RANFURLY SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 46, 23 August 1926, Page 14

RANFURLY SHIELD

HAWKES BAY'S FINE

SIDE

EASILY DEFEATS AUCKLAND

A MARGIN OF THIRTY POINTS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NAPIER, 21st August.

Auckland's third attempt to lift the Eanfurly Shield from Hawkes Bay was staved off at M'Lean Park to-day, when the lioklers decisively proclaimed their right to supremacy by 41 points to 11. The weather was ideal in 'every respect for the occasion, and the attendance numbered about 9000. The ground was in perfect playing condition, and there was a total absence of wind and sunshine except in the closing stages, when the sun came out and shone in the defenders' faces. Headed by their respective captains, Lucas and M. Brownlic, the teams lined out as follow:— • Auckland. —Butler, Hook, Lucas, Ifwcrson, Freeman, Cammick, \V. Wright, Finlayson, M'Williams, Cathcart, Webber, Knight, Hadley, Palmer, Batty. Hawkes Bay.—Nepia, Grenside, Blake, Jensen, Cooke, Johnston, Mill, Single, Swain, M. Brownlic, C. Brownlie, Alahoney, Kirkpatrick, Irvine, Walker. THE PLAY. Auckland won the toss, and Brownlic set the ball in motion. Nepia returned a penalty kick by Lucas, and the Auckland forwards worked down to the twenty-five, where Freeman, taking a good mark, drew first Wood with a fine drop-kick five minutes from the start. Auckland 3, Hawkes Bay 0. The visitors did not hold the lead long, however, for scarcely three minutes later Hawkes Bay were awarded a penalty, and Nepia landed a splendid goal from just over half-way. Auckland 3, Hawkes Bay 3. Irvine accepted from the kick-off, and set a long string of the home players in action, but Butler cleared and Cooke returned the play. Handling in a scrum gave Nepia a chance to land his second penalty goal with a drop-kick barely three minutes after his first. Hawkes Bay G, Auckland 3. The visitors worked down to the twenty-five, where they kept the home side busy defending, but eventually from a scrum on the twenty-five line Cooke . kicked through, and play centred on the half-way mark. Mill here made a slashing run, but was "dumped," and a scrum formed on the twenty-five line. Mill let Johnston through, and the latter passed to Cooke, who finished the effort under the posts. Nepia added the extra points. Hawkes Bay 11, Auckland 3. Headed by Knight, Auckland repulsed an attack and pushed the play into Hawkes Bay territory, but an infringement gave Nepia a chance to clear. Supported by Batty, Knight again broke away, but was stopped, and shortly afterwards Lucas intercepted a pass from Cooke and got clear. Tho defence was too strong, however, and a spasm of kicking was indulged in. Butler attempted an almost impossible running drop, but M. Brownlie relieved, .and the spectators were raised to fever heat with a great race for the ball by Greuside, when Hook fumbled. Lucas relieved the pressure, but not for long, as a scramble on the line saw C. Brownlie dive over. Nepia missed the kick. Hawkes Bay 14, Auckland 3. On the resumption of play Auckland was awarded a penalty, but Butler failed to improve the score. Up till now Auckland had been playing well together, but Hawkes Bay were finding gaps in the backs. An attack by the visitors was nullified by the deadly tackling, and play hovered in Auckland territory, where, eventually, Butler was compelled to force down. Play was held up for two minutes through an injury to Batty. Mill's pass from a scrum at half-way was smothered, and the Auckland vanguard broke through. Ifwerson secured, and, streaking down the line, passed to M'Williams, who returned the ball and Ifwerson got over in too difficult a position foi<"Butler to convert. Hawkes Bay 14, Auckland 6. Tight play ensued, and Nepia delighted the crowd with a wonderful linekick, but he waa caught napping a few seconds later. A melee on the line saw Knight push his way over, but he was brought back, and play was again held up through an injury. The pace quietened considerably for some time, until Wright let Hook off down the line, but the latter was pushed out. Cammick and Lucas essayed a passing movement, but M. Brownlie cleared the danger. Auckland returned with vigour, however, and gave Hawkes Bay a merry time on the line with battering forward attacks. Grenside with a good run turned defence into attack, but Auckland was awarded a penalty kick. M'Williams's kick failed. The Shield-holders sprang a surprise when Mill let the ball away from a serum to Cooke; who passed to Blake. Tho latter ran round Butler, and with a fine dash finished under the posts. Nepia's kick was again successful. Hawkes Bay 19, Auckland G. After tame play in midfield a line kick by Nepia was fielded by Ifwerson, who supported by Lucas, carried play well down the field. A pretty passing movement saw Ifwerson, Cammick, and Lucas cut through the opposition, the lastnamed getting over near the posts. M'Williams converted with a fine kick. Halftime sounded hnmediately with the score: Hawkes Bay 19, Auckland 11. SECOND SPELL. Auckland had been holding the heayy Hawkes Bay forwards well, but the visitors' backs were weak and were not showing as much combination as was displayed by Hawkes Bay. On the change-over the Auckland forwards worked to the twentyfive line, where Cooke cleared and sent them back to their own territory. The visitors again compelled Cooke to force down, and they kept up the pressure until Nepia found the line, and the crowd waa treated to a display o£ kicking which ended in the Hawkes Bay twenty-five. Excitement rose to fever-heat when Cooke tore through the opposition and dispatched M. Brownlie, with Grenside, to the line. The latter was crowded out, but immediately afterwards M. Brownlie forced his way over from a melee. Nepia's "kick missed. Hawkes Bay 22, Auckland 11. A piercing attack by the home players ended in the goal mouth, and a freekick eased the situation. -They were not to be outdone, however, and C. Brownlie picked up in the ruck, and passed to Johnston, and the ball went to Blake and then to Cooke, who ran in to score well out. Grenside failed to convert the try. Hawkes Bay 25, Auckland 11. Auckland were not long in retaliating, for they worked to the line, but the crowd was elentrified when half the Hawkes Bay team strung out in an irresistible passing rush which was finished off in brilliant manner by Blake. Grenside converted. Hawkes Bay 30, Auckland 11. THE PACE TELLS. The pace was now telling and' Hawkes Bay kept the visitors pinned down in their own territory. A period of dull play was followed by another splendid, try, when Johnston, securing from a line-out on the twenty-five, let Blake in near the corner. Grenside converted. Hawkes Bay 35, Auckland 11. On the heels of this, Mahoney, as the result of a forward passing rush, got over near the posts, but Grenside's attempt to convert failed. Hawkes Bay 38, Auckland 11. Auckland succeeded in getting to the line again, but the tables were turned when Walker broke away, with C. Brownlie and Swain in support. Swain crossed the line well out, but M. Brownlie failed to improve the score. Hawkes Bay 41, Auckland 11. From the kick-off, Blake, Cooke, Mill, and M. Brownlie participated in a passing rush, but the lastswung to midfield. Hawkes Bay woro havswung to midfield. Hawkes Bay were saving much the better of matters at the end, their superior fitness standing them in good stead. There was no further score. Mr. E. Paton (Wellington) capably controlled the game.