RUGBY FOOTBALL Celtic’s Tactics Pay Handsome Dividends

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1947, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL Celtic’s Tactics Pay Handsome Dividends

' Celtic ‘seniors set a two-fold example to the other teams in the competition on Saturday—in physical fitness and in the style of football they played. Last season they won the championship by adopting a policy of making the game open at every opportunity, even when they appeared to be in danger, and it paid handsome dividends. This year they have apparently embarked on. similar tactics, which worked on Saturday against comparatively weak opposition, and they will work again at the expense of stronger teams. The team must be fit to play that type of football, and they must pracfiep Inprptbpr If the other teams adopt similar tactics the season should be very bright and successful, for it is the open game which attracts the spectators and which adds the spice to the encounter. Mistakes will be made, but with intensive backing up they will be remedied quickly, and all the time enjoyable football will be provided for the spectators. There is a lot to be said for the team with the strong pack of forwards adopting ■ “kick-for-the-line” tactics in an effort to use its strength towards winning the game, but there is no question as to which is the more attractive style of football foi* both spectator and player. It is to be hoped that other clubs endeavour to play Celtic at its own game. This may, indeed, be the only way out for the opposing ’ teams, for Celtic appears to have a particularly strong pack of forwards, with most of -them over six feet in height and about the 14-stone mark in weight.

Jottings One of the Celtic “seagulls” will have to have his wings clipped pretty severely if he is to give full value to his side as a forward.

The ball is surely too hard to win for it to be given away to the opposition at the least sign of trouble. At least two tries were presented to opposing teams at the park on Saturday by purposeless kicks —the try by Rea for Celtic and the try by Smith for Star.

A forward on the No. 1 ground at the park on Saturday was penalised for pushing with his hands an opposing player who, though in the way, was not in possession of the ball—others please note. If it is a case of obstruction it is for the referee to impose the penalty. - One of last year’s representative forwards lost a try for his team on Saturday by hanging on to the ball too long—it was not the first time he has tried to beat one too many. Good Start

W. Hamilton, the Celtic and former representative half-back, made a good start for the season with a valuable game on Saturday. Last year he was forced to retire from the game temporarily because of repeated injuries. On Saturday he was Rooking for work all the time, and he started many excellent movements. He relishes work, but he should be careful in calling for the ball from yucks and scrums when the opposing breakaways are waiting to pounce on him. Hamilton still has a tendency to waste" that all-important split jjecond in manoeuvring into position before sending the ball on.

Wasted Asset M. Thomas, because of the possibility of injuries to a troublesome

knee, played at full-back for Blaketdwn on Saturday, but the inside backs did not function at all well, and he was wasted as custodian. He did some excellent work, handling cleanly and kicking fairly accurately, but he would have been much more valuable in his old place at first five-eighth, with his sure hands, solid .tackling, and penetrative ability. It may hot be.long beford he is hioved up. The Blaketown inside backs on Saturday, with the. exception of F. Roberts at half-back, lacked experience, and .their positional play was not good. Handy Pair K. Fisher and D. McKendry are a handy pair of front-row men . Both ar£ former West Coast representatives and their experience and ability as hookers gave them an advantage over Celtic in spite of a big weight disparity in favour of the greens. Fisher will probably not be a regular member of the Blaketown team, and he will be missed. J. Hagan, a former West Coast representative, xvill be a welcome addition to the pack within the next week or two; Better Than He Looked

A Blaketown forward who took the eye on Saturday was T. Thurlow, who, before the war, was one of the leading members of the Training College junior team in Canterbury. Thurlow made a big name in that team as a front-row forward, but on Saturday he was played at the side of the scrum. He impressed as a good type of forward, and will be much more prominent when played in his right place. On the side of the scrum he was rather “out in the cold,” but all his work showed that he knew what he was about. Brilliant Form

L..Silcock played brilliant football at centre lor Celtic on Saturday. The opposition was not strong and he received plenty of the' ball, but the manner in which he did all his work, both on attack and defence, was impressive . Towards the end of last season Silcock played consistently well, and if he maintains the standard he set on Saturday he will give a lot of headaches to the opposition. Junior Last Year

F. Holmes, who played for the West Coast as a junior last season, impressed as a most promising forward in his first essay as a senior on Saturday. He appeared ,to be fitter than. most—though that might not be fulsome praise—and he was in everything that was going. .He is a good type of front-row man physically and should more than make the grade as a senior club man. Another young forward who impressed in the United team was W. Hill, a partner of Holmes in the front row.

Good Basis Star has the basis of a fine pack in J. Pegley, G. Nelson, M. Lambert, and D. Wilson, with the addition of experienced players of the calibre of A. Smith and R. Roberts. Pegley looked much fitter on Saturday than he did at the start of last season, and Nelson, too, was keen on his work. Lack, of physical fitness seemed to be the main trouble with the team, and this can only be remedied in one way. Practice together will pm. on the finishing touches. On Saturday’s showing Star should improve considerably.