RUGBY'S BIG GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1925, Page 8

RUGBY'S BIG GAME.

» i ■ HAWKE'S BAY V. AUCKLAND. AT EDEN PARK TO-MORROW. GREAT MATCH EXPECTED. A repetition of the memorable match which was played at the Domain in 1923 between Auckland and Hawke's Bay, when the champion interprovincial team of New Zealand went down unexpectedly to the Aucklanders on their home ground after having beaten them decisively at Napier a fortnight previously, is expected at Eden Park to-morrow afternoon. That season neither team had suffered a defeat on its home ground, and the same position obtains this time. But this season Hawke's Bay has the added distinction of not having been beaten in any match, and the champions from Napier are now more seasoned and solidified than they were two years ago. In the previous games this season the Auckland team has maintained its unbeaten home record, but there have been changes made in the side for the different games, and, while j local enthusiasts have confidence in their j champions, they have not had an opportunity of judging under match condi- j tions the combination which will meet I the Ranfurly Shield holders to-morrow.] The Hawke's Bay' team will be the j same as played and defeated Welling- I ton at Wellington on Saturday by 20 to 11, and Otago on Wednesday by 34 to 14. and this match against Auckland will be their third hard game in eight days. They arrived in Auckland this morning fit and well, and had a run on Victoria Park. The side includes Nepia as full-back, and the two Brownlies, Irvine, Paewai and Mill, who were members of last year's All Blacks in Britain, in addition to Gorkhill, Blake and Kirkpatrick of this year's All Blacks, and Gemmell, Walker and Otmond, who were in the New Zealand team in 1923. The All Blacks in the Auckland team are Cooke, Lucas, Wright, Righton, Lomas, L. Knight and Matson, and, while the home team Ijas not the weight and strength among the forwards that distinguishes their opponents,' it is expected that the combination and nippiness in attack which has characterised the play of both forwards and backs for the past two seasons will offset this disadvantage. They will also have the advantage of all home teams against visiting sides, of having been able to nurse themselves for the game, and of having a supporting home crowd to nerve them up for a special effort. In all the .circumstances there is every reason for hoping that the game will be one of the most memorable exhibitions of the code ever played at Eden Park. The teams are:— HAWKE'S BAY. Full-back: Nepia. Three-quarters: Grenside, Blake, Falwasser. Five-eighths: Corkliill, Paewai. Half-back: Mill. Forwards: Gemmell, Walker, Mahonev, M. Brownlie, Ormond, C. Brownli'e, Irvine, Kirkpatrick. AUCKLAND. Full-back: Goodacre. Three-quarters: Matson, Lucas, Olsen. Five-eighths: Cooke, Sheen. Half-back: Wright. Forwards: Keane, Righton, Batty, L. Knight, McWilliams, A. Knight, Lomas, Palmer. Curtain-Raisers. Two curtain-raisers will precede the big match. At 12.15 p.m. the Auckland Referees will play the Kaipara reps. The referees' team will be:— Backs: C. G. Campbell, W. Cleaver, W. Peace, J. Shepherd, W. Good, H. Thomas, M. Kronfeld, R. Bennett, C. Thomas. Forwards: T. Tresize, W. Hammond, J. Rassmussen, E. Pemberton, E. Dixon, D. Moore, F. Hutton, J. Finlayson, E. Dudson and A. Mackay. A special tram will leave the G.P.O. with the referees' team for the ground at 11.45 a.m. The second curtain-raiser, between the Mount Albert Grammar School and the Hamilton High School, ' will be i played at 1.45 p.m. This is expected I to be a very close and interesting game, as both teams play an open style of game, and the Hamilton boys this year have shown a great improvement on the form shown in past seasons.