RUGBY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 191, 2 August 1930, Page 10

RUGBY

(By

Kick-Off”)

CUP GAMES IN THE BAY.

COMMENTS ON HASTINGS MATCHES.

Despite tho fact that Napier Old Boys appear sure winners of tho cup competition, the regular weekly series of matches continue to attract good crowds to Nelson Park, Hastings. On Saturday last there was again a satisfactory attendance to watch the three games in progress. The afternoon’s entertainment was not without its mild surprise. This emanated from the M.A game, wherein a good exhibition of the code was given, and for the second time this season the honours were shared. On the neighbouring arena Hastings and Technical Old Boys fought out a determined but one-sided battle, the honours going to last year’s champions. Prior to this match Hastings Old Boys had revenged their defeat by Tamatea early in the season, the game being remarkable for a whirlwind of action in the first spell and then a Jong hard struggle that gained nothing in tho second.

Napier fans were a disappointed lot at the conclusion of the Napier Old Bovs-Pirates “big” feature. Old rivals as these two teams are, something exciting was expected of them but the match was a very ordinary affair and at times the comedy touch appeared. Old Boys duly came homo with the honours, if there were any. to give them their eleventh successive victory and their record unsmirched for the season. The positions of the various teams in the competition are indicated in the following table, the points for and against being also given

A Regrettable Incident, “Kick it,” excitedly yelled an enthusiast as Wi Rei allowed the Celts to charge down the ball as it "’as in placement for the conversion of M.A.C?a try near the close of the game. The kick which was a “sitter” right in front of the posts was disallowed and M.A.C. lost a golden opportunity of defeating Celtic. The incident was noteworthy from another aspect and that was the unsportsmanlike and despicable scene enacted on a section of the stand occupied by a number of evidently very much “oneeyed” so-called sports. Their yells, hooting and general behaviour was obviously an endeavour to embarrass Wi Rei and disconcert him in his effort to goal. Admittedly the clamour came from a small section of the crowd but it was nevertheless a deliberate attempt and one that does great harm to the game and causes friction between clubs.

An Exciting Camo.

To revert back to the game, it was a splendid one. full of action and keenly contested. The sensations commenced in the first half-minute. “Ginger” Nesbit intercepted a pass after the ball had touched the ground only once following the kick-off and he jazzed his way across beneath the posts to give Celtic a lead of five points. It was just one of many thrills that emanated from the play. Adopting the open tactics, both sides strove to feed their backs with as much of the ball as was possible. The Celtic rearguard, though not so brilliant. was the better, for its movements were productive and gained generous slices of territory. On tho other hand the Collegians were individualists who persisted in the unorthodox action. There were, however. times when the whole line moved into action and then Celtic had their backs to the wall. A concerted effort by the M.A.C. rearguard, was indeed, a dangerous one and exceedingly difficult to stop. Ormsby and Jury Thompson, on the wings, invariably made leeway when given the ball. Tho former was in more favour and made several pretty runs while Thompson was the more determined runner. Crawford made a re-appearance in Hastings and occupied a new position for him, centre three-quarter. Though he was steady it was clear he had an intense feeling for the forwards and frequently he was found out of his place. Watene Marsh did good work behind the scrum. The forwards were a very even lot and though they worked well they missed a leader. There were times when an opportunist would have been handy. Celtic were not so “flashy” as their opponents but they would have been unlucky to have lost. Territorially they were fairly even but the greens had a better command of the ball. To the forwards must be credited chief praise. They toiled honestly and determinedly all through tho piece. Wilson was the leader and the‘pack was close on his heels. Simpson and Laki featured prominently in the rushes but tho star turn came from “Ginger” Nesbit who was in great fettle. His brace of tries was the result of quick-thinking and simultaneously action, a combination that distinguishes the ‘‘All Black” from the good “provincial.” Hollis continues to display good form and is fast becoming one of the best workers in the competition.

Hastings Weary Creys. Though Technical Old Boys put up a great fight against Hastings there was no stopping the Yellows in the closing stages of the game when superior combination in the back division told its tale. The story of the Greys’ defeat is an old one and very frequently told by Hastings. The fast pace set by tho forwards in tho first tale sapped up the vitality of the Greys who found defence an irksome task. Admittedly in the first spell their scoring area was seldom in danger and play was usually outside their twenty-five hut Hastings always had a s’ight just sufficient to keep tho Greys ever on the alert

and working overtime in backing-up. There was nothing outstanding in the spell, merely good honest work, the Greys figuring prominently with sound defence and the Yellows striving to find a weakness in that defence. The forwards were smart and performed with great credit in spoiling work. Each pack broke up quickly and frustrated combined play The Hastings forwards had slightly the better of the struggle and just before the interval they forced their way over. Early in the second spell they were again successful in breaking down the defences. The Greys recovered from these “shock” tactics and they retaliated in great style. For a time they livened up the play by successfully throwing the ball about in the open. The forwards handled like backs and a good run bv Brodie was successful in halving the margin. However, this sounded the death knell for Old Boys. Hastings, too, commenced to disregard caution and the ball found the o.nen spaces more congenial. With both sides now relying on their backs to increase the score play became more interesting. Hastings improved in form and they brought, their aggregate to 20. Conversions were 100 per cent, perfect, for all five tries scored in the game were converted, though several goals went astray. Johnston. Heifford. Brodie and Eric Evans were the mainstays of the Old Collegians, the first-named being particularly good in fast following-up of the ball and he was usually tho one to give a start to the Grey attacks. Evans gave a very sound exhibition at full-back, his coolness and certainty saved his side on a goodly number of occasions. The Hastings backs revolved round Bert Grenside who scored his customary try in his usual tricky manner. Thompson on tho wing played up to his “good days” form. Cairns, Campbell and Fisher were tho pick of the heavyweights, “Tubbv” giving an excellent account of himself and scoring two fine tries.

