AUCKLAND'S PRESTIGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 240, 8 October 1923, Page 8

AUCKLAND'S PRESTIGE.

DEFEAT OF HAWKE'S BAY. FINAL HOME GAME 'WON. MATCH OF THE YEAR. The return match between Hawke's Bay and Auckland, played for the benefit of the War Memorial Museum Fund at the Domain on Saturday, attracted a crowd which the gate takings on the ground place at over 21,000, for that number paid for admission on the day, and it is estimated that at least 1000 more took advantage of the day sales. The takings at the gate aggregated £1300. As for the game itself, it was plnyed under fine conditions, and was a classic in which a great team of forwards, with fine individual backs behind them, were held, circumvented, and beaten by a lighter and slightly faster side, whose pack played above themselves, and whose all-round" brilliant team play ran their opponents oft" their feet. Desperately rugged it was in scrum and ruck at times, but by fine tackling a,nd solid packing the Auckland eight held the opposition here,) and their consistent fast following and tackling when the others used their lineout superiority enabled the local backs to get in their best work. The game was crammed with dramatic changes as the result of fine individual attack and defence, varied by bursts of combined play of a high order, but "the superior finish and nippiness of the Auckland "attack at length turned the scale definitely wheu the pace had told its tale on the heavy Hawke's Bay pack. At half-time the score was three all, and till within the last five minutes it was anyhody"s game, with the score 14-9 against Hawke's Bay. and the Ancklanders decided the matter in their favour with a sensational finishing score. The Auckland team had never given such a iine exhibition in their forward play as that which left them with the distinction of having beaten the Dominion's Rugby champions and of having won all their home games this season. THE PLAY IN DETAIL. After a lively opening, in which the Hawke's Bay forwards showed to advantage, Ifwersen, Cooke and Lucas gave a nice exhibition of reverse passing which rattled the opposition, but Hawke'a Bay came back again with a line kick. Hawke's Bay recovered easily in the line-out, and when their backs were frustrated by smothering, Irvine enme through with the ball at toe, R. Casey saving. A free to Auckland helped them to half-way, where Righton and Peters broke way from the line-out. Further good work on the line by Peters got Auckland into the twenty-fire, and the forwards went hot for a try. The ball came back to Malloy, who got the twenty-five nag, and he saved again from a speculator. Then Wright and Lucas dummied the opposition along the line and Auckland were again attacking. Ifwersen Kicks a Penalty. Heady work by Ifwerson then drew the defence, sending out a long pass which went out of reach of Cooke. For apparent rough play Hawke's Bay were penalised, Ifwersen taking the kick from near the twenty-five flag. A beautiful kick sailed over the posts. Auckland 3 Hawke's Bay 0 Wilson missed the kick out and Hawke'e Bay got an advantage, Cooke getting a boot on the ground when he stopped a rush. Arnold headed his forwards to an attack, which Malloy maintained by taking and returning a high.punt well. After some loose passing Kighton broke through kicking to Kivell who marked but gained no ground with his kick. Ifwersen cut through the defence from an opening by 'Wright but the pass was dropped and the opposing forwards coming through, a try seemed imminent. The Brownlee brothers ran to Malloy but the pass to Kirk.patrick was dropped and a. chance missed. Then Cooke delighted the crowd with a burst down the line. Hawke's Bay worked back, Gemmell dribbling to Malloy, who stopped the rusli but an infringement followed. Nopia had a chance to equalise but his effort •went wide. Play centred at the twenty-five flag, Auckland allowing a punt to go behind, Wright forcing. When HawKe's Bay backs were frustrated by the opposing backs Cooke nipped in and got the halfway. O'Brien started a rush from a scrummage, passing to , Ifwersen, who sent it right out to Lucas. Cooke joined in, but the effort was stopped at hallway. Auckland continued to have a slight advantage, Kirwan fumbling, but getting clear luckily. Bay's Consistent Attack. A moment later he