RUGBY FOOTBALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18402, 21 May 1934, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S LOCAL GAMES CELTIC AND Y.M.P. WIN RESULTS at a glance In the senior competition games on Saturday, under the auspices of the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union, Celtic and Y.M.P. won their respective engagements, though neither team had an easy win. Celtic were matched with Marisl, who held a lead on points until well on in the second half, when the competition leaders opened out and scored a tally of 11 points in very short order. The Maori team found ILS.O.R. particularly good among the 'backs, and the game was even and highly exciting practically all through. In the junior game, Old Boys proved too fast and well combined for Celtic, in the principal match of this competition scries, and the other games were decided without any surprises. The third grade fixtures, played on the High iSchool ground, wore productive of much interest. Results of the respective fixtures wore as under:— Seniors. —Y.M.P, 18 beat H.S.OiB. 16; Celtic 11 beat Marist 5. Juniors.—Old Boys 10 beat Celtic nil; H. 5.0.8. 22 beat High School 3; Marist 23 beat Y.M.P. 13. Thirds. —-Marist 8 beat Celtic nil; Old Boys 9 beat 11.5.0.8. 8. MAORIS SHADE H. 5.0.8. FAST HIGH-SCORING GAME OPEN PLAY FEATURED The defeat of H. 5.0.8. by Y.M.P. was not unexpected. In fact, the unexpected feature of the game was the way m which H. 5.0.8. hung oil to their opponents and finally managed to get within two points of them at the finish. The Maori team was reported to have put in solid training during the past week, polishing up the phases of their game, in which weaknesses had been revealed on the previous Saturday, and they started their match against H. 5.0.8. with a rush that almost swept, their opponents off their feet. Yet at the finish the score favored them only by a margin that would have been wiped out by any kind of success on the part of H. 5.0.8., the actual figures being Y.M.P. 18, H. 5.0.8. 16. As may bo inferred from the fact that a total of 34 points was scored in the course of the game, the defensive work on both sides was rather weak. Both teams were out to exploit the open type of play most favored by the public, and they gave the spectators a really spectacular display, with plenty of passing movements, and some almost brilliant solo efforts from time to. time. The Maoris were much heavier in . the scrum than their opponents, and had the best of the scrums throughout, practically, but they were not superior in the loose forward work, or even in the line-outs, where the vim of the H. 5.0.8. forwards tolfi its tale. Getting the ball regularly from the set scrums, however, Y.M.P. were able to make the most of a good back division, among which the passing was snappy and usually well-timed, the Maori players backing up in good style. In the H. 5.0.8. back division, also, there was a good degree of combination, and with fewer chances, the exstudents showed that they had real ]>enetrative ability. Observant spectators noted tho effect of- the friendly rivalry of P. Kaua and EL Haisnian, who opposed each other in the Y.M.P. and . 11.5.0.8. second five-eighths positions. Early in the. game. Kaua was playing at fullback tor Y.M.P., and going easy on his ankle injury, a legacy from the Celtic game of the previous Saturday. When H. 5.0.8. carried their score from 0-5 to 10-5 in a hurry, after the first try had been scored by Y.M.P., Kaua moved up, and from that point onward made it his special business to restrict Haisman’s activities. Whether Y.M.P. or H. 5.0.8. were attacking, the two outstanding players came together repeatedly, checkmating each other and apparently being well satisfied to do so. Had either Kaua or Haisman had an open field, the difference in the scores at the- finish of tho game would have been much greater, spectators were justified in concluding. These two players were tho best of their respective teams, but they were far from being the only players in their teams who did well. For Y.M.P.. Dennis, McKinley, Barty, Rogers and Horsfall all played well in the scrum, WELLINGTON TROTS CONCLUDING RESULTS (Ver Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Concluding events at the Wellingon trots on Saturday resulted: — Winter Handicap.—2 Sea Gift, 1; 3 Harvest Dillon, 2; 19 Bon Haven, 3. Scratched: Native Leaf, Guy o’ Mine. Won by a neck, and five lengths. Times, 4.43 -2-5, 4.47 3-5, 4.50. Suburban Handicap.—s Lynley De Oro, 1; 1 Iraq, 2; 10 First Judge, 3. Scratched: Insolvent. Won by five lengths each way. Times, 2.53, 2.55, 2.56 3-5. Farewell Handicap.—2 Arcthusa, 1; 1 Raydus, 2; 4 Master Rov, 3. Scratched: Craganour. Won by three lengths, and two lengths. Times, 2.49, 2.49 2-5, 2.51.

