NARROW WIN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 175, 9 July 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

NARROW WIN

FOR M. 8.0.8. A DULL AFFAIR CELTIC THREE POINTS BEHIND. NEITHER SIDE HANDLES WELL. M. 8.0.8. defeated Celtic on McLean Park, Napier, by a narrow margin of three points after a game characterised by dull forward play and relieved only occasionally by back movements. Neither side was safe in handling the heavy ball in the first spell and on this account many good scoring chances were lost. In the second spell, however, Marists were better in their handling and were thus able to score two tries to Celtic’s one. Both the Napier team’s tries resulted from splendid back movements, while Celtic’s.try came from a solo effort. Both teams endeavoured throughout the game to keep the play tight, it being very difficult for tho backs to handle the heavy ball with any accuracy. The teams took the field as follows: — Celtic. —McKcnnie, King, McKenzie, Hollis, Seal, Hose, Geddis, Palmer, Large, Wall, Hassett, Wilson, .Keith, Lain, Robertson. M.B.O.B.—Dinneen, Browne, Kenny, Morrissey, Blythe, Clothier, Brodie, Mahony, Brady, King, McCormack, Wagg. Armstrong, Ireland, Satherly. Marist went immediately to the attack, and witoin the first five minutes harrassed thv Celtic defence with long kicks, whirl found the line near the corner. Man.st were awarded a freekick a good distance out, but at n good angle, but Satherly just missed with a good kick. It became evident at an early stage that the game would be a hard forward tussle, and both packs were kept working strenuously. King, following an advantage from a dropped pass by tho Marist backs, carried play to tho Green twenty-five, but the advantage was lost through a knock-on, and Marist cleared to halfway. Celtic were again on tho attack a few seconds later, and were awarded a penalty near the Green twenty-five, which Geddis failed to turn to good account. Marist again cleared, but were driven back when Geddis lined at the twenty-five with a long kick from a penalty. Marist gave promise of breaking through a few seconds later when their forwards, led by Armstrong, carried play to the Celtic line, but the movement was held up by a penalty to the defenders. Celtic cleared, but Marist again took up a good position when Browne lined well at the corner. A subsequent scries of scrums on the line was survived by Celtic, Who cleared to neutral territory and later worked their way to the Marist twenty-five, where they were awarded a penalty from which McKenzie opened the scoring, the ball hitting the upright and bouncing over. Celtic 3 M. 8.0.8 0 The position was reversed only a few seconds later when Marist were awarded a penalty in tho Celtic twenty-five, Satherly succeeding from a difficult angle. M. 8.0.8 3 Celtic . 3 Celtic then assumed the offensive, and for awhile penned Marist in their own twenty-five, but poor handling and a solid defence prevented them from crossing. Marist turned the tables completely, when Brodie broke through with a strong run and lined well down.

Play remained in Celtic territory for only a brief spell, the visitors’ forwards clearing and running well down, where for a time they kept Marist busily defending. Nothing resulted from the movement, and play was centred in neutral territory when halftime arrived with the score: M. 8.0.8 3 Celtic ........ 3 THE SECOND SPELL. Play followed a similar trend of up-and-down play for a considerable time following the resumption, being brightened on one occason by a bout of in-and-out passing between Mahony and Kenny, but an interception spoilt it. Attempts by both sets of backs to open up play brought no result until, from a scrum, Mahony “worked tho blind” with a pass to Kenny, who in-passed to Mahony to Satherly, who crossed for a try after one of the best movements of tho match. Satherly’s kick sailed outside the posts. M. 8.0.8. 6 Celtic .................. 3 Dull forward play followed for fully ten minutes and was finally relieved with a movement by Celtic who, after carrying the ball right to the Marist line, lost a good scoring chance by knocking-on. The reward of persistent Celtic attacks came when Large gathered at the Marist twenty-five and, after outpacing the defence with a strong run down the line, grounded near the corner for a good try. Wilson’s kick failed to rise. Celtic 6 M. 8.0.8 6

Open play in direct contrast to the tight forward play that predominated through the match accounted for Marist's next try. Mahoney sent out a poor pass to Clothier, who, however, gathered the ball well, cut-in to make a good opening, passed to Browne, to Kenny, who forced his way over in the corner for a good try. Satherly’s kick missed. M. 8.0.8 9 Celtic 6

Marist immediately took play back to Cteltic territory and forced their way over for what at first appeared to be a try, but the referee ruled a drop-oiit at the twenty-five, Marist were back again iinniediatePy after, however, and re engaged in another assault on the line when time came with the '.J' 9 . -J.