RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 154, 15 June 1932, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

CLUB GAMES IN THE BAY SECOND CUP ROUND COMMENCED COMMENT ON SATURDAY’S PLAY. (By “Kick-off.”) There were no “beg pardons” about Marists and Hastings Old Boys on Saturday* in the return game played at Hastings. The two packs set to work and provided one of the hardest and most willing exhibitions witnessed this season. * As a game of Rugby it was tame, for there was nothing spectacular or bright about the play. The forwards controlled the ball for nine-tenths of the game, and their success in making the game tight was outstanding. At times there were attempts to open m. play, but the spoiling tactics adopted by both sides completely demoralised the backs, who, whenever the ball came near them, got rid of it as though handling hot bricks. The forwards provided a rare duel, each pack relentlessly stalking the ball fro mtho first to last blasts 'of the whistle. No quarter was given and none asked. In the tight the play was very strenuous, and very frequently the referee had to call for a re-packing of the scrum. The loose rustics were excellent, and for th 3 first time this season genuine drabbling rushes were witnessed, the reason being that it was much safer to keep the ball at the toe rather than to handle it, as that inevitably meant being “dumped”—a process that as the game proceeded became very paintui. Not one player on the field needed to take lessons in tackling, and each and every one was only too anxious to show how good he was in this department of the game.

In the tight and in the loose rushes there was little between the two packs, but in the line-outs Marists had a definite superiority. The work of Satherly in this respect was outstanding.

So few forwards nowadays jump for the ball jn the line-outs, and it was refreshing to witness the ex-Aucklander springing into the air for the ball. It was surprising how frequently he secured possession, and it is significant that when he did so the Marist backs usually gained generous slices of territory.

Satherly played a good all-round game, and with Brodio, sometimes Wagg too, was prominent in the loose. McCormack was a toiler, but for that matter so were the remainder. There was not a “passenger” in either pack. Outshining his team-mates, Hannigan was in rare fettle. His wonderful fol-lowing-up was a great help in keeping the Marist backs quiet. He was always the first Old Boy on the ball, though Symons, Milburn and Palmer were seldom far behind him.

Marists had one other advantage over Old Boys, and that was their possession of a better half-back. Mahoney put in an exceptionally hard day’s toil, and emerged with honours. He provided one of the best exhibitions of an attacking half-back seen this season and the winning try was entirely due to his enterprise. Of the remaining backs ou the fraud. Brown ,tb.c Marist centre, and Botherway, ono of tho Old Boy five-eighths, were the pick. Both shone in defence, particularly Botherway, ' who excelled himself. McCarthy was most enterprising. but did not handle the ball too often. The two full-backs, Couper and Varton, were splendid and rock-like without being brilliant. An interesting point in the game was furnished by Referee W. Thurlow, who penalised Marists on one occasion for refusing to “get back” when preparing for a scrum. They were frequently ordered to get on the mark, but refused, and the referee rightly awarded a free-kick to Old Boys. An Uninteresting Game.

On the neighbouring area Hastings experienced no great difficulty in defeating Tamatea, and it would appear that the championship holders did not extend themselves, for they gave a display much below the average.

The opening spell saw them gather in a lead of nine points, the first half dozen coming to hand fairly early, but after the interval play was more even, and the Maoris put up a dogged resistance, occasionally enlivening the proceedings by dashes that were characteristic of the now defunct M.A.C.

Calder, the Hastings winger, showed fine anticipation to notch the first two tries. His backing up was good and it was pleasing to sec his play justly rewarded. Cooke was not so prominent as usual but ho was always at hand when needed.

Joi! continues to show enterprise, and frequently made line thrusts. He still has a tendency to hang on to the ball too long and so nullify his efforts to provide an “extra” man at the end of the passing bouts Harvey, Kuropo and Ormsby were the pick of the Tamatea backs, but there was not the slightest inkling of combination among them. The Hastings forwards were an even lot, with no one outstanding. “Tubby’’ Campbell ,as usual, was the leader, Lit he was not up to form, especially in the matter of handling the ball. I ■

threw away a sure try on this account. Tamatea were well served by “Ginger” Nesbit, who put his customary dash into his play. Harrison, O’Keefe and Marilla were a useful trio of honest toilers, the remainder being very ordinary. GAMES AT NAPIER. FIELD GOALS PROMINENT. (By ‘/Rambler.”) After witnessing the second, meeting between Napier Old Boys and Pirates it can be fairly said that the bold buccaneers have definitely arrived on the championship scene as a menace to all other contenders.

For three parts of last Saturday’s game they held a territorial advantage, in fact during the first half the playing area appeared to be full of black jerseys so busy were they. Tho uefeneo of Old Boys was a feature during this period and the solitary try of the game and registered by Pirates was one that would have beaten any team. It was engineered at top speed from a scrum with Eddy Howell the genius. Receiving his pass he swerved past Holt and then shot the ball to Jones, who raced between Appleby and Neal to score. Old Boys tightened up their defence after that lesson and towards the close of the game their forwards asserted a gradual predominance, but it was then that the Pirate defence rose equal to all demands and successfully kept their line intact.

