RUGBY

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9722, 4 June 1924, Page 6

RUGBY

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH

EASILY RETAINED BY HAWKE’S

WAIRARAPA BEATEN BY 30 POINTS TO 14.

„ NAPIER, June 3. Hawke's Bay convincingly established their title to the Ranfurly Shield to-day by stalling off Wairarapa’s challenge to the tune or thirty points to fourteen. The match was played on a greasy ground in dull weather. , The visitors won the toss, and M. Brownlie kicked off against a fair wind. A fast pace was set early and the speed and dash of the Wairarapa forwards enabled the challengers to make vigorous onslaughts on the local territory, compelling the defenders to force. The Bay forwards broke through a scrum and then Mill sen Falwasser away. Several backs handled in a spectacular passing rush and Grensidc scared. McCarthy convertWairarapa resumed the offensive, keeping the local backs busy de end. inf Following the failure of a pass n'f rush bv six backs, Desmond dived over 1 from the line-out. Booties M missed. Hawke’s Bay o points, Li tluf succeeding play Donald sustained an injury winch appeared affect him for tk« rest of the g< .» until ho went off towards the end Continued onslaughts by the visitors culminated in a couple of local backs being bustled and Desmond again touched down, Iho kick, fj k rnrana G points, Hawke s Bay o. TtU) defenders of the Slued took a tu“ at attac-k, back »>««•"*$ mixing dribbling and passm 0 . - i'tiafed a niece of back play m which splendid in and out passing saw FalCarthv mSs°ed Ue thc Hawke’s B ‘l frefkiS resulted in Hiroti piloting, the leather over. Wairarapa 9 points, Hawke s Bay b. Till half-time the honors were slightly in Hawke’s Bay's favor, beveral back movements were initiated but the Wairarapa tackling was effective. The home side immediately attacked on resuming after half-time, and the visitors were required to exercise solid defensive work, vvlucn they did for a time. Too long kicks resulted in Wairarapa forcing down. Cettin 0 the ball from Mill. Mardon set off.ioi the visitors’ line, and was only just stopped. Continued knocking at the door compelled Wairarapa to force three times to get out of the difncultv From a line-out in the \\ airarapa 25, Walker passed to Blake, who ended a nice run with a try at tell corner. M. Brownlie’s kick failed. Hawke’s Bay 11 points, Wairarapa J. With their nose m front, the defenders now never looked hack, lnej had the measure of the challengers, whose efforts to keep the local men at bay were frequently broken through. Some splendid in and out passing, in which Irvine was prominent, ended in a couple of scrums on the line from one of which Mill secured and cleverly sneaked around. McCarthv landed a beautiful goaf. Hawke’s Bay 16 points, Wairarapa 9. Carson went oil’ with an injurec. wrist and was replaced by Parker. The Hawke’s Day pressure continued without relief until from a line-out M. Biovvnlie passed to Kirkpatrick, who scored on the corner, McCarthy converting. Hawke’s Bay 2l points, Wairarapa 9. . . A passing rush in which backs and forwards mingled, was started by Long in a pass frqgn I 1 alvvasser resulted -in Mardon scoring. McCaithv missed the kick. Hawke s Baj 21 points, Wairarapa 9. Donald left the held and was replaced by Roberts. The visitors gained the home territory and endeavoured to make an impression, but before long Hawke’s Bay again got a chance and a back movement let Grensidc over. McCarthy missed the kick. Hawke’s Bay 27 points, M airnrapa 9. , , , The visitors attacked, and only Grensidc’s speed prevented the Wairarapa backs getting over. Booth missed mi ensy from fiec kick. The visitors attacked without success for quite a time, then Ormond and Gemmell associated in a movement ' from the line-out. and the latter scored. M. Brownlie missedthe kick. Hawke’s Bnv 30 points. W airarapa 9. With only a few minutes to go, Wairarapa. did not throw up the sponge and irem some loose play Willoughby got going. After some smart handling the defence was beatr>jr j Parker scored m tlio coiuei. Hiroti landed a event kick. Hawke’s Bay 30 points, Wairarapa 14.—1 A. BARRY CLP. WALKOA BEAT POVERTY BAY. GREAT FORWARD GAME IN THE MUD. Wairon won and the Barry Cup will remain there another season so far as the Rover tv Bay representatives are concerned.' The team representing this district'went down to Wairoe in full •con!»idonee ot annexing the coveted trophy from the Wairon subunion, but the Inst bell of the match j yesterday, with Wairon three points ahead, sounded the death knell of Poverty Bnv’s hopes, while a cheerinn- crowd ‘acclaimed the victorious holders of the Cup. .It was a great forward game in the mud, in which some magnificent loose scrums were outstanding features. The packs were ovenlv matched, except that W airoa hold "the advantage in the line-out and were more adept at dribbling in the loose than the visitors. But the Poverty Bay forwards played v. ell m the light scrummaging and were more than eciual to their opponents in the loose The match was not won by 7 mere physical fitness, hut by the wet day tactics nclonted by the borne team and their combination. The week’s training in which the Wairoa t°am were eimaned prior to the match told heavily against Poverty Bnv as regards combination, in tne forward divisions, Poverty Bay were at a disadvantage in the lmc-oiit in that they had no big men, such as Tom Heenev and Honey of last year s pack to 'compete with the mg* \v airoa forwards. Lewis, Ormond brothers and Pirihi, who got the ball nine times out of ten. Then they either kicked high and followed up, their speed beating the visiting backs, or combined, in fine dribbling rushes the proper tactics suited to conditio . of the dav. Time and again they broke through the Poverty Bav backs, who were not inclined to ‘rush stopping. Of the borne pack, the Ormond, hi others, Lewis, Cooper and Pmhi were the best and they played a dashing game from first to last. Ihe Poverty Bav forwards co.uld not get going in the opening, blit brightened uo later M. Whaitiri played a great name in the loose and scrum work, while Matthews, Tome and Scott Were outstanding throughout the nlav. The home back division handled much better than the. opposing rearguard and, gen or ally their defence was better. Cor kill and F Ormond, the five-eighths, played splendidly m defence tackling and kicking veil, ’ while McGregor at wing three-quar-ter, showed plenty of dash on offensive movements. The full-back, Aim wn s verv sn.fG. fin cl cliu. not iti3.k6 any 3 mistake's. Generally speaking, the Poverty Bay backs played a poor game, particularly the inside men, Tnreia and Frnppr. who would not go down on the ball to check the loose rushes. Mbuat was, much at sea on a. heavy ground, but played well under the conditions. At full-back, Pollock was a failure. -He let his team

