RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1927, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

HAWKE’S BAY v. POVERTY BAY. (Per Press Association.) NAPIER, June 11. Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay met to-day in *a representative Rugby match before an attendance of five thousand, the former winning by 14 points to 3. Hawke’s Bay kicked off, and play settled down in the visitors’ territory. The game had not gone very far before Thomas, a visiting forward was compelled to retire with an injured knee. He was replaced by Woodward. From a free kick, M. Brownlie essayed a shot at goal, but missed. Loose forward tactics and short movements among the home backs kept the visitors on the defence, and only smart fielding and good line kicking protected their line. Anstis at halfback handled cleanly, and several times set the home backs-in motion. Mishandling by Corkill allowed the visiting forwards to get away with the leather.at their feet, and Single found it necessary to force down. Then Matthews cleverly intercepted a pass and made a good run before being brought down. A couple of scrums in striking distance of the home line kept Hawke’s Bay defending, until a free kick transferred play to half way. Several times, Anstis started the local backs, but the effort usually broke down at the wings through good tackling or dropped passes. Rather much kicking spoiled the game, which was devoid of interest, and hovered in midfield until M. Brownlie gained possession, beat several opponents, and handed, the ball on to W. J. Gemmell in a handy position to score. Corkill converted. Hawke’s Bay 5, Po-

verty Bay nil. This was followed immediately by a smart red attack, which looked dangerous, but. the defence survived the ordeal. Somewhat uninteresting play in midfield again ensued. Caulton raised some excitement by beating several men, but the Hawke’s Bay back cleared to half way. Progress towards the Red line was stopped by Clarke being thrown out. Half time scores: Hawke’s Bay 5. Poverty Bay nil. Poverty Bay forwards opened the attack in the second half. Morrison had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a free kick. The local forwards got away with the ball at their feet, and then the backs took up the running, but Blake knocked on. From the scrum, Smith found the line well down the field. The advantage gained was exploited by the Red forwards, but they lacked penetrating power. Eventually M. Brownlie put in an excitingrun badly beating several opponents before he was compelled to pass to the backs, who were* unable to sustain the effort. The Reds were in home territory again, and then started the brightest feature of the match. The Red forwards opened a passing bout and then the backs joined in. and a splendid movement ended in Whariti being crowded out on the line. From the throw in, Walters secured and broke across. Morrison missed the kick Hawke's Bay 5, Poverty Bay 3. A black and white onslaught followed immediately. M. Brownlie sold a dummy, made .ground and passed to Blake, who transferred to Corkill, the latter scoring near the corner. Corkill missed the kick. Hawke's Bay 8, Poverty Bay 3. The Reds gained home territory and Morrison had an unsuccessful shot from a free kick. The local forwards again bustled the visitors on to their line. Bad passing and good tackling by the Reds kept the attackers out. Another effort at goal by Morrison was fruitless. Fortune fluctuated with slight advantage to the local team. A free kick wide out gave Corkill a. chance and he took it. Hawke’s Bay 11, Poverty Bay 3. Carrington broke through the home attack and a little more pace might have let. him over, but the defence got round in time to-spoil the effort. The remaining stages were more or less neutral, except for a bout in which Priestly, Blake and Corkill wore engaged, and the latter scored. Corkill missed the kick. Hawke’s Bay 14, Poverty Bay 3. Time sounded with play in midfield.

CHRISTCHURCH RESULTS. (Special to "Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, June 13. The second round of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s A grade competition commenced on Saturday at Lancaster Park. A large attendance witnessed the match between Christchurch and Merivale, the former side winning by 21 points to 8. At the Show grounds, ’Varsity beat Technical by 19 to 11. At Rawhiti Domain. New Brighton, where a match between Albion and Linwood was played, in order to benefit the funds for the erection of a pavilion, the former won by 9 points to 3. The grounds had all improved as the result of the recent rains. ROUGH PLAY AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, June 12. At senior Rugby on Saturday. ’Varsitv beat Marist by 14 to 12; Oriental beat Hutt by 16 to 3; Old Boys beat Bcrhainpore 26 to 9; Petone beat. Athletic IS to 9; and Poncke and Wellington drew 13 all. Rough play was fairly general. In some cases, the referees treated offenders quite unconcernedly, hut in the Petone-Athletic match, two players were ordered off.

The /results of the senior Rugby football in Wellington so far show great evenness in the play of the ten sides. In Senior A Division the seven are only separated by two points. While the forward play is up to the mark, the scarcity of conspicuous backs is most notable and does not bode well for Wellington’s representative in the team for S. Africa. Apart from Al. Nicholls, it is doubtful if there is another back at present who can claim to be- in the front rank. Senior A: Poneke 13, Wellington 13; Oriental 16, Hutt 3; Athletic 9, Petone 18; Marist 12, Varsity 14,; Berhampore 9, Old Boys 26. Senior B: Athletic 9, Selwyn 8; Training College 8, Eastbourne 13. DUNEDIN RESULTS. DUNEDIN, June 11. Alhambra 5, University A 3; Zingari 11, Union 6; Kaikorai 13, Taieri 5; Varsity B 16, Dunedin 3; Pirates 11. Southern 8. AUCKLAND RESULTS. . AUCKLAND, Juno 1. Grafton 13, North Shore nil; Grammar 14, Varsity 13; College Rifles 10, Training College 8; Ponsonby 11, Marist 3.

ALL BLACK INJURED. DUNEDIN, June 13. In the Pirates v. Southern .Rugby match on Saturday,- Dennis Wise, of Pirates, the Otago and New Zealand wing-three-quarter, sustained head injuries, necessitating hospital treatment. SCHOOLBOY KILLED. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY, June 13. R. Wiseman, a Sydney Grammar schoolbov. tripped and fell in a football match, and broke his neck. AUSTRALIA’S DEBT. SYDNEY, June 3. Speaking to a toast at the golfers’ dinner, Sir Henry Braddon, who was formerly a New Zealand representative footballer, said: “We must not forget the debt that wo owe to New Zealand in the field of sport. If we helped them in cricket and tennis, we must remember that they rendered us service in the Rugby Union game, for which we can never sufficiently thank them. It is largely because of their assistance, that the game had been re-established soundly and satisfactorily.”