It is rare that the potted goal takes such prominence in a game for following E. Howell’s successful attempt for Pirates tho Old Boys’ rearguard attempted the feat on more than one occasion. It was left to Neal, however, to register a tourer for the Whites and ho attempted the feat from touchline adjacent to the half-wav line. Long-distance pot shots are a nightmare to all referees, as it is extremely difficult to judge at times whether the ball passes over or beneath the ciossbar. Referee Miller was tricked in this instance and although tho ball actually fell four feet short of the bar ho awarded the goal. Immediately there was an uproar from those spectators occupying positions from which they wero capable of judging accurately, but tho damage was done, and to till the Pirates' cup to overflowing, a few minutes later Wallis goaled from a penalty, thus bringing the scores level. It. was a beautiful kick, but the presence of Wallis on the field was due to the removal of A. D. Smith through in jur.v.

The remaining minutes of tho game were fairly heetie and a free-for-all foursome on the touchline was fortunately for tho combatants staged while tho referee’s back was turned.

Old Boys did not exercise their previous Saturday’s mortgage on the ball in tho hooking department, CrawfordSmith meeting a skilful opponent in Wyllio. Honours finished up about 50- -50.

On taking the field Pirates gave a hearty handclap to Dick Steere and then Captain Bird called lor three,cheers for the All Slack vicecaptain. After such a greeting possibly Steere couldn’t feel it in his heart to let himself go in his usual exhuberant fashion, for throughout the game he was quite subdued.

It was left to Reaney to lead the forwards, a job he did very well too, and Crawford-Smith was another who contrived to bo prominent throughout the game. Lambic, as usual, was a sturdy defender, but in attack he did not get much assistance from his immediate supports, Bradley and Holt. For once full-back Neal started off on the wrong foot and in tho early part of the game fumbled unaccountably. However, he recovered as the game progressed and later turned on some spectacular saving work.

For Pirates, Farquhar, at full-back gave his best display so far this season and E. Howell was excellent in attack or defence, while half-back Rush revelled in going down to the fierce rushes of the big White forwards. Hartwell and Wyllie were the pick of the Pirate pack, the former doing great work in the loose rushes. A Quiet Affair.

On. No 2 ground Tec. Old Boys and Celtic had a quiet little affair that failed to raise any enthusiasm amongst tho onlookers.

Tee. were minus four of their regular backs duo to injury, and in consequence Eric Evans and Ernie Elliott were pressed into service. Both did very well, Elliott opening the scoring with a nice try. It is possible that, having broken the ice, Eric Evans will continue to turn out with the Greys. Territorially Celtic had as much of the game as Tee., but they failed to make the most use of scoring opportunities; in addition they were badly served at full-back and this fact cost them at least five points. Add to this a fourer from 50 yards out by Matt. O’Brien and the points superiority of Tec. has disappeared.

Two very earnest workers for the Celts were Wilson in the pack and Tut Geddes in tho rearguard. “Tut” is just now consistent in his good displays.

Tom Evans and Setford were the bright lights in the Tee. rearguard, but T. Evans, who has previously done well on the end of the Tec. three-quarter line, showed on Saturday a marked disinclination to tackle the man with the ball and he had rtiany opportunities offered him too.

Th> Tec. forward division arc a very even lot at. all times and it is due to their tenacity that they enjoy so many suece-.es. in line-out play they are

woefully weak but in other phases of forward play they are a worry to the opposition.

HASTINGS SUB-UNION MEETS. CHARITY MATCHES ARRANGED. The usual weekly meeting of the Hastings Rugby Sub-Union was held last evening, Mr It. M. Hewitt presiding over a lull attendauce of members. Arrangements were made for the matches in aid of the Red Cross funds for Juno 30. To Aute seniors will play Hawke’s Bay juniors and the Te Aute thirds wih play the Hastings High School. Both games will be played at Nelson Park, Hastings, tho seniors at 2.30 p.m. and the thirds at 1.15 p.m. Tickets have been printed and are ob tainable from members of the Rod Cross Society, the charges for admis sion being the same as at club matches, viz., men Is, ladies (id and stand free. A request from the East Coast SubUnion to suggest dates for a match with the Hastings Sub-Union was re- - ceived. —It was decided to suggest July 7 and 21. It was decided to draw the attention of the Tamhtea junior team to the fact that they are required to advise the sub-union if they are unable to keep their appointments, and it is also unfair to the referees and other teams who have to wait to sec if they arrive.

It was decided to delete the following extract from rule 49 of the subunion’s rules, dealing with the appointment of referees by the sub-union, for the rest of tho season, but its permanent deletion will have to be confirmed at the annual general meeting of the sub-union. The extract referred to is as follows: —“ . . . excepting in such cases where teams have agreed upon a referee (who must be a member of a Now Zealand Referees’ Association) and notified the secretary of the union before 5 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the match.”

It was observed that players who are required to play at the. schoolgrounds are still using the Karamu road entrance, and attention is drawn to tho fact that all players must enter the grounds from Murdoch road.

It is ascertained that the Havelock North fourth grade team is leading the competition in their section, their record being; Played 7, won 5, lost 1, drawn 1, points for 61, against 21, eh. points 11. Hastings arc next with 10.