while Kingi, Ross and Rogers were the best -of the. backs apart from Kaua. In the 1k5.0.8. team, Gennnell, Melvin, Collett and Corson made good impressions for their all-round work in the pack, and 1 Haisman had good support irom .Morrison, Webster and (Irani, the latter giving signs of reaching the form as a senior player which bis school play three- years ago promised. There was one stage at which Y.M.P. ran through their opponents like water through a sieve, but apart from this short period, the ex-students stood up well to u fast and exacting game. To judge by the initial velocity displayed by the Maoris, it seemed likely that H. 5.0.8. would be over-run —and within live minutes of the start of' play, Y.M.P. gut within kicking range of their opponents’ goal, two attcrnpls at field goals going astray. Y.M.P. kept up the pressure, however, and with their forwards doniinatiug the situation, they battled their way over the line with a forward. rally, Pere scoring a try by a good dive. The try was converted by Ross, and the Maoris enjoyed a 5-nil lead almost before H. 5.0.8. had warmed up to the game.

From that point, however, the play took a decidedly different turn, for H. 5.0.8. tightened up tlieir defence, which stood the strain of a tricky passing rush in which the Maori backs passed the ball to and fro, exploiting dummies and reverse passes. This attack was pulled up five yards from the goal-line, and shortly afterwards, Webster broke away from the 25-yds-line, with Grant in company, the pair galloping as far as the Y.M.P. 25yds. line, where Webster drew tho tackle of the fullback and passed *to Grant. The latter went over untouched, to score behind the posts, Melvin converting, and the score stood 5-all. H. 5.0.8. kept up the pressure, and soon t he nippy Webster was seen going again. This time he avoided Kaua’s tackle, and passed to Burridge, the latter getting over though heavily tackled. Melvin again converted, and H. 5.0.8. led 10-5. The reverse seemod to liven up the Maori side, and from midfield they drove fast attacks into H.5.0.8.’s territory, their backs working at high speed and with a skill in handling the ball. Twice in succession, the forwards gave "the ball to their backs, and the latter, from just about the 25-yds. line, handled it prettily, completely beating the H. 5.0.8. defence and sending Ross in to score each time. The second of these tries was converted by Ross, and with a good bit of the first half still to go, Y.M.P. led 13-10. A remarkable feature of this game was the manner in which the ball travelled from end to end of the field, at frequent intervals, first one side being in the ascendant and then the other, with the spectators in a constant ferment of interest. Defence was not a strong point of either team, as might be judegd by tho scoring to this point, but it was a really good match to watch. Just before half-time, H. 5.0.8. evened the score with a penalty goal, kicked from a good position, by Melvin, the score at the interval being 13-all. - 11.5.0.8. opened the second half with a well-sustained attack against which tho Maoris had to muster their best defensive tactics, the fullback repeatedly kicking short to tho line. Later, Kaua broke a wav from a loose scrum, and started his fellow hacks going, the movement living stopped at midfield. A penalty kick near the centre of the field put YLM.P. on the attack again and this time Kaua gathered in the ball m an open scramble, to send Rogers galloping oil the right wing. He was stopped and driven over the boundary, but the hall did not go out of bounds, and was gathered in by the Maori backs, who sent it in a series of passes across tho width of tip field to the left wmg, the latter showing good speed to score in a corner. Ross took the kick and goaled a pretty effort to give Y.M.I. the lead at 18-13. . The Maori forwards were getting tlio .best of all the scrums at this stage, and were constantly pressing either by solid forward rushes or by swift penetrating back movements. Haisman and Morrison were playing sound defensive games for 11.5.0.8., and were well backed up, the Maori attacks coming tonothing over a period of several minutes. Then Morrison got the ball from the scrant for a change, and turned the tide of the game for a while. The Maoris came back, however, helped by Poliatu s good line kicking, and they maintained the pressure until Grant made a fine run on tho 11.5.0.8. right wing, fending off two tackles and finally being stopped on the. Y.M.P. 4?syds line. The game continued with varying fortune, but undiminished pace, through its later stages, H. 5.0.8. losing a great chance of equalising the scores when Innes and Webster got possession near midfield and Wobster broke away with Haisman on- the outside, and only Pohatui defending the Maori goal line. Webster elected to dummy post, Poliatu and then passed infield, where tho recipient. an H. 5.0.8. forward, was promptly overwhelmed by the Maori backs who had rallied to Pohatu’s assistance. The chance of a try was thus lost, but soon afterwards H. 5.0.8. cut, down Y.M.P.’s lead by means of a penalty goal, kicked by Melvin, from a fairly good position on the Y.M.P. line. —Y.M.P. 18. H. 5.0.8. 16. In the last quarter of an hour, the maroons carried on a series of attacks that almost reached the Y.M.P. goalline, but each time they were thrown

back, the Maoris setting themselves on a, strictly defensive policy for the time being. Just a minute or two before "no side,” Y.M.P. rallied strongly, and the game ended in Hie ex-students’ territory. the .score standing: Y.M.P. 18. H.S.CkB. 16. Mr. L. Stiolibnry was the referee.