down on several occasions. Langlands on the wing did not have much to do in that position, but he did the bulk of the hard defensive work, saving time and again. The Poverty Bay team left Gisborne on Monday evening about 6.30 in a motor bus, and had a tedious journey as far as Morere, where they stayed the night. At 10 o’clock yesterday morning the team proceeded and arrived in Wairoa about noon. Mr L. Plank was the manager. Tlie ground was sodden and sloppy as a result of continuous rain, and heavy showers continued intermittently throughout the morning. When the teams lined out it was still raining and heavy showers, accompanied by a bitterly cold southerly, fell throughout the "match, making conditions most unpleasant for the large crowd of spectators who assembled on the ground. No shelter of any kind was available and hundreds of people were soaked to the skin. Great interest was evinced in the game and throughout the crowd was on tip-toe. with excitement owing to the see-sawing of the game up and down the field. The teams were ns follow:

Poverty Bav (scarlet): C. Pollock, B. ’Whaitiri, J. Mount, W. Langlands, P. Tureia, Fraser King, Piki Smith, J. Scott. J. Heenev, Torrie, K. Brown, M. Whaitiri, Morgan, A. Matthews, Cavanagh. Wairon (green jersey): Alei Alei, McGregor. D. Mitchell, J. Smith, Ormond, T. Corkill, Nepia, Couper, G. Ormond, E. Borst, Johnny Smith, E. Pirihi, Lewis, Buckingham, Gordon Ormond. THE PLAY. Facing a cross-wind, and heavy rain Poverty Bay kicked off and. the home forwards immediately assailed the visitors’ defence, forcing play to the corner. From the line-out the hall went out to Nepin, who unsuccessfully attempted to pot a goal. High kicking by the home backs gave their forwards a c-hance to attack once more and their sweeping -rushes seemed make a try inevitable, but Torrie, Matthews and Scott came out of the ruck with the ball at their feet and dribbled to half-way, where they were penalised for off-side play. McGregor punted high and fumbling by the Povverty Bay backs let the Home forwards close in on the line again. A splendid loose rush led by Lewis and Ormond swept over the Red line and a- force-down followed. The visitors were kept- very busy defending their line in the next few minutes, until Poverty Bav again broke through to the 25 flag. . A centre by the home winger Smith saw Mitchell field the ball and pass to McGregor, hut he was smothered. The Wairon hacks essayed passing, but were unable to handle the slippery ball. Then Matthews and Torrie led the visiting pack in a rush that went well. into the home territory where an infringement checked their progress. From a free kick Tnreia attempted to goal from a difficult angle and against the wind, hut failed. G. Ormond and Lewis initiated a loose rush that went right through the Poverty Bay hacks and Pollock kicked behind. From the five-yard scrum Fraser punted to Smith, who found touch in the corner. Then Matthews, Heenev, Scott and "Whaitiri rushed play back to half-way, but were pushed hack by the strong dribbling of the Green forwards and Langlands saved by lining. The home forwards were robbed of a certain try a minute later, when Pollock kicked out behind. A speculator by Turiea was marked under the goal bv Mitchell, hut his kick failed. A sudden hack movement in which C. Ormond, Mitchell and Smith were prominent ended in the corner and. a force-down followed. Xenia marked in front cf the goal, hut his clrop-kick went wide of the mark. The leather wont out to McGregor, who punted high, Langlands’ mark saving at a critical moment. Corkill and Ormond featured in a lively passing bout, which ended at the corner flag; then. C. Ormond had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty. Langlands, who was playing a splendid defensive game, saved a try by picking up smartly and lining when a kick by Pollock was charged down. -The Reds again forced a little later. Ormond dribbled through to the line, but was robbed of a try through Langlands booting, out behind. Fraser relieved the position a little later with a good kick to touch. Whaitiri with the Hall at his t-oc, dribbled well rip field, but Mei Mei extricated Wairoa from a difficult situation. Another rush started by Torrie invaded the