Rugby. A NEW ELEMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 129, 17 June 1937, Page 15

Rugby. A NEW ELEMENT

"Omni.")

Celtic Create # Stir In Ciub Championship IMPROVED PROSPECTS

(By

The outetanding feature of last Saturday's senior fixtures was the magnitude of Celtic 's victory over Napier Old Boys. In the remaining matches there were no surprises, though all games provided bright footbalL The sudden improvement of Celtic, if madntained, suggests that they will invest the remainder of the round with added interest. « Whether or not Celtic can maintain this form remains to be seen. It should not be lost sight of that on actual play fthere was by no means a difference of 17 points botween Celtic and Napier Old Boys. The latter, for one thing did UOt play up to form, among the forwards, at any rate. Their taekling was poor, in striking contrast to that of Celtio which was of the higbest order. Herein lay one of tbe princdpal reasons for Celtic 's success. The Celtic forwards were in excellent form in every phase of the play. They buiiched well and their leaders always were accorded support, so that ehould they overrun the ball in the loose rushes there was somebody on hand to carry o» the good wTTrk. Thqn again their handling was surpriaingly accurate, the ball being transforred in a succession of awift short passes that gave little opportunity for the opposltion to actually lay hands on the man immediately in possession of the ball. Another point about Satrarday'a exhibition w&s that the actual scorea by Celtic wero practically all due to individualism, certainly in one case at leaat supplemented by good backing-up. However, it must be admitted that Celtic certainly gave a good account of thernselvee and a most promising one, For their forwards to get the upper hand over tlie redoubtedly Old Boys pack was in dtself an achievemont of note. Another good sign was the development of the backs. The aequisition of P. Beid, the former New Zealand Varsity representative, has considerably strengthened the side on ajltack a.nd with both Pullen and Hannah, the latter a fast improving and very consistently good performer, the prospect® of the rearguaTd being more than a match for opposition divisions appear rather bright. Celti© have only to produce similar exhibitions against any of the three leading teams to completely upset calculations, for their performance on Saturday compared very favourably indeed with any given by tbose three teams. M.A.C. Swamp Hastings. Right from the outset of their game with Hastings, the Maoris were out to make amends for their only defeat to date which was inflicted by Hastings on tbe opening day of the season. They paid Hastings the tribute of giving them the Mwhole works." The M.A.C. forwards took charge from the outset and never eased up tho preseure, and only the praiseworthy detarmined and unfailing defence of Dyer and Nelson, with Muir also very prominent at times, kept the score down to even a quarter of a centrary. The M.A.C. backs did not have a great deal of the ball, and when they did, there was not much advantage gained for the side lacked combination and had to rcly on individuallsm for thrust, and while individualisra among the forwards seldom lacked support, it was surprising that this samo support was not accorded the backs. The real houours of the game go to EveraTd Jackson and Jury Thompson. They were the consistent toilers for the Maoris, with Tori Eeid adopting the role of ppportunist and being on hand

to finish og the good work. He certainly did finish it og right royally. Dyer's performance at full-back was easily the most outstanding of his side. He was very soiund, despite the tall score. No one actually passed hjm. His line-kicking showed an improvement on previous displays, but could etill be improved as to length. His pol'icy, however, is one of safety in the matter of touch-finding and he rarely fails to find the line. The Early Game. Though called upon to play in the early part of the afternoon, Hastings Old Boys and Havelock North turned ou a bright and interesting display. The backs of both sides were given plenty to do, and by reasoa of their undoubted superdority as a combination Old Boys ran out comfortabls winners. The Yillagers were always dangerous and -in consequence Old Boys could not "let-up" at any stage. All the Old Boys backs went well, individually and collectively with Palmer, Holt and Apsey outstanding. Hoit was particularly impressive and gave quite the best of the season, which is saydng a good deal for he has given some very fine performances this season. Among the forwards, Ford, Rawiri and Denton were the best of a very even lot. As usual the Villagers infused plenty of vim and individual enterprise into their play, but failed to provide the necessary "jpolish" or finish. Lack of understanding between backs and forwards, and poor combination, are the two main faults with this team. Their four star performers are Cargill and Hangi Joll, and Fergusson and Russell,, but so far tho team have failed to develop a common basis of understanding that would link these ,four "livewiree" into a combination. * Marist and Pirates. Marist and Pirates provided the solitary senior attraotion in Napier and as in their first round meetingj Pirates presented a sturdy front to the Greens, but the speed and initiative of the latter 'b rearguard qarried the clay. There were many brilliant flashes in the game which sustained the interest of a good public attendance right to the end. Judged by the voeal assistance rendered' them Pirates were the popular side, and they responded to the encouragement at times in overwhelming fashion, but laek of finish to their movements proved too great a handicap Once again the Marist forwards wu.e far from convincing, particularly so in the second half of play. In the first spell they wero more impressive, and it was uuring this period that their rearguard rose to great heights and the four tries scored by the Greens in this period were all well worth seeing. I doubt if four finer concerted movements have been seen in club football on McLean Park this winter. The movement that led up to the second try commenced at mid-fieldi and by tbe timo the 25 was reached nearly the whole Marist team was racing in line in anticipation of handling the ball. It was devastating in the true sense, and the Pirates were completely bewildered. It was a sad blow to the Greens to lose White after 30 minutes' play. For some unexplainefi reiason he was played at centre thTeequarter, and Mclvor, the usual centre, was. shifted out to the wing. White, when turning to evade a tackle^ slipped and dam. ged his left knee. The injury appears fairly serious and may keep him out of . tbe game for several woeks. J. O'Brien Prominent, In this first half the sure hands and anticipation of J. O'Brien brought him into constant prominence, and he fitted in with the backs nicely, to take tbe last pass on two occasions and score • spectacular tries. All through the game he was Marists' most prominent forward, with Davis and Griffin, the burly forwards, next in order. OutBtanding in the backs was Robins, and on three occasions he applied his highly effective dash between second five-eighth and centre with that completeness that is the hall nuark of Rugby genius. Moss played his usual game; he never has what may be termed an off day. Benson and Mclvor played up well to their leader, Robins. Fierce Forward Rushes. Of Pirates it may be said that they rqserved their best for the second half when some of their fierce forwiard rushes swamped Marist. Mapuhi, at full-back, was rarely at a loss and he frequently tricked the close-following Marist forwards. He is a powerful kick and some of his punts gained 50 yards of territory. No otber of the backs approached him for roli, ability. 3 In the forwards Kecble, Fraser and McKonzio were leaders, with Hill making ground in the open. Reforee McGlashan had a busy time J adjudicating tho fairness of tho scrummages, but his frequcnt penalties, although dirocted at tho front-row men, were sometimes moro tliO fault of one of the lialf-backs. The scrums of today are unsatisfactory features of Rugby and will remain so until the day comos when the referee shall be empowered to put the ball in for cvery scrum.