RUGBY SIDELIGHTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 148, 8 June 1936, Page 8

RUGBY SIDELIGHTS

Brilliant Displays in Perfect Weather SATURDAY’S GAMES Though M.A.C. are now four points behind Marist, they have yet one ganio to play to catch, up with the competi-tion-leaders, and are not yet saying good-bye to their prospects of regaining the leadership. But they seem to have lost their sting, and may slip back as they did alter making a line beginning last season. Potted goals, or attempts at, them, were popular in games in Hastings on Saturday. Some were hopeless etlorts, but McCarthy’s for Hastings Old Boys was a beauty. There were three potted goals in the junior match between Hastings and Havelock, w « During a movement launched by Hastings Old Boys against M.A.C., an Old Boys’ back made an effort to pot a goal. Jackson, the Maoris’ full-back, sportingly took the ball straight into play again, and kicked it to McCarthy, who neatly potted it. There was an air of “now, that is the proper way to do it, young man” in McCarthy’s kick. * * n There were fikniliar faces missing from most of the teams playing in Hastings on Saturday, and some old ones back again. Tut Geddis, playing without sprigged boots, joined the ranks ol Celtic, and gave a good account of himself. Craw lord and Jury Thompson wore missing from M. A. C., and Al Stock was most notable of the stopgaps brought in to fill'the vacancies. The virtues, and plain eommonsense, of fast following-up were illustrated by Muir, playing for Hastings. Ho made a bee-line for Tut Geddis when Geddis was about to kick the ball, and smothered the kick. He went on at a great pace, and scored a lovely try. n * -a Jackson played a fine game at lullback for M. A. C., and was very dependable. He received little support and protection, however,-and could not stem the ever-swelling tide of attacks that Old Boys launched in the second spell.

Hastings Old Boys played the prettiest football seen in Hastings this season, and it is doubtful whether any team in the competition could have withstood their dashing play on Saturday. But they have a nasty habit of doing th® most inconsistent things, and one does not know whether to take their display on Saturday as a true indication of their merits or not.

Tori Reid had a strenuous time trying to put some fire into his teammates, but it was all in vain. They could not cope with the swift running and accurate passing of Old Boys, who outplayed the Maoris at the style of game that has given the Maoris victories over other teams. The way in which Old Boys’ whole line of backs handled the ball on a couple of scoring occasions was reminiscent of the heyday of Hawke’s Bay Rugby.

Last year Celtic won the competition because of their tremendous fitness. It was not so much that they played more skilful rugby than their opponents, but that they could wear them out. Taking the lesson to heart, other teams have been doing solid and steady training, and the results are visible in the improved quality of their play.

Mick Hardy, Apsey, and Otto Jonson, showed themselves to be a slick

and last-moving combination on Saturday, and initiated some lovily movements. Hardy got the ball away in tine style from the scrums, most of which were won by Old Boys, and gave his colleagues every chance to make use of their speed

Dyer, who gave an absolutely brilliant and faultless display of full-back-play in the wet on the previous Saturday, was again safe in the match against Celtic, and showed his genius for being able to get his kick in no matter how he is being worried. However, ho played a better game with the wet and heavy ball on the previous Saturday, and that sort of thing seems to suit him.

Neither Celtic nor Hastings brought to light anything dashing on the part of their backs, and lacked a really penetrating runner who would “give it a go” to pierce ‘‘he defence. It was more a matter of booting the ball through, and though those tactics have their uses, they don’t provide the prettiest football. Nevertheless, it was an evcellent game with many exciting moments.

The playing conditions on Saturday could not have been pleasanter, either lor the spectators or for the players. There "as no wind, ami the sun was warm without being uncomfortably so. The day seemed to put life into the teams, and all of them played spirited rugby.

The Technical Old Boys-Marist disturbance opened with a ’ terrific onslaught by the grey forwards. They were all iu it and it was halted just short of the green goal-line.

Thompson, Tech, full-back, was a spectacular figure all day. On one occasion from a penalty his attempt at goal struck the upright with terrific force and rebounded 15 yards infield. It was he alone that sensed the possibilities and rushing up he caught the ball and was just stopped in time by Brewer.

Napier Old Boys had a representative of the tank corps on the field against Havelock North. Against the skyline ho looked huge and apart from the verbal instructions he gave continuously was as much uso to the team as a comb is to a bald-headed man.

Percy Cooke, one-time Bay half-back, turned out for Napier Old Boys in

place of Clothier who was at full-back, thing to think about on No. 2 ground, McLean Park. One mathematician computed that the Jolls, between them, saw more of the ball than any other four players on the ground.

Showing surprising pace and excellent judgment Rangi J oil in a lonehanded assault gained 60 yards of territory. Of course he was bound to meet one of the family en route, but it was Inglis that finally secured to top the move off and then Whitehead with a magnificent kick made it five. * * * Our mathematician was busy on Saturday and after the game he tendered the following: “if Tech, and Marist had taken advantage of all the scoring opportunities presented to them, the score would have been 32 to 29 in favour of Tech. Old Boys.’’ lie wanted to tell us the number of scrums aud line-outs, too, but we told him to send it to the Census Enumerator.

Ox Exeter, Marist’s iron man, securing from a rebound, emulated tne Percy did well except for his failure to clear from a scrum once aud Russolt scored a smart try.

The Joll family and 12 others gave a strong Napier Old Boys fifteen somecharge of the Light Brigade and thundered to within an inch of tfio Tech. line. “Ox’’ was Marist’s most prominent forward.

Rossitter had exasperating luck when diving for a try; the tips of his lingers propelled tbo ball further from iis reach and Marist secured a JucKy farce.

Marr, Napier Oil Boys, promote! junior, starred as second five-eighth, anil had a leading part in almost every try scored by the whites, and once

when he could have done so himself he very unselfishly presented Harry Cr’.w-ford-Smith with a try.

In the main game on McLean Park, Napier, Ref McGlashan allowed much latitude in the scrums and both halfbacks took advantage of the leniency by reaching into the forest of legs for it. Freddy Jane was the most daring in this respect as on one occasion only his boots could be seen sticking out. However, he retrieved the ball plus two severe kicks on the fingers.