GLORIOUS DEFEAT.

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

GLORIOUS DEFEAT.

BAY FORWARDS SUPERIOR. BACKS BELOW STANDARD. (TREAT BRITISH DEFENCE. (By Telegraph—"Star's" Special Reporter.) XAPIEE, Saturday. Hawke's. Bay to-day provided one of tho most sparkling and spectacular games of the British team's tour. Their forwards,', with a- big sprinkling of oldtimers, were magnificent. They excelled themselves. If was the backs who in attack failed dismally. If they had been as polished when opportunity was staring them in the face as -were tho British backs if could liav-o.been a quite different story. Chanced "we're frittered away, and golden opportunities went begging several times, especially in the first spell.

There were some dazzling flashes throughout the game, and it was not really until the last twenty minutes that Britain's superiority asserted itself. It was in tiiose last few minutes, when the crowd yelled in excitement, that Britain's strategy and polish told their tale. Even when the tourists led by nine points to three there was .still a doubt, still a lingering hope, that the Hawke's Bay forwards -would eventually triumph.

Then came the first brilliant try by Jennings. It came at a critical stage of tho game, and it was that one try that bewildered tho Bay backs. An equally brilliant try came Avithin,the next few minutes, Jennings again sailing over to seal 'tho issue definitely for Britain.

"It was a splendid victory. Here was almost their second-grade forward team opposed by a Hawke's Bay pack, with big reputations. Star Bay Forwards. For Hawke's Bay it Avae a. really glorious defeat, for the magnificent play of the forwards will fur'cly be long remembered.: The Gcmmels, the Brownlies, Wanoa and Campbell fought with a will every inch of, the way, and for a big part" of the game they had the British forwards beaten in all departments. The Bay forwards packed a fine scrum, with the" result that they caused surprise by •winningj a big percentage of the ball from the scrums. By quick heeling from the rucks they gave their backs every opportunity to win the day. In the line-out Cyril Brownlie was as usual the star'man. What a pity for Hawke's Bay that the backs could not crown the efforts'of their forwards. McDonald,, as second' five-eighths, was their stumbling block. He failed. ISfo more can be said. Lambie played really well behind the Bay pack, , sending,-his passes out swiftly and cleanly. Too often the ball went astray in the five-eighth line, with ,t'he ,result that, the threequarters •were not given tlnj opportunities, tliey- .deserved. '' y ■ 7 ",., South deserved more credit "than" lie j was given, for frequently lie had to cover up the mistakes, of'his ansides, which'he did with ability.' ~ ( /Grenside'e one .desperate effort to barge across was memorable, but when Bassett crashed'into him with all his power'the Bay winger was silenced for the rest of the day. Kuru •confirmed one's earlier impression that he is not aa All Black. Hμ positional play was erratic, a dangerous trait in a three-quarter.

! ' British Forwards Came Back. For 20 minutes of the first spell the British forwards had to stand up to gruelling, smashing and at 'one stage possible that they would wilt. They not only took all tue punish"ment coming their way, but in the end. they were .complete masters, of the situation. Beamish and Wilkinson were the stars again. The British backs were an erratic lot for the greater part of the game. Poole at times did wonders behind the scrum, but there were moments when lie did dangerous things in his own quarter. ', , , Khowles Rose to Occasion. ■ •. Knowles started badly, but .Jinislied with a feather in his cap, his anticipation on defence saving Lie side many times. Both the halves were harassed by Maurice Brownlie. If anyone was to fail among the British backs it was expected to bo Knowles, but he rose to the occasion splendidly. ■ Novifl ami Aarvold were the backs who Were frequency tlio despair of their supporters, but they .compensated for most of their failnre'g by effectively smashing all the Bay back attacks, Morlo.y was us elusive as ever. Bassett plnyud a. brilliant gain t>, never faltering in the face of fierce forward attuckrf. Ilia lino-kicking was superb. Jennings was the hero of the .match. Ho played a Splendid game, scoring 12 of Britain's points. "If Only. 1, "If only \\-c had the l!) 20 team," a Kawke'e Bay supporter said, coming away from '(lie ground. "What a job they would havo made of Britain." ' He WHK quickiy ailenectl b,v his male. ''WJiat'a the iue? Britain won."