Bay’s Defeat Of Marlborough

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31767, 26 August 1968, Page 15

Bay’s Defeat Of Marlborough

(New Zealand Press Association)

NAPIER.

Marlborough’s threat to Hawke’s Bay’s Ranfurly Shield supremacy proved nothing more than a myth at McLean Park, Napier, on Saturday, Hawke’s Bay trouncing the challenger, 30-3.

It was Hawke’s Bay twelfth defence of the shield, and Marlborough’s first challenge for 40 years.

In a highly-entertaining match, before a crowd of 20,000, Hawke’s Bay scored five tries—by K. R. Tremain (two), J. P. Dougan. R. S. Abel, and M. G. Duncan—three of which were converted by I. R. Bishop, who also kicked a penalty goal. Hawke’s Bay’s first five-eighths. B. D. Furlong, drop-kicked two goals. K. Hodges drop-kicked a goal for Marlborough. Hawke's Bay led 11-0 at halftime.

In some ways the result was humiliating for Marlborough, for it is a better side than it indicated on the day.

Marlborough was thought a great menace-to Hawke’s Bay, especially after its win over the French touring team, but was never really in the picture. It had limited chances, play being dictated by the Hawke's Bay forwards and the Jinej-stab-; bing boot of Furlong. The lighter Marlborough forwards fought well in the lineouts and the loose rucks, but the heavier, vastly more experienced. Hawke’s Bay pack was generally in control. Marlborough’s hooker. G. Lowe, was hopelessly out of his class against the veteran Maori hooker. M. S. Reddy. In the last few minutes of the match

Reddy took three successive tight heads, to come out with a six-one majority. Many times the Marlborough backs had Hawke s Bay desperately defending, but they made stupid mistakes. In the second spell they might have scored tries, but each time dropped the ball at the crucial moment.

The centre. A. Mowat, a former North Island representative, played with great determination. and carved great holes in the Hawke’s Bay de fence, but was unable to link with his wing, N. Avery. The Marlborough All Black. A. Sutherland, played well from the end of the line-outs, but like Mowat. could not find his outsides after penetrating the defence. His brother, and Marlborough's captain, R. Sutherland. played well in the tight play, but neither he nor A. Shultz, his locking partner, were capable of containing Abel and K. K. Crawford, who both played splendid games.

Tremain, who now takes a bigger part in the tight play, made only two solo bursts in the match, but both resulted in tries, the first being a spectacular 20-yard -aide-line run which left the opposition standing. Hawke’s Bay half-back. H. J. Paewai, played his best game of the season, his nippy runs around the side of scrums and rucks, proving most successful. The most elusive Bay back, and the best tackler, was Dougan, who proved to the Hawke’s Bay crowd that his Wellington reputation is well deserved.