RUN OF 80 YARDS GAINS CELTS’ WINNING POINTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 3

RUN OF 80 YARDS GAINS CELTS’ WINNING POINTS

A spectacular run of about 80yds. by the Maori All Black three-quarter, E. Carrington, to score what proved to be the deciding points was the highlight of the senior Rugby match on the Gisborne Oval No. 1 ground on Saturday when Celtic defeated Old Boys, six-five. At half-time Celtic led, three-nil, as the result of a field goal by the fiveeighth, E. Woodford. The unconverted try scored in the second spell by Carrington increased the advantage to six points, but the winning margin was reduced to one point in the concluding stages when the Old Boys’ centre, I. James, went in for a good try which was converted by the full-back, R. McGregor. The reverse eliminated Old Boys from the knock-out competition, though they took the union championship this year for the second successive season, in the premiership, Celtic, the only side to defeat Old Boys, were successful against the champions in two of the three rounds, winning the first game, 15-6, losing the second, 3-11, and winning the third, 9-6. Touring Reps, in Play

Celtic were without the services of the leading back, R. McKinley, and the forward, W.' Brown, on Saturday, but fielded each of the other three of the club included in the touring rep. team, W. Edwards, G. King and 1. Munro. The Old Boys’ combination lacked R. Clay and G. Harris, but included R. McGregor, I. James, J. Barbour, N. Summersby, B. Birrcll and G. Elliott of the rep side. Three juniors were given a run against Celtic. Except in possession of the ball from the set scrums, Celtic had the advantage in forward play. In the rear division the Old Boys set were more impressive, though territorially the run of play left little to choose. A little luck could have swung the issue either way and Old Boys were unfortunate when R. McGregor missed two seeming "sitters” with penalty kicks by bare margins and also tailed to land a field goal when the ball struck an upright.

Celtic played with the breeze in the first spell and Old Boys in the second. The try scored by Carrington came when the Old Boys’ backs were attacking. a dropped pass in the Celtic tweny-five giving the hard-running three-quarter the opportunity to break through and outpace pursuit in the long race to the goal. Woodford failed with the kick.

The Old Boys' try capped a series of further attacks. A ruck deep in the twenty-five gave possession to James, who exploited a dummy and side-step in a short dash to score under the bar. Mr. S. Ritchie was the referee.