SUPERIOR FINISH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22404, 11 August 1947, Page 7

SUPERIOR FINISH

FAST PJB. PACK BATTLING BACK LINE M C KINLEY STAR UNIT In defeating Hawke’s Bay by 13 points to 3 on McLean Park, Napier, on Saturday, the Poverty Bay Rugby representatives achieved their fourth successive victory of the season. They opened in June with a convincing win over Bay of Plenty on the Gisborne ground and on Saturday completed the three games of the southern tour during which they defeated Wairarapa, Bush and Hawke’s Bay. Saturday's game in which Poverty Bay registered three tries, one concerted, compared with a single try Scored by Hawke’s Bay, was the Crowning triumph of the tour, it being the particular ambition of the team to succeed against the strong Hawke’s Bay combination,'always noted for tenacity on the home ground, and repeat the victory gained last season on the Gisborne ground. Fitness and team work were the deciding factors in a keenly-fought contest in which the territorial run of play left little to choose, between the teams, though Poverty Bay were on top over the concluding stages. A hard ground favoured speedy footwork, but a gusty breeze handicapped accuracy in kicking. The weather remained cool and fine except for two brief showers which had no appreciable effect on the ball or turf.

“You played as a team and thoroughly deserved the win,” said Mr. N. A. McKenzie, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay union, in addressing the Poverty Bay players at a gathering of the team following the game.

He congratulated the team on the excellent performance of winning each game of the tour , an achievement which, he said, should do a great deal to assist the game in the Poverty Bay union’s area, besides enhancing the reputation of the union among contemporary bodies. In acknowledging the tribute the touring manager, Mr. B. Dodge, expressed appreciation of the excellent spirit in which the game had been played and called attention to the very important contribution of the selectors, Messrs. F. Solomon and J, Gillespie, to whose coaching and insistence on training the team work developed by the Poverty Bay representatives had been largely due. The teams, reading from full-back to front-row, were:—

Poverty Bay (Scarlet). —B. Preston; E. Carrington, W. Edwards, Jack Barbour; R. McKinley, F. Clay; S. Lee; G. King; B. Birrell, W. Carrington, I. Shaw, G. Elliott; J. Ferguson,- N. Summersby (captain), W. Brown. Reserves: Backs, .G Harris, R. Whitham. J. Blane; forwards. V. Hata. R. Humphreys. Hawke’s Bay (Black and White).— F. Chapman; D. Lyons, S. Wills, R. Price; A Bullick, D. Goodwin; A. Dean; J. Gunnell; J. N. (Jack) Brownlie, A. Bowman (captain), H. Fraser, J. E. (Jim) Brownlie; R. Neil], J. McCormick, D. Bell, Reserves:: back, I. Johnson; iorward, C. Shannon. Shortly before the interval McCormick retired injured and was replaced by Shannon.

The statistics of the contest indicate that the home backs received the greater share of the ball. In the first half Hawke’s Bay won the ball from nine scrums and Poverty Bay from four, six being indecisive Each side won seven scrums in the second half and 10 were indecisive. Hawke’s Bay won 19 to 16 lines-out in the first spell and 14 to eight in the second.

Over the whole game, therefore, Hawke’s Bay secured possession by a 16-11 margin from formed scrums and 33-24 from lines-outs. Poverty Bay possesed the harder set of backs. As indicated bv the scores they were more sound in defence than their opposite numbers. Resource and consistent covering-up were notable features of their play, Prominent Players

At second five-eighth, R. McKinley was the strongest back on the field, making effective . use of his unusual weight and pace in both attack and defence. Also prominent in the initiation of attacks and sure in defence was the half-back, S Lee, who shaded his opposite number and was not outshone by any member of the home rearguard. Each of the others in the Poverty Bay backs gave generally-sound displays, W. Edwards, the centre and J. Barbour, wing-three-quarter, achieving prominence as the scorers of the first and last tries respectively. Averaging lllst. 91b as compared with 14st. 81b, the Poverty Bay forwards had to cede appreciable poundage in the scrums to the home pack, but gave away nothing in dash and dogged determination. Evidently in better condition, they eventually outplayed the heavier Hawke’s Bay set and were ruling the play during the final 15 minutes.

On paper they appeared inferior to the formidable home forwards. On the ground they proved a superior combination.

