score when Lindsay, following a'high punt by Neal, dived for the ball, just. being beaten to the touch-down. Hastings almost scored when Shepherd intercepted a pass in liis own quarter and rau rigbt through to Neal. His kick-over bounced tbe wrong way and Holt secured, kickiug to clear. Grenside, liowever, cauglit the kick and made off down tlie left wing, feeding Rose, who dropped his pass with a clear run in. Timo sounded shortly afterwards with the score still : H.S.O.B ... 8 Ha stings 0 Mr H. Eidson had charge of the whistle.