Rugby.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 82, 23 April 1937, Page 8

Rugby.

-T- # "Omni.")

HIGH SCORING Features of Saturday's Senior Matches VALUE OF GOAL-KICKER

(By

High scoring featured three of the senior matches last Saturday, and despite inclement weather the attendances at Hastings and Napier were again excellent. The standard of play was high, particularly in the game between Hastings H.S.O.B. and Napier H.S.O.B.. In hoth fixtures in Napier a potted goal was the deciding f actor. With two matches played only Hastings, ' Marist, Technical and Napier Old Boys ro^main unbeaten. The value of a good goal-kicker was strikingly illustrated in the main attraction on McLean Park between tbe Old Boys of Hastings and Napier High Schools, At one stage tbe Hastings team led by 15 to 5, no less than 8 points coming off tbe unerring boot of Captain L. McCarthy and four from a field goal by Holt. The result appeared a foregone conclusion for H. H.S.O-B. but tbe Napier cousins turned on o wbirlwind finish. The second spell provided the most exciting football seen in Napier for many a day, and it says mucb for the sporting sense of Hastings Old Boys tbat aithough a long way in front tbey never ceased to keep the ball in play It was an exhilirating game altogether. Possibly neitber side could be ciassed strong in tbe true Rugby sense, but tbe 30 players employed were certainly strong in demonstrating the true spirit of the game.

Comment on Players. At full back McCarthy had quite a lot to do, and he did it very well ; his anticipation brought him always to the right place at the rigjht time. Palmer, too, was sound, and Weymouth, deputising at'half back, got "the ball away in good style, Of the forwards Irwin and Ford were in everything, and the latter impressed as a forward who will do much better as the season progresses. The two bright lights in the Napier side were half-back L. Clothier and his near companion L. Bradley. The complete understanding between these two has to bo seen to be appreciated. On Saturday they were allowed sufficient time to exploit their understanding to the ultimate discomfiture of the Blues. The White forwards were always fully occupied, and Willis was noticeable for giood work all the time, with the fiery thatch of Ennor also close to the ball. Bishop confirmed his opening, day performance, and he is an undoubted acquisition as a worker. Magnificent Coal. On No. 2 ground Pirates at one stage led Hastings by 9 to nil, but the yellows, in the second half, had a good run for 20 minutes and put on 12 points. Pirates then drew level, but JDyer, from a long way back and l'ight beside the touch line, dropped a magnificent goal to win the game for Hastings. It was a tremendous kick, the ball soaring high between the uprights. As in their opening game the Pirates rearguard did some queer things just when a try eeemed imminent. Twice, a decent pass to Patchett, would have firovided the big fellow with runaway tries, but, instead, the leather was thrown at his feet. Half-back Lister persisted with overhead passes all day and he ran from th6 scrum too -much. Dowrick was, with Mapuhi, the reliable one to handle - the ball; Mapuhi, with his side-stepping frequently got the backs oiffc of trouble. Keeble, Cooke and Fraser were the best in a paclc that was kept fully occupied holding fche opposition. Apart from Dyer, and at time3 Nelson, the yellow rearguard was not very impressive. The full-back, like Mapuhi, did a full afternoon's work very well. In the forwards the promoted junior McDonald was a bsuy worker, with Muir an effective spoiler. In strikingj contrast to the adjoining match the placekicking was poor. Tech. Too Good for Havelock. For their first appearance of the season Technical Old Boys made a most promising beginning when they decisively downed Havelock North. Their victory was a well-earned one, the side being infinitely superior in every pha&e of the game to that of the Villagers, who were not nearly as impressive as in their opening fixture. Conditions favoured Tech. in that they could exploit their valuable asset, speed. Actually they ran the Villagers off their feet, and the total might easily have exceeded the 20 points but for minor mishaps that were only to be expected at this early stage. The ex-college rearguard functioned exceliently at times, with Peterson, Herbert} the Hawke's Bay representafcivi from Porangahau, Cushing and Ridoell showing up very prominently. In the opposing division only F- Gloyn, at full-back, and Davis, played consifctently, the remaindor being decidedly patchy. The' Village forwards toiled earncstly and liard, but were not nearly as effective as anticipatecl. They lacked dash, and it was obvious that they did relish the fast pace set by the Tech. forwards, who in contrast were very effective. Their leaders were C. Camp-

rbell and Dalton, with Bill Johnston and Bowman keeping well up to the forefront. Maoris' Hard-Earned Win. On the adjoining area at Hastings, tne Maori combination, M.A.C., had to extend themselves to defeat Celtic, and it was a good hard battle that was waged hy the forwards, who completely dominated the play throughout. At no stage was there a great deal between the two factions, but the Maoris showed greater aptitude in the open, making good use of the short phss among the forwards. Celtic sought to make use of their backs, and though it times this division went well, it lacked thrust, and very frequently lost territory. The defensive qualities of the Celtic rearguard, too, were not of the best. The side would liave been better advised, possibly, to have adopted the same policy as that of M.A.C., namely, to have eoncentrated upon the forwards. Hannigian, Maaka, Bowers and McCourt were the pick of the Celtio forwards, the last-mentioned being especially so in the line-outs. All the M.A.C. forwards were prominent on occasions, with Reid the leader throughout, and Greening and Crawford close at his heels. Newton deserves mention, if only for his try, for he went well behind the pack. Meafou and Arthur "Watford were the. best of the M.A.C. backs, with Selwyn Jackson playing a good game at fullback. There was no one outstanding in the Celtio backs, with the exception of Simon, the last line of defence, but even he was not as good as he is capable of being.