RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 228, 24 September 1923, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

RANFURLY SHIELD. " STII/-- GOT IT.' 3 NAPIER'S FAVOURITE PHEASE. AUCKLAND DECISIVELY BEATEN. TWENTY POINTS TO FIVE. RAYS BRILLIANT FORWARDS. (By Telegraph.—special t. "Star."') NAPIER, Saturday. '"Still got it!'" is the exultant phrase to be heard at every turn in Xapier (indeed, all over Hawke's Bay) this evening. It refers, of course, to the Ranfurly Shield match played at the McLean Park ibis afternoon in ideal conditions before a crowd of 10,000 people, and the phrase indicates the dread in which the Auckland challenging tea__ was held before the game. Many critics before tbe match had given their opinions for and against either side, but those who predicted that the Auckland brilliant record would be smashed by tbe forwards of Hawke's Bay were true prophets. The game was the classic of many years, outshining the best matches in Dominion-wide interest. It was looked on as likely to be one of the historic contests of football in New Zealand, and it turned out a game that was worthy of the great interest that had centred in it. From beginning to end it was full of the incident provided by the finest class of football, and the Aucklanders were outplayed and beaten by the unexpected score of 20 points to 5.

It was not a question of Auckland having an off-day. or of any of the team letting the side down. All the way it was the Ranfurly Shield forwards who dominated file game. A powerful, bustling, clever pack, they crumpled up the Aueklanders partly liy sheer weight and dash, and partly by clever handling and footwork, in which they opened up to their backs and came on the scene again when the backs were done to finish the scoring, if necessary. There were times when the Auckland pac_; got away, but here again the grim tackling of the Bay forwards quickly smothered such efforts. As a result the Bay backs had a purely attacking game to play, and they played it capably always, and now and again brilliantly. The winning hacks did not show quite the combined nippiness that Aueklanders have seen in their own team in winning games, but they are undoubtedly brilliant. Kivell, the full-back, played a great game, as did Mill at half and Paewae at five-eighths. The Auckland back defence was patchy In the first but in the second, when the big Bay forwards were overrunning 'the lighter Auckland pack, they tackled magnificently. Auckland's one try was a fine piece of combined work by Righton, Lucas and Cooke, but the Aueklanders never at any stage looked like winning. They could never get clear from the great forwards of the other team. THE TEAMS. '._.,., For Auckland the full-back was Gre. v ?°Ty> while Kivell was the custodian for - the opposition. In the three-quarter ■ line TV. Malloy was faced by Grenside, and Lucas by McGregor, while Cooke and Kirwan were the opposing centres. Ifwersen was marked at five-eighths by Paewae, and Sheen hy Nepia, and at half it was Wright versus Mill. The opposing rovers were Arnold and Walker.

In the pack the Auckland lot was the same as that which played against Wel- ; . lington, R. Casey, Fogarty, L. Casey, O'Brien, Hayward, Knight, Righton. The Hawke's Bay pack was Kirkpatrick, Irvine, M. Brownlie, McNab, C. Brownlie, Gemmel and Ormond. HAWKE'S BAY OPEN BRILLIANTLY. At the outset Hawke's Bay, favoured by the wind and sun, made play open, and Auckland were pushed at onco to defence, but their forwards cleared. The raking Bay forwards, in fine, close passing from the line out, came back, but offside lost them a chance. A great passing bdiit ran along the Bay line and back to Kirwan, but was stopped at the corner. Here Nepia showed up in fine dashes, and Hawke's Bay were pressing hotly when a pot at goal by Nepia forced Auckland. They were at once forced again, when Brownlie centred for his supporting forwards to dribble over. A breakaway by Ifwersen and Lucas iras responded* to by another sustained Bay bout, Grenside and Kirwan being successively downed at the corner. Throwing the ball about in fine style the local men kept at it, am* then C. Brownlie made a fine dash .through the ruck and passed to Paewae, who scored. Nepia failed with the kick. Hawke's Bay 3 Auckland ° At last the Auckland backs got going, and were looking dangerous, when Gren*eide got away in sensational fashion down "the line" and sent, in to Kirwan, who transferred to his forward, and there w-as a ruck on Auckland's line, in which McNab gathered the ball and scored. Nepia missed an easy shot. Hawke's Bay c Auckland ° The defenders were always aggressive. At this stage-Sheen retired hurt, , and Gregory went up to five-eighth, Malloy going full-back, and Wilson replacing him on the wing. Auckland now bucked up, and set up their first attack, but it was shortlived and Malloy was called on and found safe, with play near the centre. Nepia marked a high kick by Hayward, and atoned for his failures by landing a goal from half-way. Hawke's Bay 0 Auckland ° Rio-ht throughout the piece so far the Hawke's Bay forwards were opening up the way for their backs by bursting through the Auckland pack, and then whipping the ball out. while the Auckland forwards were tackling weakly. The local men continued on the aggressive, but the Aueklanders were now tackling much better, aud the Maori boys, Nepia and Paewae, were especially well taken by Gregory and Ifwersen, and when the Hawke .; Bay backs opened up they lost ground. The Bay full-back, Kivell, was in great form, and played a beautiful game, playing on to keep his backs on the attack. .The pace was tremendous, and both sides were tirini: __- they kept - it up in open, style between, tbe centre and Auckland's line. Half-time arrived .without further score.

The second spell opened with Malloy being caught in possession at his line, and penalised for holding on, but Xepia missed the shot, a hard one. Very _oon the effect of the wind was seen, and Auckland set up an attack, but their passing lacked life, and was easily partied.

