RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 11, 8 October 1923, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND’S REVENGE HAWKE’S BAY BEATEN BY GOOD MARGIN FINE COMBINATION OF AUCKLAND BACKS By Telegbap i—Press Association. Auckland, October 6. The Auckland-Hawke’s Bay match, in aid of the War Memorial Museum Fund, was played on the Domain today in ideal conditions. The alterdance was estimated at between 16,000 and 20,000, and the fund is expected to benefit to the extent of about £lOOO. Soon after Auckland kicked <ff Hawke’s Bay ittaciced, but Auckland was relieved by a free kick Then Auckland attacked as the result of passing by Lucas, (fwerron, and Ccoke, but a free kick in the twenty-five transferred to half-way. Nepia. Pacwai and other backs carried play to the Auckland twenty-five, L-nt a lucky kick sent the ball back. Auckland attacked strenuously but the defence held until finally a free kick for obstruction resulted in Ifwerson placing a magnificent goal. Auckland again attacked, but the two Brownlies oroke away, being well stepped. Tho local tacks, led ly li'werson and Lucas, again transferred play. Then Gemmell broke away, but was smothered by Molloy. Nepia at this stage had an •.insuccesriul shot at goal. The visitors continued to attack, a long kick by riivell forcing Auckland. After a period of p.'ay in mid-field, Lucas and Cooke broke away, but were stopped at the twenty-five. MacGregor then broke away but was tackled, and a Hawke’s Bay kick allowed Auckland to force. Hawke’s Bay continued to attack until O’Brien. got away in a clear ran, but Kirwan overhauled him. Cooko was prominent in a further attack, but a tree kick relieved the visitors. Kirkpatrick and Ormond broke away, but Lucas saved only for M Brownlie to get away, to pass to Mill, who scored under the posts. Nepia’s kick failed. Shortly afterwards from, near the twenty-five Hawke’s Bay kicked but MacGregor was beaten in a race for the ball, Auckland forcing. Tho visitors were attacking at half time.

On resuming Ormond broke away from half way being stopped near the line. Arnold intercepted a pass, transferred to Lucas, but the latter was stepped. Immediately afterwards Arnold and Wilson transferred play to the twenty-five but Hawke’s Bay retaliated, passing by the backs almost letting Kirwan over, Lucas saving. Play now was very fast, with continual rushes by each side, until Auckland set up a hot attack in the twenty-five which was finally relieved by a penalty for off-side. Fast play followed, an Auckland attack ending in a force. After a period of play in mid-field Nepia •ana C. Brownlie transferred to near the line, but Cooke secured and raced down the line, but his pass went wide. The visitors, led by M. Brownlie and McNab, then got away but were stop--ped near the line. Then the Auckland backs, led by Lucas and Cooke, got away, the latter scoring; Ifwerson failed to convert.

Soon afterward Ifwetson secured in the visitors’ twenty-five, nassed to Cooke who, after losing the ball recovered it and passed to Sheen, who scored: Ifwerson converted. Passing by Ifwerson, Knight and Keary immediately followed, tho'visitors being forced. A few minutes later O’Brien secured at half-way, ran and passed to Wilson, who reversed tho pass to O’Brien, who scored; Ifwerson’s kick failed. The visitors retaliated, and from aluck in tho corner, C. Brownlie fell on the ball: Paewai failed with the kick. The visitors now had a turn at attacking and from a scrum at the centre the ball passed to Grenside, who scored ; he failed to convert. Auckland then broke away, O’Brien, Anderson, and Peters handling; then Ito Wilson, who scored; Ifwerson failed to convert. Time was called shortly afterwards, and the final score read:— Auckland 17 Hawke’s Bay 9 The Auckland forwards more than held their own against the visitors’ powerful pack, but the backs were more brilliant on attack. The first spell was even, but in the second half Auckland were in tho ascendancy, the backs combining well in passing rushes. WESTPORT WINS ALBION CUP By Telegraph.— Press association. . Westport, October 7. In the final for the Albion Cup, plaved vesterdav. AVestport defeated Mokihinui bv 10 points to 8.