CONDITION TELLS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 72, 28 April 1930, Page 10

CONDITION TELLS

CELTIC HEMMED IN TOWARDS THE FINISH. A FAST OPENING GAME. A crowd which filled three-quarters of the old stand turned out to see H.S.O.B. meet Celtic on No. 1 ground at McLean Park. The first ten minutes of the game showed that they were not to he di'sappointed in their expectations of a sparkling display of Rugby football. J. Blake, Hawke's Bay representative and All Black centre three-quarter led Celtic on to the field, and R. Steere, anotlier Hawke's Bay represent- ' ative All Black, captained the Old Boys. After an unusually fast opening, in which there was plenty of evidence that a bright game was to» be seen, Celtic opened the senior scoring for the season, Geddis kicking a peualty goal. Celtic 3 H.S.O.B 0 Within five minutes of resumihg, H.S.O.B., who had battled hard to even the scores, showed a spleudid burst of combination. From a set scrum, Old Boys heeled and their back line went aivay in a strong movement. The ball reached South, at centre threequarter, who in-passed to Bradley. Brown picked up and the ball eventually went to Steere, who forced his way over handy to the posts. Bradley missed a kick from an easy position. Celtic 3 H.S.O.B 3 A spell in which the effect of the reversion to the old kick-into-touch rule was lioticeable, followed Celtic's reopening. On more than one occasion a player, coming down the side line, would kick hard instead of attemptin'g to make his way through, when lie saw opponents ahead of him. Tt was a simnle means of gaining territory, and arthough it is far less attractive than a good run of even 15 or 20 yards, spectators may expect to see a lot of it during the season. A move which had the crowd on tiptoe was seen within a few minutes of tho kick-off. Shirreffs led an attack by Old Boys, following a long punt by himself to within a yard or two of the corner. A strong run enabled Blake to reach the ball first and kick into touch. A period of up and down play was relieved by a strong Celtic rush. Lala broke away, and although he appeared to he offside, he was* allowed to continue. He was supported hy Priestley and Blake, and some pretty in and out passing was seen from the trio. It was tho most attractive movement that the game had produeed, and it broke down only ten yards from the line, Holt clearing by intercepting before Blake could gather the ball in. Priestley Srovided a thrill when he broke away, ut a wild pass which he sent to Isaacson allowed Old Boys to clear. The second try of the day came from a set scrum within 15 yards of Celtic's line. Old Boys heeled, and Lambie_ flashed the ball away on the blind side. Bradley gathered it ,and, drawing the defence cleverly, he sent' on to the wing to Appleby, who dived over at the corner. Bradley's kick, a difficult one, went wide. H.S.O.B 6 Celtic 3 A clever run hy McDuff took play from a line out near half-way to within a few yards of Celtic's line, but the Greens cleared with a strong forward rush. Back came the Old Boys, •but their onslaught was stemmed by Geddis, who found the line with a wellplaced kick. A mark by Rose, when the Old Boys pack were forcing the play, gave Celtic further relief. Five or six minutes of streuuous play, with Old Boys always on the attack and Celtic frequently fighting to escape from being heinmed in. brought the game to a close. An attempt at goal by Shenriffs failed and the *OJd Boys walked off victors by three points. Mr W. Forrest was referee.