Bay Celebrates 21st Defence

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32099, 22 September 1969, Page 11

Bay Celebrates 21st Defence

(New Zealand Press Aaiociatim)' • > NAPIER. Hawke’s Bay cel ebra t e d_ its twenty-first successive Ranfurly Shield Rugby defence on Saturday by repulsing a rugged Taranaki team.

Hawke’s Bay woii its thirteenth successive representative match of the season, 24-8. The match was scrappy par-

ticularly in the first half which the holders led, 8-3.

Taranaki won limited -possession and then wasted it, mainly through the over-keen kicking of the five-eighths, J. E. Irving and T. N. Wolfe. Hard workers in the Taranaki pack included the captain and All Black, A. Smith —Who came into the game at the last minute after missing the last six representative matches for his province because of injuries—-and T. D. Jenkins, B. L. Muller and a replacement, R- Feather. The flanker, J. P. Rumbali, played easily hi* best game for Hawke’s Bay and hte dazzling run which resulted in the wing. D. B. Smith, scoring, would have done credit to the injured All Black and Hawke’s Bay centre, W. L. Davis. The Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand Maori half-back, H. J. Paewai, made some good bursts, two of which led to tries, but his passing was often poor.

Steady Player The kingpin of the Hawke’s Bay back line, B. D. Furlong, at first five-eighths, was again in commanding form. He has emerged as one of the steadiest and most tactical players in the Bay team. The Hawke's Bay full-back, L R. Bishop, began badly by

missifig two relatively easy penalty goals, but made amends later with his conversions. Two of these were from the side-line. BiShop’s tally for the day was 12 points, which him within four points of the Ranfurly Shield record total of 177, held by M. C. Carmack. Tries for Hawke’s Bay were scored by D. B. Smith (2), Rumball and Duncan. Bishop kicked three conversions and two penalty goals. W. D. Currey scored a try for Taranaki, I. O’Dowda converted it and kicked a penalty goal.