HARD, EVEN GAME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 84, 26 April 1937, Page 4

HARD, EVEN GAME

Celtic Defeat Hastings H.S.0.B A 13-T0-10 MARGIN Celtic and Hastings H.S.Q.B, occupied tha maia area at Nelson Park, Hastings, on Saturday and provided a packed stand with a good, hard and even game. Celtic deserved their win, being tne better sido for three parts of the game, but Old Boys greatly improved as the match pcogsessed and were playing classy Rugby in the concluding stages. Th© score of 13—10 is a good indication of the mearits of the sides on the dav's play.

The teams were Colebrook, Brown, Pullen, M. Garvey, V. Halligan^ RThompson, H. Tomoana, L. Hannigan, Kelly, Bennett, J. McCourt, D. Maaka, E. Bowen, E. Mataira, 'A. Bowers. Hastings H.S.O.B — L. McCarthy ; Fargher, Palmer, Apsey, Patrick, Holt, Alexander, Redward,. Denten, Hughes, Rankin, Ford, Trumper, Irwin, Shrimpton. It was some time before either side showed any marked superiority, but Celtic gradually took the upper hand, the forwards- showing oufc prominently, With the backs frequently functioning well in combined movements. Good individual work by Bowers was re>warded with a well-earned try that was converted by Pullen, the same pair being responsible for another five . points before the interval. The play throughout the spell had been fast and moved up and down the field though Celtic were definitely the more impressive and they held a terrjtorial advantage, as well as a eommanding lead on the points at the interval. . The Celtic backs came into the pioture prominently in the early part of the second spell and they were backed up nicely by the forwards, but the latifer frequentuly fumbled the ball at critical stages. Old Boys, on the other hand, were making a lot of mdstakes, but gradually their luck changed and more accurate handling and kicking enabled them to cut a better figure. A score from a kick through gave them some eneouragement, ancP- a fine pass. ing bout by the backs was finished very nicely by M'cCartliy linking up to score a brilliant txy. His eonversion made the score 10-all. From -this stage on the game greatly improved. Both sides adopted open tactics and their first consideration was attack. In consequence. ,the crowd was provided with some exciting rushes and bright movements. The issue was eventually decided on a good try by Ben-. nett, who came out of the ruck on. the Old Boys' quarter-way and dashed over for an unconverted try, making the final count 13 — 30 to Celtic.

The scorers were: — Celtic: Bowers (tNvo tries), Pullen (two conversions) Bennett (try). Hastings O.B. McCarthy (try and two conversions), Palmer (try). Mr A. Kirkpatrick.