Hastings 0.8. Down Tamatea. Once again Tamatea showed that they know how to take 'a “licking” and still be unconquered. On Satuiday Hastings Old Boys set out to avenge the defeat inflicted on them by Tamatea in the first round. Curiously enough this is the Reds only victory this season. Old Boys walked rings round the Maoris in the first spell and the scoring was at the rate of a point every second minute Opening up the play the Blue backs swept into pretty movements, Hannigan showing commendable work in whipping the ball out from the base of the scrum. His first appearance in that position was a noteworthy one and no doubt he will find his regular employment there. Rangi Joll, Percy Botherway and Latham linked up well between the wings and in turn made good openings and showed a due regard for combination and concerted effort. This was fortunate for Rainbow was “on his way” and romped across to do the “hat trick.” All this time Tamatea could do nothing to stop the Blues, for they were beaten in both divisions, Cater, Welsh and Symons being three earnest toilers who set a high standard and a fast pace for the Blue pack. Then came the second phase of the game. After the interval Tamatea came out fresh and put up a great resistance. Try as they would Old Boys could not find a weakness in the Maoris’ defence. The determined tackling which had been so lacking in the first spell, effectively kept the line clear. Then again Tamatea showed a greater aptitude to swing suddenly on the attack. They followed up the ball better and repeatedly caught Old Boys napping. Wanoa and Harvey did much to inspire the Reds in attack but it was Mapuhi who gave the side confidence. Mapuhi went back to the last line of defence and played a sterling game. It was only a matter of a few minutes after he took up the position that Tamatea showed improvement and commenced to pay more attention to attacking than to vainly bustle about lending support on defence.

Pars About Prominent Players.

The three points which Mark Nicholls scored early in the second test at Christchurch were unique in the 361 ho has now scored for New Zealand—they were the first he had ever registered by kicking a goal from a mark. Nicholls has now converted 89 tries for New Zealand, kicked 18 penalty goals, and landed five field goals. Only one man has a finer record, and he is Billy Wallace. the great goal-kicker of the 1905 All Blacks. Wallace’s total of 367 is likely to be eclipsed by Mark Nicholls before the conclusion of the fourth Test at Wellington. Nicholls was eighteen years of age when he represented New Zealand against the Springboks in 1921. Consequently he is now twenty-eight, and he is the only player who has retained his place in the New Zealand team since 1921. When L. Knight was ordered off at Eden Park during the British v. Auckland game recently,- Walter Batty was taken out of tho scrum and used as an extra wing-forward. This was done to prevent the pack becoming lop-sided when pushing. Auckland thus had in Solomon and Batty two wing-forwards of Island extraction and, to a stranger, they bear a certain resemblance. Alter the game, it is reported that Poole, the British scrum half, expressed the greatest admiration of Solomon as a wing-forward. “1 couldn’t get away from him,” stated the Britisher. “On one occasion I fielded the ball and went round the side- of the scrum, hut Solomoiii was there, so I doubled back to the other side, and I’m bothered if ho wasn’t waiting there for me J. H. Geddes, the Southland wingthreequarter, is a son of Arthur Geddes, one of the New Zealand selectors, The younger Geddes is one pf the fastest men playing football to-day and in chib football this winter has a bag of thirty tries. He controls the ball excellently on the ground, and with his pace this is a favourite method of his io outwit the opposition. Southland have a very heavy pack this season, anil their backs are a very .sound lot. Visiting teams will

find that the men from Invercargill are mighty hard to overcome on their own ground.

Ray Williams, of Taradale, at present studying at Canterbury University, is playing excellenty just now in the wing-threequarter position, and he is popularly selected to gain rep. honours for Canterbury. Ray is a keen track runner, and before moving south wMs a member of the Napier A.A.A. His father represented Hawke’s Bay on the football field for several seasons. * • • The Rules and Changes. The present rule that the player taking a mark must also bo the kicker has not always been in force. At the commencement of the present century a player taking a mark was forced to be the placer if a place kick at goal was to be taken. "he above information is tendered for the benefit of an enquirer. Otago play Southland for the Ranfurly Shield on August 6th, and if they are successful. Hawke's Bay, duo to the rules governing these contests, will be prevented from making theii; game at Dunedin a shield one.

Probably the first set of rules drawn up for the government of football in New Zealand were those for which Mr George Harper was responsible for in 1862. They were applied nt Christ's College and generally accepted in Canterbury. They remained operative util 1875. Tho playing area was then 150 yaids in length. Whistles came into use by referees in New Zealand during the 1883 season. Mr W. H. Atnck being responsible for the innovation. Piior to this referees had to rely on their vocal organs, and at times they li:t:l difficulty in making themselves heaid when they required a cessation of hostilities due to u breach. Canterbury introduced liee'ing from the scrum in 1892, and this new phase of play received very favourable comment during the tour of tlio North Island, and the new stylo was adopted generally up this way as a result of the southerners’ visit.

Games. W. L. D. Points. Ch. !•'. A. Pts. Napier O.B. . 11 0 0 103 48 22 Hastings .... 7 2 2 105 69 16 Celtic a 3 106 80 13 M.A.C 4 2 82 146 10 Pirates 6 0 73 74 10 Tech. O.B. .. 4 7 0 101 112 8 Hast. O.B. .. 3 7 1 82 89 7 Tamatca .... * 1 10 » 0 37 • J 93 .2