WIN FOR HAWKES BAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 11, 13 July 1931, Page 4

WIN FOR HAWKES BAY

MATCH WITH AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) / NAPIER,- 11th July. Iv a, game confined mainly to the forwards, but with occasional Hashes of quite brilliant back play, the Hawkes Bay Rugby representatives defeated the visiting Auckland- team at M'Lean Park to-day by 10 points to 8 in an earthquake benefit match. The attendance was between 5000 and 6000. . The first spell of: the game was not productive 'of many exciting incidents, the forwards-dominating, the play, which was remarkable for evenriess. The ground was very heavy following on rain and faulty drainage resulting'from the earthquake. Even sawdust, which was put on the bad spots, did not. give sufficient foothold for the players'.' Nevertheless, the backs handled the ball with remarkable precision, and on occasions participated in some good combined eiforts. The first score of the day came when, after a loug period at the commencement of the first spell, in which neither side could gain the . ascendancy, Auckland placed three points to their credit consequent upon a goal by Davies from a penalty. Not long after Lambie worked the blind side round the Bay scrum, passing to Rhodes, the latter unsuccessfully attempting, to hurdle the full-back. Anderson, however, was handy, and scored. Rhodes'a kick failed. There was no further score in the first spell. The second spell had been in progress about five minutes when, from a scrum in the Bay twenty-five, Corner was given the ball, which was then handled by. Jamieson, Smith, Stuart, and Millikeu. The last-named, finding the opposition out of their places, scored well out from the posts. Davies converted with a good kick. ~.■■.' The home side was not long in evening up matters, doing it sensationally. Auckland was on the attack,. but, with forwards and backs combining splendidly, and about ■ half the ' team handling, Bay swept the field, Howell finally scoring under the posts. Setford converted easily. A moment after Bay took the lead, the backs taking advantage of the opening made by Howell, which resulted in Cooke and Smith breaking away, and the latter scored under the-posits. Setford converted. Strenuous efforts were made by Auckland to make up the deficiency, but the home defence was sound. . ■ After a lengthy period of play, in which there was no material advantage for either side, the-Bay backs swung into action,. Cooke -missing his pass-from Setford. He kicked over the line, and in the race for possession he won. Rhodes failed to convert. The last, try of the day. just on time, was an exciting one. . Ihe ball was kicked from the Bay twenty-five to the open with Davies, Batty, and Rhodes in full-cry after it. Davies secured it, but Rhodes was on him, Batty having tripped. Rhodes was tackled by the fullback, and Setford, who had follQwed up, snapped the ball up. In'his turn he was1 tackled, but M*Kay was handy, and went over the line to score near the posts. Setford failed to convert, and time was called with the score— '-: ■■'>■<" ■ ■•■ ■■■■'■'■•■■ ■'•' ' Hawkes Bay M Auckland S