RUGBY SIDELIGHTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 161, 24 June 1935, Page 8

RUGBY SIDELIGHTS

NOTES AND COMMENT

Points in Saturday’s Games CELTIC INCREASE LEAD The secoui round of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Football club champi ms'iip started -Mf <-n Saturday with the 'leleat of the runners-up, M.A.C., so giving Celtic a good lead of four points. Other games went more or less according to form, though the scoring wa.-> unusually high ,' •» * Kelly and Hannigan were two outstanding forwards for Celtic. They are hard to stop when near the line. Stanford, Eskview half, was at his best against Marist, but his supports had a bad attack of butter-fingers. ■iv tv Bowers scored a couple of tries for Celtic against Havelock, his work in file open being good. He keeps right on tho ball all the time, * * •» All Black Dalton did not have mutters all his own way in the hooking department, but he made up for this defiecieney in his general play. •K- -X- 'XNelson, in addition to giving good service as centre, was in good form with his boot and contributed 16 points by way of goals. Vartan (H H.5.0.,8.) re-appearec! against Tech, on Saturday and extricated his side from some warm corners; in addition his line kicking was great. -X- ■St* 'X' John Greening (ALA.C.) was only emergency in the trial game at Gisborne, but obtains a place in the side to tour Australia. Verily the ways of selectors arc mysterious. Horton shaped well on the wing for Hastings against Napier Old Boys and was responsible for a nice try that called for good footwork. ® » Chain passing by Tech, gave wingthreequarter Kauter possession, and with a weaving sort of run he badly beat two men, to go across for a splendid try. * * * Hastings made light work of their task against Napier Old Boys and emerged victors by the comfortable margin of a score. Taken all round they made quite a neat job of it. * # * Marist were full of business against Eskview, and in the rush for points Alat O’Brien led the way with a tally of 13, including one excellent long range penalty.

Tech. Old Boys got a break of 14 points on Hastings Old Boys, who then got busy to get within three points of their opponents, but the latter drew away again in the brightest game of the season.

Eskview will not win the Aladdison trophy, but their captain definitely outtalked ‘‘Chum” Ireland, the Alarist skipper, on Saturday, and is hereby awarded the ‘‘talkie” cup.

In most of H. H. 5.0.8. attempts at passing Apsey contrived to handle the ball twice, and on one occasion this move sent him free on a long run, but Brown grassed him right in the corner.

Colin Le Quesne was the leading light of the Hastings backs. He played a most unselfish game on attack and on defence he was excellent, relieving the Old Boys’ forwards of possession on a number of occasions.

Holt (Hastings Old Boys) executed a hesitating sort of run, and his opponents behaving similarly, the Hastings man sensing the possibilities clapped on all speed and went over for a spectacular try. Short snappy passing by the Hastings forwards was a feature of the Hastings-Napier Old Boy* game. Several of the tries were the direct result of these cohesive movements. # # # George Nepia played his season’s best at Gisborne on Saturday, .and the native population shrieked with delight and then in one voice demanded to know the whereabouts of Gilbert (the All Black full-back). «■ « * For all his selfishness Thomson, in the Pirates’ five-eighth line, was directly responsible tor at, least two thrilling tries against ALA.C. He is a great opportunist and woe betide the opposition that makes mistakes in his vicinity * ■>• »

Eskview against Marist did quite a lot of attacking, and on three different occasions when a try appeared imminent a dropped pass allowed tho greens to career away to score themselves. It was exasperating luck. * * * Leeti Purcell, one-time Celtic, turned out for the opposition, Havelock North, on Saturday, and though short of a gallop towards the end of the game, he infused plenty of dash into his play while the going was good. * * * Tc Ngaio (ALA.C.) in the Maori trial in Gisborne went great guns for the first twenty minutes and was in the team for Australia, but ho then put the shutters up and the selector forgot all about him. * * * Weak tackling, of the “loving couple” variety, allowed Celtic to set a big margin against Havelock North. The Villagers were going well for a time hut lapsed into ineffectual tackling and the determined Celts found the route to the scoring area a comparatively easy one. * ' -xHnrdv (llnr.lingii Old .lb'- :-/ was all at sea for the Jir.-t tw-nntv minntes against To* I’., during which period he gain the grcis a helping hand to gain a score. In the sci-nnd half he was 10<> per i-ent. and frccpicntly earned the plaudits of the crowd. -x- t:- -:t fhe Pirate* backs worked up a good combination against ALA.C. and were responsible for several bright tries Both the wingers crossed P.ntchett. the “Marlborough Esnres'-.,'’ living up to his reputation lie has improved' iip-.ii his pt--noli.; outings in Hastings. Without the services of AH Black Tory Reid. T. Greening. .1. Te Ngaio and Jury llionipsoH. M.A.C. fi<-ldcA a rerj t< eak pack. Isroughcttrt their

game against Pirates they lacked the leadership and weight of this quartette. Sid Crawford endeavoured to make amends but he could not quite overcome the disadvantage, tirougn in the open he was great.

Gunn was a prominent forward for Pirates against M.A.C. In the loose he made many excursions and was usually to be found at the head of the rushes. * * * Simon, the Celtic last line of defence, is improving with each game. tin Saturday against Havelock North he gave an excellent display, his accurate touch-finding being a feature of the match. In addition he scored seven points in goals. -x- ii The Maoris virtually threw the game away with their habit of kicking, so giving the opposition possession of the ball. The five-eighths appear to lack confidence in the outside men, though why this should be is difficult to understand for both Te Whero and Ilawea are determined runners. x* ft xA Rugby gem: A ruck with all forwards heaving and the ball completely obscured. The referee’s whistle sounds and Captain Jack LeQuesne in injured tones is heard admonishing Marist for hanging on to the ball. The referee then awards a penalty to Captain Le Quesne. Strategy gets its reward even on a Rugby field.

« * •» The Village backs shaped well against Celtic and provided some bright movements. Meads went exceptionally well on occasions behind the scrum, though he was inclined to take a little too much upon himself. It was not his fault that on two occasions tries were not scored, for he made the openings but the threequarter division was guilty of faulty handling.