NAPIER MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 164, 14 July 1930, Page 12

NAPIER MATCH.

BAY TEAM . BEATEN. FOURTEEN TO THREE. J K\'M\'GS HAS A GOOD DAY. (By Telegraph—Special Reporter.) XATJKtt, Saturday. Moro than .15,000 people packed the stands and terraces at McLean Park to-day -when the British touring team met the llaxvke's Bay representatives. The teams chosen were:—■ Hawke's Bay. Full-hack. —E. E. Evans. Three-quarters.—J. Burn, L. South, B. Grensidc. Five-eighths.—ll. MacDonahl, J. Setford. IT a If-back. —B. Lam bie. Forwards. —Back row: W. Wilson, S. 'Gemmell. Middle row: C. Brownlie, E. K. Steere. C. Campbell. Front row: J. Gernmell, B. Wanoa. - Wing-forward.—M. J. Brownlie. Britain. Ful 1-back.' —J. Bassett. Three-quarters. —R. Jennings, C. 1). Aarvold, A.,L. Kovis, J. Morlcy. Halves. —T. C. Knovles, N. Poole.' Forwards.—ll. Bew, D. A. Kcndrew, H. 0. S. Jones, S. Mart in dale, M. -I. Dunne, W. B. Welsh, G. B. Beamish, 11. Wilkinspn. Although nino of their players had not. played in recent matches, and their team was generally regarded as their second best., 1 the- British heat Hawke's Bay by 14 points to o. Twelve: of Britain's points were secured by Jennings, who scored two tries and kicked two goals from penalty awards. Hawke's Bay did not score a. try, their points accruing from. a penalty goal by Grenside. The Bay were captained by Maurice Brownlie, who, as wing-forward, played his first big game this season. Napier's aceom modathin last night was overcrowded, all the., hotels being double-banked. Special trains came from the centre, of the province and there were also visitors from as far as Manawatu, Wairarapa and Wellington. | McLean Park appeared full at noon, when it was estimated that 13,000 people were present. Cloudy skies yesterday and light rain last night made the weather outlook doubtful for to-day's game, but the morning dawned crisp and clear, and the sunshine which followed made conditions perfect. Britain went straight to the attack, their backs"opening out in several dangerous movements, which tdwk all the defensive power of Hawke's Bay's backs to keep out. It was 'it great duel between the forwards, the British pack being just a little too good. At every opportunity the backs got on the move, Poole whipping out the ball smartly, but Knowles was erratic, and it was always doubtful whether the movement : would be carried on. :

■ Then Hawke's Bay warmed up, and, urged on by the frantic cheering of their supporters, got to work with grim determination. Led by Maurice Brownlie, and < with Cyril always handy, the Hawke's Bay forwards rose to great heights. Their relentless rushes;swept play to tho British quarter, where Maurice Brownlie'shot out "of the. loosewith the ball under his arm, and there was a great scoring chance, but the Hawke's Buy skipper passed forward, and Britain cleared.

Time after time the Hawked Bar backs opened out, their forwards at this stage' serving them well. Each attack was ruthlessly smashed by the fast, British hacks, who got up .on their men with paralysing swiftness. Then it was Britain's turn again. Kendrew, Eew and Beamish wei/e the leaders in a brilliant forward rush, and then Morley went flying up the wing. The next moment play swung to the other flank, " and Jennings crashed through a dive tackle by Ruru. It was exciting football,/ with, fortunes quickly fluctuating. A penalty came to Britain, and with a fine kick from near the touchline Jt'iui ings kicked a goal. i Britain * j ....*. I. 3 Hawke's Bay ....I 0 There was a sensation when Brownlie kicked off. The ball shot out to the open side, and South, in a dazzling run,•• caught the British backs at sixes and sevens. He skilfully trapped the defence into a false move, but carried it too far, with the result that Kliru was caught in time. It was all Hawke's Bay's game now. Their forwards were supreme and they hammered away at the line, and only magnificent defensive work kept them out. x \ .Grenside Just Fails. There was a. gasp from the crowd as Grenside was almost over.after he had worked a ruse with J. Gemmell. From the line-out the ball went to Gemmell in the front row, and back to Grenside, who raced down the lino to beat Poole. Hα went hard for the corner, but with a terrific crash he was thrown out at tho corner by Bassett. Grenside lay motionless, but he slowly recovered, and gamely went on after his head had been bandaged.

Aa the Hawke's Bay forwards took complete eo*.%miand of the game the crowd shouted., and swayed. Attack lifter attack.was launched, and so halftime came, with Britain in a desperate position. Kawke's Bay could not crown their brilliant _ effort, in spite of the fact that Grensido badrhad two attempts. There waa tense, exciting play at the fitarfc of the second spell, witli tile Jlawke's Bay forwards still holding «way over all. They hooked, the, ball from the scrum, and heeled from the nicks to Bend 'their .backs ■• away, but always the British defence was sound. There was gome desperate-play in midiiolii for a tune. At every (chance the British backs threw the ball about in tliciV usual open way, but they were miielily skittled by the eager Bay backa. Soou VVilkiuaoJi eliqfc av/aj, and made a '~],,., n break through" to Eva jib, the Bay ■fill') back, There the British forward Ur in ft qmuidary.' It looked a certain irv when he attempted to short punt * ihe head of Evans, but he misSod and the Bay baclce cleared, ft- rlv afterwards Jennings landed penally goal. . " h "' , offli'ted whirlwind attacks, , ■ B«i:"- n I.,,'itctt Bay'* partition looked ~««! for w J , f j , XJiitlMi forwards ham-

meral away at the line. Much-needed relief came to' the Bay when Set ford took a clever mark from the feet of tho onrushing forwards. The Bay forwards, with Wanoa, Campbell and the Brownlies battling grimly, swept play to the British quarter again, and then from a scrum infringement the Bay were given a. penalty, and Crensido kicked a great goal. Britain 0 Hawke's Bay .. 3 j Britain's Scoring Patch. Britain realising their dangerous position at the critical stage of the game, started their final great effort, and their backs struck a good patch. Prom a scrum. Poolc sent the ball to Khowlcs,-. to Novis, who beat his man, to Jennings, who dived over in the corner as he was' tackled; The try. was not converted. Eight back to the attack went Britain, and Jennings liew down tho line on a. solo excursion. He kicked infield, the ball striking t-lic- posts. -A scrum was formed, Poolc shot round the short side, and the ball wont to No vis, to Jennings, who again sailed over for Martindalo to convert with a great kick that definitely sealed the. issue. Hawke's Bay's, hopes faded and died as. Britain launched further attacks. The final score was: — Britain 14 Hawke's Bay 3