Individually they gave probably their best displays of the season and kept the hard pace from bell to bell. W. Carrington, who was on hand to score a try and G. Elliott, who was prominent in the movement leading to the final success of the side, were thereby in the spotlight, but throughout achieved no greater distinction than the remainder. I. Shaw was a fine line-out unit and lock. B. Birrell and G. King were great Workers in both tight and loose play, while in the front-row, J. Ferguson, N. Summersbv and W. Brown were consistent toilers in tight play. Though shaded by me All Black hooker in the first half, Summersby broke even with the replacement in the second. Notable Home Units The five-eighths, B. Goodwin and A, Bullick and the centre, S. Wills, were the best of the home backs, Bullick being particularly notable in the first spell. On the last line F. Chapman gave his best display of fielding and touch-finding when facing the wind. Among the Hawke’s Bay forwards Jim Brownlie was consistently notable in fast, useful breaks from the scrum, but the pick of the pack was the All Black lock, H. Fraser, while the veteran, A. Bowman, was another good lock and line-out prayer and J. Gunnell was of marked assistance to tne backs in defence. Though successful in the scrums the All Black hooker, J. McCormick, was partly incapacitated by a knock oxknocks early in the game and had to retired trailing a damaged leg just before the interval.

Early Opening Score Omens favoured the visitors when the coin fell their way and enabled Summersby to line the side out with the advantage of the breeze in .the opening session. Even more promising were a couple of sudden attacks which led to results within five minutes when, after a thrust by the backs had been cheeked, the ball came loose and Edwards dashed in again to boot it over the line and beat the defence to the touch-down. McKinley’s kick failed, but the visitors were three points up. Almost immediately McKinley made a stab punt when close to the line and was narrowly beaten by a force. Poverty Bay ruled the play for 10 minutes before McCormick launched a counter from the home twenty-five, Jim Brownlie and Bowman carrying on to the Poverty Bay quarter where Bowman centred a pass to his backs, .three of whom handled the ball before the transfer to the wing, Lyons, sent him over to score half-way between touch and the goal. Chapman's kick failed and the score was three-all. In the next attack bv the visitors W. Carrington made a forceful bid and Birrell was just beaten to the .touchdown.

Jim Brownlie figured in a fine run to the Red twenty-five and a score seemed likely till E. Carrington ran behind the posts and outpaced the attack in racing back to the field of plav and punting to mid-field. Play had been in progress for 20 minutes when Poverty Bay were awarded a penalty in mid-field on the 10yds. line. McKinley made a great attempt to goal, the ball passing a little outside the upright.

Then, in one of their rare excursions into Red territory at this stage, the Magpie backs handled briskly and Price, racing for a score, was thrown into touch close .to uie flag by Barbour. The assault was pressed until E. Carrington made a clever interception and put action back in home territory. Here E. Carrington was checked shortly afterwards by Lyons when near the scoring area and on the other wing Barbour was forced into touch when near the line.

Preston stemmed a Magpie counter and raced to mid-field to start a passing bout. Two penetrating runs by Lee had the home defence in trouble and success came again just before the interval when Clay made a short punt and W. Carrington was under it to get a try close to the posts. Clay added the goal points and half-time sounded with the scores:-™

Poverty Bay 8, Hawke’s Bay 3, l'lay of Second Spell

Though it had decreased during the latter portion of the first spell, the breeze freshened again after the interval and was consistently exploited by the home backs. Early in the session Preston and Lee came into the picture with timely clearances of the Poverty Bay line.'. The Magpie backs swung into a series of bright movements. Scores from the middle-backs and both wings appeared imminent, but the fine Red defence held. With a penalty on the twenty-five line Chapman appeared to have a certain three points, but the ball veered outside the goal.

Jim Brownlie, Bowman and Fraser were noted in forward sorties which also tested the Red defence in which Lee and McKinley were shining lights at this stage. McKinley and Edwards were associated in a run which broke on Chapman. Poverty Bay got within striking distance of the home line halfway through the spell and McKinley tried the goal with a penalty from a handy position but a gust of wind swept the ball back rrom the vicinity of the bar. Later a strong kick by Summersby was similarly deflected. Both attempts were followed by prolonged assaults before the goal by the Red forwards, Fraser eventually clearing from the first and Goodwin from the second efforts. The visiting forwards, however, were gradually taking the ascendancy in concerted rushes. In supporting bids by the backs, among whom McKinley was the mainspring, Edwards and E. Carrington were almost over. Another penalty kick by McKinley was frustrated by the high overhead wind. The fluctuations continued to favour the vigorous Scarlet forwards who increased the tempo and for the first time in the game the issue appeared certain.

Individuals in the home side still had amazing reserve of power, however. Three minutes before full-time, Wills made a sensational run from the vicinity of the home line and travelled almost the length of the field beljore Edwards ended a long chase with an arresting tackle close to the Red line. Lyons was in the vicinity, but was unable to get the transfer and E. Carrington came in to clear the line by finding touch.

An equally spectacular counter followed immediately. The line-out in the Red twenty-five gave place to a mix-up from which Elliott made a characteristic break and dribbled the ball past the home defence. In close support McKinley took over the thrust. When threatened by a cross run by Lyons, McKinley tapped the ball to the fastfoil nving Barbour, who gathered it close to the line and dived over to score close to the goal. McKinley converted and no-side sounded with the scores:—

Poverty Bay 13, Hawke’s Bay 3, Mr. O. T. Gratten was the referee