CELTIC BEAT PIRATES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 108, 24 May 1937, Page 9

CELTIC BEAT PIRATES

Not a Pariicularly Bright Game A C0MF0RTABLE WIN Making their first appearance in Hastings for the season, Pirates were successful in more than holding their own against Celtic In the first half of the game, "but after the interval there was a P*onounced" swing in favour of the home side, who ran out comfortable winners "by 21 points to eight. The game was not a particularly bright one, though at times there was good play on the part of both sides. The teams were as follow: — ^ Celtic. — Halligan; Hannah, Pullen, Brown; Thompson, Gibbs} Tomoana; Bennett, Eollander, McCourt; Maaka, Kelly, Hannigan, Mataira; Bowers. Pirates. — Mapukij Hill, V. Thompson, B. W. Bliss; Lopdell, Dowrick; Lister; Kilroy, Keeble, Fraser; Hardgreaves, Cook, B. Bliss, Wolatenholme; Marshall. The game was notable for the tmmber of inf ringements on the part of the visitors, who while on the attack, wete penalised three times when close to seoring. The forwards had charge of the play, with Celtic setting the pace for the greater part of the time. A penalty goal opened Celtic 's account, but before the interval a fine piece of passing by Pirates Tesulted in Lopdell scoring in a handy position, for the tally to be made 5—3, and Pirates succeeaed ih holding this lead until the interval. Celtic early set about Teversmg lfiatters, and thotigh tliey held a deflnite territorial advantage, it was somo tinle before tho Pirates' defonce was broken. The Celtic forwards rose wonderfully to the ocefision and they were the match winners, for Oilce Bennett had enabled them to get ahead, ^ there was no stopping them in their visits to the visitors' scoring area, Four times the Celtic forwards gained tries in this spell and three of them were convofted, biit Pirates were to have the final say in the sCOring, for just before time they made a last rally and a try came their way, to make tbe final count 21—8. The scorers were — Celtic: Pullen ( penalty goal and three conversions), Bennett, Bowers, Hannigan and Kelly (try apieee). Pirates: Lopdell and Thompson (try each), Dowritk (conversion), Mr D. Graham was referee.