THREE POINTS UP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 7 June 1948, Page 3

THREE POINTS UP

LUCKY R 5.0.8. TRY SHADING OF CELTIC PENALTY GOAL EACH j Though H. 5.0.8. had slightly the] better of the play they gained the de-, cision only through a lucky try in a hard tussle with Celtic on the Oval No. , 1 ground. The try was the only one of the match. Each side also regi- ' stered one penalty goal, the points thus being 6—3 in favour of H. 5.0.8. j The teams were: H. 5.0.8. (Maroon).—D. Bills; M. j Crawford, W. Cookson, J. Gjeig; P. > Harris, A. Archibald; S. Lee; K. Bu'li- ; vant; I. Gibson, I. Shaw (capt.), C. ; McGrannachan, P. McGrannachan; C. Swan, Mills. J. Ferguson. The forward . J. Kane, retired injured in (he first few moments and was replaced by : C. McGrannachan. Celtic (Green). —S. Hollis; R. Calla- | ghan, W. Edwards, E. Carrington; R. \ McKinley (capt.), E. Woodford; E. T. ; Read; W. Carrington, T. Steel, W. Cummings, C. Carrington. I. Munroc; Tautuhi, B. Duckworth, K. Larsen. The H. 5.0.8. pack showed a small ! margin in possession of the ball in the , scrums when it came cleanly and also whatever advantage could be credited . in the lines-out. The backs, however, could seldom make, much headway in | the face of the quick spoiling of the j Green forwards and solid tackling uy! the backs. Generally the Celtic backs 1 were the faster set off the mark, but their attacks also were frustrated by a most reliable defence. The captain, I. Shaw, and K. Bullivant were consistent leaders, in the Maroon vanguard. Both were not- ■. able in the line-out. Others prom in- ; ent in this pack were C. McGrannachan, formerly a notable Marist for- 1 ward and J. Ferguson. Steel, Larson and W. Carrington were the best of the Celtic pack, though all pulled their weight, and like the opposition, kept i the pace from start to finish. Referee’s Timely Appeal Action in the forwards became very vigorous during the second spell, but possible developments were checked | when a timely appeal to both sides by the referee was received and responded to in the spirit in which it was made. The day’s most useful back amongst the H. 5.0.8. set was the veteran, P. Harris, where tackling was a main contribution to the strong defence of the side Behind the scrum. Lee. was another strong unit in defence. Archibald made an improved showing at first-five eighth and was frequently able to make ground. The wing, J. Greig had speed in attack. Though it was a fortunate one, the try he scored was the reward of being constantly in position. R. McKinley was again the_ mainspring of the Celtic rearguard in both attack and defence. Read was aiere at half-back and Edwards, was very sound at centre. On the wing E. Carrington flashed occasionally into the straight runs which formerly made him a class three-quarter. S. Hollis gave another good display on the last line. He was generally to De found in position and came up into the play when occasion offered. Run of the Play Celtic made the pace in the opening minutes, but within a short time Bills was trying the goal with a penalty awarded to H. 5.0.8. His kick fell short. Before another two minutes had gone Celtic had again to cede a penalty and from a range of 35 yards the big forward, C. McGrannachan, kicked the first points for H. 5.0.8. The Celtic backs showed in some promising runs before McKinley missed the goal by a small margin with a long penalty kick. Archibald appeared to have a “sitter" when Lee shot him a pass from a scrum straight out from the goal, but a high drop-kick sent the ball outside the posts. Lee and then Bullivant appeared to be almost certain scorers in ensuing H. 5.0.8. assaults, but the defence held. Then Archibald took a penalty in good position, but sent the ball wide of the goal. Though the territorial play of the spell was slightly in favour of H. 5.0.8., Celtic staged a prolonged attack in the 10 minutes before the interval which came with action in neutral territory with the seore still 3 —nil in favour of H. 5.0.8. Second-Spell Efforts A swift Celtic attack opened in the second spell and in a chase for the ball over the goal line Harris booted to touch-in-goal. After missing the goal—again by a small margin—with a penalty kick from about 30 yards, McKinley raised the flags with a further effort from approximately the same spot, and 12 minutes from' the commencement of the session the score was three —all. Next and final points came to H. 5.0.8. when a rolling ball crossed the Celtic line. E. Carrington dived on to it, but was unable to steady the ball for the force down and Greig pounced quickly for a try near the corner. C. McGrannachan’s kick failed but H. 5.0.8. had won the game. Celtic all but achieved results in the later stages when McKinley was robbed ! of a likely try by a defender who found the dead bail line and when the ball j was booted from beneath Woodford | when he seemed to be falling on it to : score, while McKinley also failed again narrowly to goal a penalty. Mr. J. Lockward was the referee.