Celtic Fourths Are a Strong Attacking Side Worth Watching

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1947, Page 6

Celtic Fourths Are a Strong Attacking Side Worth Watching

One of the best trained and fittest teams in the lower grade competition at present :s the Celtic fourth grade side, which has not met any really serious' opposition in its recent matches. Technical 8., Cobden and Blaketpwn have not proved worthy of lowering the green colours but they may need to play seriously against Technical A. which last season played in the third grade competition. The team, as a whole, contains mostly schoolboys the result being that they have the necessary fitness to stand up' to the fast type of game which they always turn on. This team is individually bigger than any other team in the competition and usually monopolises the ball, a factor of which the speedy backs make full use. D. Pfahlert, D. O’Callaghan, and P. McManus, at first, second and centre respectively, are scoring machines, and have developed into a grand combination. The forward pack adapts itself to all types of conditions and is able to open up play whenever needed. On all occasions, the team throws the ball about with abandon, and is

particularly harsh on teams who tackle high, as their straight running is at all times strong and deceptive. Many players—even West Coast representative players—would be well advised to watch the Celtic fourths in action, and take a leaf from their books in this respect. JUNIOR JOTTINGS The Technical Old Boys team which entered the competition this season, should soon develop into a strong side, but a re-arrangement in the inside backs appears to be necessary, as the ball is coming out too slowly and irregularly to be of any use to them. A good deal of tuition is needed by junior wingers who have yet to learn to throw the ball in . straight. Many throws in last week's match, between Technical Old Boys and Cobden were ill-directed, and this tendered to slow the game up too much. This match was one of the poorest seen on Rugby Park this season for a curtain-raiser. G. George, the Cobden centre, scored a good try last Saturday. ■ Ha shows promise, and has already stamped himself as a force to be reckoned with. A. Goodall, the Cobden full-back, played the top of his form last week, and his line kicking and fielding at times reached a high standard. PARS AT RANDOM Over eighty fifth and sixth grade players were weighed in last weekend, and the remainder will be completed this morning, prior to the start of the competition. At this week’s meeting of the Junior Advisory Board, Celtic were transferred to the sixth grade and Cobden to fifth grade, at the request of their clubs. The fifth and sixth grade competition is open to all those who comply with the necessary weight rules. Many “light” boys who have left school are unaware of this fact. INANGAHUA FOOTBALL Competition play was advanced a further stage on Saturday when second round matches in the Stallard Cup competition were completed. Overhead conditions were ideal, but the playing areas were still somewhat hard despite recent rain. At Reefton, Waratahs scored a comfortable win over United, the latter team fielding five substitutes for regular players. Ikamatua defeated Cronadun by a good margin, but the scores actually flattered the visitors as Cronadun held their own for a fair part of the game, especially in the second spell. Playing at Waiuta, the visiting Junction team fully extended the locals and Waiuta were extended to hold a narrow lead established in the first ten minutes of play. Detailed results were as follows: — Waratah 24, beat United 3; Ikamatua 22, beat Cronadun 10; Waiuta 8, beat Inangahua 5. At Ikamatua, Celtic (Greymoutli) Third Graders defeated the local side by 36 points Io 6.

Blaketown. —O’Brien, Scott, Sontogen, Curtin, Rooney, Graham, Walton, Henderson, Fear, Preston, Lark. Leach, Naylor, Absalom, Mann, Dawson, Holmes'. Cobden Thirds: Gardner, Scalmer, Brunton, Richardson, Dewar, Pieken, De Goldi, Stewart, Payne, Wooton, Bright. Parfitt, Haddock, Curtiss, Shearer and -Kilpatrick.