broke away passing to Grcnside, Arnold getting the latter from behind with a splendid tackle. The ball was charged through and Casey was first to the ball, forcing. Hawke's Bay got another chance but the backs went right across. Brownlee came through with the ball at toe, but Malloy saved brilliantly. When Hawke's Bay were attacking Ifwersen broke through and ran to Kivell, then transferring to O'Brien, the latter with a clear field. Kirwan overhauled him from behind and a moment later a try appeared a" certainty, Cooke shaking himself clear and then passing to Sheen, but what chance there was was spoilt by a forward pass. The visitors came to the attack, Wright marking well, but his kick went out and no ground was gained. Auckland backs tackled well, Cooke pulling up Paewae, and hereabouts Brownlee marked, but again no ground was gained. Auckland for- j wards were holding the opposition at this stage. Obstruction by Nepia at halfway saw Ifwersen send the leather to McGregor, who returned, and a misunderstanding among Auckland backs let the forwards through. Mill and Grenside made a run, Iv.rkpatrick joining in, but Brownlee missed and Lucas hopped in and saved. The Hawke's Baj' forwards rushed to the attack again. Irvine running to near the goal line and passing to Mill near the posts the half-back scoring. Nepia missed an easy chance. Auckland 3 . . Hawke's Bay 3 A free kick to" Hawke's Bay was sent down the line by Nepia, and Brownlee started a bout from "the line-out, which Ifwersen intercepted, sending out to Cooke who was smothered, Wright lining. McGregor and Mill then gave Malloy a race for a touch down, the Auckland fullback getting there first. Half-time sounded with the scores even. Tfie Visitors Lose Chances. Auckland had the breeze with them in the second half, and a long kick by O'Brien got his side to the attack, but

it was countered by Jfalloy being j bustled. Righton kicked down to Kivcll ; from a line-out, petting another advan- I tage, but Ormonrl majle a breakaway ■ clean through to Mallby, his transfer ' being lost, and Ifwersen lined the ; leather.-McXab and Onnoiid headed an- 1 other attack along the line, but when ' Hawke's Bay opened up Cooke intercepted. Lucas joining in and passing back to Cooke, who punted downfleld. Fast play followed, Kirwan and Mill looking like scoring, but they lost poa- ■ sessiou, Malloy saving with a long kick,. ■ which changed the venue into Hawke's ! Bay territory. The home team worked j down the line, but when they opened out Paewae intercepted iind kicked to Majloy. Another run by the visitors' ■ backs, in which Kirwan was the most j ' prominent, was countered by Lucas intercepting and kicking down to Kivell Home Team Aggressive. Auckland being again on the attack ' they went for it hot, Ifwersen stopping [ the opposing forwards with his feet and | his pack came round, but the ball ] did not come out. A pass to Wilson j went forward. Hawke's Bay got relief | with a penalty, but Ai'ckland kept them I at it. Malloy saved an attack, and • Auckland rushed the play into the , corner, but Orruond kicked clear to Malloy. who lined. A kick by Arnold | got the twenty-five area, where from a light scrummage Wright whipped the ' Uill away to Ifwerse.i, who kicked across to .Lucas, who was beaten by the : bounce. Xext moment Ifwersen had a ' drop at goal which missed and Kivell I ' just beat Cooke in a race for the ball. Nepia got relief with a nice punt from his twenty-five, and when Wright and Malloy were endeavouring to secure from the opposing forwards they were | smothered, Cooke coming to the rescue | and making a fine run along the line. ■ Here Arnold, who had stood a lot of buffeting and played a sterling game, had to go off, Anderson replacing him. Ifwersen made the most of a penalty, i getting the line, and Wright marked "a return well. Then Wilson let the , leather through his hands, Nepia making a opening for Brownleo to jMcNab, who j passed forward. Cooke broke away again, being joined by Anderson, but the venue was shifted back again by a clever ' run by Mill. Auckland were up against it, Malloy and Andjrson saving in turn. : Auckland in the Lead. A penalty kick by Ifwersen further assisted. Auckland came to the attack ! again, and when the ball came out the other side Lucas short punted, re- , gained possession, and