Rugby WHO WILL WIN?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 117, 3 June 1937, Page 15

Rugby WHO WILL WIN?

"Omni").

Champions Difficufc To Prophesy M.A.C. AND MARIST

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With one more series of the llfst round to play, the senior competition ladder presents an interesting study. Every team has suffered at least One loss, and the ultimate champions are still difflcult to prophesy. Last Saturday Marist were toppled by M.A.C. before a public attendance that in proportions resembled that at a representative fixture. Hastings feil for the third successive Week, while Pirates created the season 's surprise by accounting for Hastings H.S.O.B. The best exhibition of real Rugby was that given by Napier H.S.O.B. against Havelock North.

Nobody worried much abcut the lesser fixtures on Saturday, the meeting of Marist and M.A.C. excluding all else. As a game of Rugby it was a hard-fought contest, mainly between the opposing packs, but there was little in the way of brilliant back play. The forwards held the stage altnost eompletely, and While this type of game appeals to many, I was somewhat dis* appointed. There was an alniost total disregard Of anything constructiVe, both packs heaVing in tight rticks, and iii this oonnection there ftppeared to be four good fofwards on either side and the other four not so good. The Marist tearguard, of which so much was expected, nerer functioned. Their inside men appeared to be affeeted by a sort of timidity that made surd handling of the ball at all % times a matter of doubt. After being eight points up half-way . through the first spell, and appearing to have a good grip of the game, the Green Lost wilted, and throughout the second spell never looked like winners. In the tight play M.A.C. were always the better pack, and it was surprising to note that Marist made no effort to play an open game. In this, Captain Robins was lacking as a tactician. The two men responsible in .great measure for the M.A.O. mastery were Tori Rcid and Everard Jackson. Possibly Jackson was the more effective because he was not worried with cares of captaincy. A tigerish dash by him led up to the first try for the Maories, and he scored the second himself. Only Jackson could have" registered this try, I firinly believe. I do not think two finer forwards than Reid and Jackson could be found in any club side in the Dominion, and they give the M.A.C. pack a splendid lead. The M.A.C. backs were saf e, except on the right wing, and taclded very «©ffectively. S. Jackson, at full-back, was safe, and very sure wlien he had the spare time, but on the three occasions that he was bustled he was not at all impressive. Confidence, no doubt, will come with age, and after all he is as yet very yoilng. Exeter, J. O'Brien, Griffin and Ireland wCre the piek of the Green forwards. M. O'Brien wandered about among the backs and got in the road generally, while it seemed poor policy in playing a back, Allen, in the forwards. Forwards are not moulded in a day, and Allen was right out of his element. Of the backs Hanan, at fullback, playing his first match of thc season, extrieated his side from some diflleult positions, and he was the only back that went down to the M.A.O. rushes in true Rugby style.

Napier H.S.O.B. and Havelock. On the adjoining ground Napier Old Boys, at something like full strength, had a most enjoyable encounter with Haveiock North. Tke_ white-jerseyed brigade were keen to indulge in open play, and the Villagers were just as willing to accommodate them, the result being an attractive display. Old Boys did not have matters all their own way by any means, but they possessed more finish, and So carried the day. Plenty of the ball and space in which to manoeuvre in were very acceptable to G. Cox, on the left wing of the winner 's three-quarter line, and he scored three fine tries. Cox has pace, and on Saturday defeated the opposition by judicious fluctuations of pace. O'Rourke, on the other wing, was also in the limelight to score twice. Two prominent players for Havelock North were Davis, who scored a good try, and, of .course, Cargill Joll, whb, if he could polish up his attack, would quickly aspire to higher honours.