CELTIC’S DIFFICULT WIN GOOD SHOWING BY MARIST It was generally expected that the match between Celtic and Marist would develop into a walk-over for Celtic, and it came as a big surprise to the spectators, therefore, when Marist look the lead right at (lie start, and maintained it, until witliin-20 minutes of the whistle. From then on the Celtic backs got into action, and scored three tries in fairly quick succession, one of which was converted, to give Celtic the victory by 11 points lo 5. Marist, opened strongly, and'after the early exchanges carried the play down to Celtic’s territory. There a forward scramble ensued, and when the ball went over the line Griffon fell on it and registered a try, which H. Honan converted nicely from well out.—Marist 5, Celtic 0. Invading the Marist end, Celtic were awarded a penalty kick in a handy position, but Milligan’s kick was unsuccessful, as was another penalty kick which ho took shortly afterwards. At this stage there was little between the two teams, though if anything Marist had slightly the better of matters. Celtic made repeated strong attacks, however, but were frequently penalised for off-side play. When Marist were penalised for a similar infringement, Milligan was given a chance from a comparatively easy position, but missed, and Sexton, receiving the kick near his own line, found the line beyond half-way. By this time Celtic were beginning to give a belter account of themselves, hut Marist revived, and carried the play right up to their opponents’ 26-line. There ilueston was penalised for holding on, and Honan took the Jack, but was wide of the goal by a considerable margin. After an exchange of line, kicks, Celtic reopened their attack, but were penalised again just iiiside the Marist 25-line, and Honan with a long punt to the line relieved the pressure. Marist were kicking well. Towards the close of the first spell Celtic were doing most of the attacking, but Marist defended splendidly, and each of the greens’ attacks were frustrated. Half-time came without any change in the score. The early play in the second half ranged between the two 25-lines, with frequent set scrums. Marist held their own manfully against Celtic onslaughts, and time afaer time they broke away to invade the green territory. One scrummage which moved all along the Marist goal-line looked like a certainty for Celtic, but Sexton cleared the line nicely. When Celtic returned to the attack they lost, a nice opportunity through one of their backs fumbling a pass. Shortly afterwards the blues’ broke away, and Stewart, with the ball at his toes, carried play deep into Celtic’s territory. There the ball went into touch, and from the throw-in Green started a promising movement, which, however, broke down before the line was reached. Celtic began to press again, and looked dangerous, but a penalty for picking out of tho scrum ou their part saved the situation for the blues, and though Celtic kept, up a fairly constant pressure, Marist broke away repeatedly, and were almost as much on the attack as on the defensive. They had one narrow escape in a scramble on tlieir own lino, being able to force before Celtic could open their scoring account. Celtic’s first try came from a nice passing movement among the backs, Milligan gaining possession and transferring to C. McKinley. The latter gave the ball to P. McKinley, and ho in turn transferred to Cater. Cater dashed over for a try, which Mililgan had no difficulty in converting, to equalise the score—s-5. These points w'ere scored 20 minutes before time. Almost immediately afterwards Celtic had another opportunity when Murland took a kick and passed to Carrington, who just failed to get over the line. Later, from a syds. scrum tho ball went out to W. McKinley, who passed to C. McKinley. Murland was tho next to receive the ball, and lie dashed over the line for Celtic’s second try. This time Milligan was unsuccessful, and the score read: Celtic 8, Marist 5. Play had not long been in progress when Wright, the Marist fullback, was knocked out, and had to leave the field, fortunately without serious injury. His place was taken by Heiford'. From then on to the close, play was confined to the Marist area for the greater part of the time. Murland broke away once and looked like scoring; lie had only the fullback to encounter, but Heiford tackled him nicely, and the ball went forward. A moment lated P. McKinley crossed the line, but was called back for a knock-on. The last try of the match came imiiicliately before the whistle. W. McKinley gained possession, and transferred to C. McKinlev, who in turned passed to Murland. The last-named player got over without much trouble, but. Milligan’s kick failed. Celtic ... ... II Marist 5 .Mr. N. Gilchrist was the referee.

THIRD GRADE GAMES ■ Marist beat Celtic in the third grade by eight points to nil, after a fairly fast game. For the winners, tries were scored by Hayes and Hogan, Hayes converting one of the tries. Mr. A. E. Ingram was the referee. 111 the other third grade fixture, Old Roys got the better of H.5'.0.8. by the margin of a single point. Each side scored two tries and the match was decided by the difference between a conversion and a. penalty goal. For the winners, C. Sebire, and Grant scored tries, and C. Sebire goaled a penalty kick; while for H. 5.0.8., Porter and Martin scored tries, and Thompson converted one try, the final scores being Old Boys 9, ‘ 11.5.0.8. 8. Mr. H. j Hunter refereed the game.