transferred to Cooke. who got across in the corner. Ifwersen made a gocd but abortive attempt at goal. Auckland 6 Hawke's Bay 3 A forward rush by the visitors was stopped right on the line, and then Ifwersen turned defence into attack, running through to Kivell, but be hesitated for some one to join him. and though he transferred to Cooke the latter was smothered. Cooke recovered and Keary dribbling on, and the others overrunning play Cooke got possession again, ami when stopped on the line ho whipped the ball across to Sheen, who forced his way over. Ifwersen converted. Auckland 11 Hawke's Bay 3 . On resuming Ifwersen made another splendid breakaway, running to Kivell at fullback, where he transferred to Keary, to Knight, a score appearing certain, but when the ball came back to Ifwersen he was smothered. The attack ended by Hawke's Bay forcing. Auckland were playing a winning game, attacking continuously. Hawke's Bay getting relief in a penalty, which got the half-way line from Wilson's hands. Here O'Brien broke away from a ruqk following the line-oul, and Wilson went with him. They alternated in passing, and O'Brien went over with two men attacking- him. Ifwersen'e kick went a little wide. I Auckland 14 I Hawke'i Bay 3 The Visitors Retaliate. The visitors at last got clear of the attack, dribbling down to Molloy, and Cooke kicked it out. In, v struggle in the corner several players dived for tltn ball, C. Brownlee scoring. Xepia's kick was unsuccessful. Auckland ■ 14 Hawke's Bay 6 The kick-out was forced down and for an infringement at the next kick-out Hawke's Bay were penalised. Ifwersen looked to have a good thing in store for him, but it went wide. Five Minutes to Go. Nepia broke away after this, taking ■ the game into Auckland's territory, but they offended and Ifwersen sent the leather to the halfway flag. There the , visitors got a free, but they got in front. Another penalty to Auckland resulted from the scrum, but the visiting forwards made another determined] attack which was just stemmed in time. I Again Ifwersen gained ground with a j ! penalty, but in a flash Hawke's Bay | added another score. Grenside made a! determined run along the side line, | fending off several attackers and scor- • ing in the corner. Tlie kick failed. Auckland 14 Hawke's Bay 0 An exchange of kicking from the resumption saw Wright get the line and ' then Anderson dribbled through and I smothered Kivell's kick; Wilson fol- ■ lowing the rebound over the line to score , the final try. Ifwersen's kick failed as j the bell rang. i Auckland 17 Hawke's Bay 9 Cooke and Ifwersen were carried from the field by enthusiastic supporters. Mr. J. Peakc was referee. j THE CURTAIN-RAISER. SACRED HEART V. PONSONBT. This game was played as a curtain-raiser to the interprovincial game, and after a fust and interesting match Poneonbv retained their unbeaten record by winuiii" by ten points to five. b • PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The Primary Schools match East t. West resulted in a win for West by 11 points to 3. MATCH AT TE AROHA. THE JUNIOR FINAL. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ' TE AROHA. Saturday. ! The final of the Plako Rugby Union's i Junior Pennant Competition, Terriers v Waihou Hangers, was played this afternoon, and resulted in the unbeaten Terriers ■winning by live to three. The Terriers' try was scored hy Wald, and converted by Frater. Iv tlie third quarter the Terriers full-back, Goldslniry, was penalised for kicking the ball behind the line, resulting in Johnson, for the Rangers, kicking a goal. The game was the most willing seen this season, several players being hurt. O. Barker made a satisfactory referee. j

I MARIST CLUB SUSPENDED. AN APTBAr, LODGED. ! (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, tills day. ! An appeal agninst the suspension by the ' Canterbury Rugby T'nion of t4ie M.irist Football Club. - Chrisnnurch. has been lodged with the New Zealand Rugby Union, which had endorsed the action of the Canterbury Union. The desire of the club is that its evidence s-.hall be placed ' the ?Ccw Yj om luii'l I *iiloii"'3 inn mi £<'- I ment committee ami tbe suspension j removed. j A FOUNDRY MATCH. I (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ! . THAMES. Saturday. ! Price's foundry beat Fraser's by 21 to 9. No League matches played.