ANOTHER TRY TO THE HOLDERS. With a well-placed line kick Gregory put Auckland on the local line, but the Bay forwards swept their quarter clear, and Bay passing back -was broken down and then a long kick by Malloy forced them. After the drop out a high-kick by Grenside enabled the Bay forwards to get away in a close passing .out, and Ormond was grassed near Auckland's line. A scrum was formed here, and when Hawke's Bay got it Mill made a brilliant dash from behind the pack and scored. M. Brownlie failed to convert. Hawke's Bay 12 Auckland o The ensuing exchanges served to accentuate what a great bustling pack the Bay forwards were, as they repeatedly burst up the Auckland vanguard. A great silence fell on the -ground as Ifwersen, whose kicking fame had been widely boosted, tried a long shot, but he failed in direction. Gregory had been shifted again to full back. Malloy going to the wing, Cooke five-eighth, and "Wilson centre. With Hawke's Ray on the attack Wilson spoilt the pass to Kirwan, and Righton got away with the ball and sent on to Lucas, who crosskicked for Cooke to take the ball infield and score behind the posts. Ifwersen goaled. Hawke's Bay \_ Auckland 5 Hawke's Bay went to tbe attack by a run up by Kivoll.but the Auckland tackling met the ease again. In a brilliant run up Kivell converted defence to ; attack, when Malloy kicked to get his side going. Then the Bay hacks and forwards combined in a passing attack, ana Grenside made a great run to the corner. Auckland cleared from a free, but the home-sidens came back in a magnificent bout of handling among the forwards, that finished at Auckland's line. In a forward pass at the line again the Bay forwards came back, but could not break through. A GREAT HOME FINISH. , Though both sides were very tired, the Bay forwards still dominated the game, and the strenuous nature of the play could lie gauged by several stops for renewal of trousers and jerseyß. Hunting hard and close tho Hawke : s Bay forwards went over the Auckland line, but missed. A brilliant run by Nepia headed them back, and Kirkpatrick was held up on the line. Fro_n the scrum Mill repeated his performance of earlier m the game with a brilliant scrum side dash and a score. Nepia converted. Hawke's Bay .' 17 Auckland 5 Again the Bay forwards came" back, and Cooke saved finely and set Righton going on the attack, but the Auckland effort petered out, and a Bay passing bout ended in McGregor kicking far infield, where Walker fielded the ball and scored, Nepia just failing to goal. A few minutes later the bell went with the scores:—

Hawke's Bay- 20 ] Auckland 5 j Mr. W. A. Eckhold was referee. THE RETURN MATCH. OX SATURDAY WEEK. Further arrangements were made this afternoon for tbe return match to be played at the Domain nest Saturday week. Information from Hawke's Bay states that 14 of tbe team which defeated Auckland so decisively on Saturday will be available for the next game. THE CLARKE CUP. WON BY OLD BOYS. The final of the Clarke Cap. played al Hamilton, was won by Old Boys, who beat City after a very fine game by 6 to 5. This was City's first defeat in three years. WAIHI FINAL. WAIHI, Saturday. The final match for the Sharebrokers* Cup between Plako and Waihi junior representatives was played at Waibl this afternoon, and resulted in Piako winning by 10 points to 8. Johnson and Cooper each scored a try and converted one, while for the losers Pollard aud Jamieson scored, Pollard .converting one. MATCH AT ROTORUA. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") BOTORUA, Saturday. The Kahukura v. Murupara match was played at Arawa Park to-day in fine but windy weather. Kahukura were tbe better team throughout, and won somewhat easily, the result being Kahukura 32 points, Murupara 13 points. MATCH AT THAMES. (By Telegranb. —Own Correspondent.) • THAMES, Saturday. The football match between a Kep. team and All-comers ended In a win for the reps, by IS to 3. „ . „. In - the third grade -High School S, heat Physical Training 3.

TAIHAPE TEAM BEATEN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI Saturday. Hautapu. captained by "Mok-c" Bellis, came from Taihape to-day to try and the Mekee Cup away on challenge Irom the Old Boys, but though at times It lookecl as if they might win. the. Old Boys got all over them in the end and rattled up -O points to 3. All the scores were maAeln the second spell. Bcllis played nvc-elghtns, and even though be had to nurse his bad shoulder he got knocked about badly at times. Toward tbe end of the game he was knocked out for a while, but eventually he came round and continued with the game. While the visitors bad several good ftowards tbey were beaten by the more t-omblned play of the Old Boys, who now retain the cup for another year. NORTHERN WAIROA MATCHES. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") DARGAVILLE. Saturday. The Costello Shield match, ***_ Kopuru between Te Kopuru and Tango wahine. was drawn, no score. I_i the Haljday En-land Shield match tor juniors Dargaville retained ihe. trophy -. 3iT tbe sc-b°ool reps, match Wairoa C. beat Kaipara 0. SCOUT MATCHES. The following arTt-VresulUi rfUW Boy Scouts' matches, flayed ou hat f d s,:...___ _. • qt heat Onehunga ShackJeton Troop -■■>, "e_i Town Troop 0. • ' ' _.„.,,._. 3 Grey Lynn 22, beatSeaScout- --

AUCKLAND B TEASI SELECTED.

The team to ; *-.* $ Pukekohe on Saturday "*" TL_ Mc Cullough, from the following- Tay _ or> McR. Taylor. Muir, Ba !% erEO n, Helander. Donald, McGinley. -* n n U 'Xwomey, Wyllie, Wakerley B v «;»° Johnson, Grlerson, Pari. s . Goodacre, Tonkin. wl » Ja ™ s traln at ?»"■«» d lately.