RUGBY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16806, 12 August 1925, Page 4

RUGBY.

(By “Onlooker.”)

The one senior Rugby match on Saturday was not .is line a game as was expected would eventuate when Celtic and Old Boys came together

again. The last occasion on which these sides met was a memorable one, and the players who represented the respective clubs on Saturday were not in many instances different from those seen in action then. Vet there was little of the same dash about the play.

The writer was deeply impressed with the obvious decline, through overplay, of the physical powers of TV. Langlaiuls, the brilliant Old Bovs captain. He made a. brief appearance on the field, and just, for a few minutes bucked his tiling team mates wonderfully. The effect faded, however, when his lameness became apparent, and the game flagged again. Ganglands Should take a good spell, for there are hard and important matches ahead in which his club and the district will want to see him at his best.

The appearance of AVobb, for the Celts, provided another of those surprises for which the club has attained something of a reputation this season. If the Celtic Club could hold all tho good men it manages to produce, it would he a poor look-out for the other teams, but just enough of them keep moving on to upset the prospects, while injuries put others temporal ily out of tho game. AVobb is reputed to have represented AA'cllingtou province, and if he is a sticker, he will probably be seen in the scarlet colors of the Bay.

Though Saturday’s game lacked the spectacular element, owing to the breakdown of the Old Boys’ hacks, the forward work was of a good standard, the packs being fairly well matched. The white scrum 1-pnefittcd by the recovery of Thomas, and by the recovery of form on the part of one or two who have not been playing 100 well of late. It was as well that they were able to scrummage, for tho Celts put in some very hard work. Had the latter had Harrison to lead the pack in the open, the -final score might Rave been a very different one. Old Boys- had frequently to thank one member of tlie green pack for (lie offside play that gave them breathingtime, and which proved’a great handicap to Celtic.

The juniors put up a really fine game at Motu, it is stated, and on. a spongy ground ran through the heavy Motu pack. There were some troubled thoughts anent the fixture when it. was first proposed to match the Poverty Bay junior representatives against the Motu seniors, but that the lads could hold their own was confidently assorted by the selectors and coach. That contention has been fully justified, and Poverty Bay has another rep. win to its credit. AVhcn it. is remembered that tho opposition included Marino and another player who is to be given a trial with the Poverty Bay senior representatives, the victory gains in importance. # * * *

The junior team was uniformly good, and combined .to such purpose as to baffle the home side on mariv oeeasiohs. Their passing was very accurate, and was carried out in snappy style, while the rucking and spoiling play was of high merit. It was in repelling the attacks of Hie home forwards, however, that the juniors shone to greatest effect, for they wont down to rushes and swept the ball from the toes of charging forwards with the utmost sangfroid. The game was played in the friendliest of spirits, and the good crowd cheered liberally and impartially. Afterwards, the home team expressed satisfaction at the results, and at the good display afforded the Rugby public of Motu and the district. * * * * Three men on the country- side commanded attention, one for wdint lie was known to be, and the others for their possible value, as Poverty Bay representatives. Marino made a very good impression, and will probably be hard to keep out. of the next, representative team chosen from the Bay. Mortleman, one of the colts who was mentioned in this column on Saturday, did himself justice as a forward, and was considered to be worthy of a trial with the reps. Hansen, the other lad, was not so successful in the wing three-quarter position, for though he was fast, he was no more, than a match for tho junior opposing him. Poverty Bay will continue to he represented on the wings by AVhaitiri and Marland. The mpst promising local event this week is the intcr-collcgiatc match between Napier and Gisborne High School teams. The game is an annual fixture, and is always looked forward to very keenly. This years’ event will be played out on Saturday, on the Oval, commencing at 1 .80, and though the hour is not entirely convenient, for tho general public, it is sate to predict that the attendance will almost ecnial those for the less important interdistrict matches. The Gisborne High School team is considered to be wmll above the average, though not, perhaps, as redoubtable as that which met, To, Auto some seasons ago in a wonderful match at the Reserve. The Napier team will have to depend upon new stars this year, having recently lost the. services of one or two players who in previous years have been the strength of the team.

RUGBY REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION.

The weekly meeting of the P.B. Rugby Referees’ Association was held last evening, Mr. Burge presiding. . The Association’s delegate on the Rugbv Union reported upon a complaint from the country competition committee regarding the failure of the Association to supply a referee for the Muriwai match on Saturday last. After a discussion, which proved that tho Association had done ail in its power to give the services of a. referee for the match, but without avail, the matter lapsed. SATURDAY’S REFEREES.

Referees were appointed for Saturday’s games as follows: — Seniors: Y.M.P. v. Old Boys, Mr. Corbett; Celtic v. Rovers, Mr. Plank. Inter-Collegiate match (Napier v. Gisborne High School), Mr. Burge. Junior match: Mr. Poswillo; thirdgrade, Mr. Olsen. Country competition: Muriwai v. Manutuke, at Muriwai, Mr P. To Him.