Greens’ territory,’ and M. Whaitiri picked up the leather and dashed to the corner, where be was grassed. A splendid dribbling rush by Lewis and the Orrnonds caught the opposing defence napoing and McGregor was unlucky in knocking-on while trying to pick up the ball and a few minutes later half-time was announced with the Greens still pressing. On resuming, Poverty Bay livened up, but despite the advantage of the wind, the Wairoa forward rushes kept them at bay. Mitchell and McGregor were sent away in a passing rush, the later kicking to Cavanagh, whose mark checked the movement. From half-way, -Couper attempted to goal, but a scrum was ordered owing to a player being in front when ho kicked. A forward rush by Wairoa was stopped by Pollock’s kick to the line; then Piki Smith and Langlands featured ill a counter passing.movement, Langlands passing in again, but tlie ball was intercepted by- Smith, tlie "Wairoa winger, who got away with the ball at bis toe, but spoiled his effort by bad kicking. Pollock did not go down to a loose rush headed by Lewis, and play went well into the visitors’ 25. The Poverty Bay forwards. with Torrie, Matthews and Whaitiri in the van, retaliated, McGregor averting disaster by lining at half-way. Another lively rush was stepped by Corkill’s kick into touch. Turein- fielded a high kick punted downfield and McGregor was caught in possession, and the forwards kicked it out at the corner. From tl?e line-out Matthews and Heeney dived over first among a heap of Red forwards, hut Wairoa had forced down. Then the visitors tried passing. Piki -uiith sent the leather to Tureia to Mount,, who missed his pass when he had a good opening. Smith saved the situation. A high kick by Tureia was closely followed by that player, hut the ball was well fielded by Mei Mei. McGregor and Lewis sweat through the opposing defence dribbling the

ball, only to be held up by Langlands on the line, enabling M. Whaitiri to clear. Another good forward rush by the Greens went to half-way. From the line-cut Lewis went through with the ball at his toe and scored in the corner, amidst great enthusiasm. Pcheri’ failed to convert. Wairoa 3, Poverty Bay 0.

Both sets of forards were now playing a great game. J. Smith tore up the field with tlie ball at liis toe, but it was kicked over the dead b,alMme and a try was lost. A passing rush between Smith. Tureia and Mount was spoiled through a bad pass to Langlands. The visiting forwards again broge away, but Mei Mei was safe. Bollock hung on to the ball instead of kicking for the lino and Ormond got awayf but fell over near the line. A forward lush, by Matthews, Torrie and Heenev entered tlie "Wairoa 25, where Nepia checked them with a mark. Again Tureia and Mona unengaged in passing, but the latter s pass to Langlands fell short and a good scoring chance was lost. _ The Red forwards- were making. the pace and pressing hard on the Yv airoa line when the hell rang, leaving the scores unchanged. Wairoa 3, Poverty Bay 0. Air. Osborne was referee.

SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT AT ORMOND.

OLD BOYS PROVE WINNERS

Owing to the wet weather conditions prevailing yesterday morning, some of the teams which had enteied failed to turn up at OrmoUd for the seven-a-side competition, and it was found necessary to re-arrange the competition. A meeting of players was held in the morning, when it was decided to postpone the competition proper for the gold footballs. It wins considered that there were not> enough teams present to warrant playing for such valuable trophies. Instead a resolution proposed by Air. "Wallace to the effect that matches be arranged for those present., with caps as trophies for each member of the winning team, was carried unanimously, in© draw’was arranged as follows: Rovers A v. Te Karaka. Rovers G v. Old Bovs. Rovers B and Alangatu a bye. . Two teams were given in bye m the first round to leave four teams in tli© semd-final. Play did not commence until 1.30. FIRST ROUND. OLD BOYS '(24) V. ROVERS G (3). From the start the game was fast and open. Rovers got the ball away, but offside play brought them back. Almost immediately afterwards Sutcliff got the ball and made a good solo run from half-way, scoring under the posts. Harris-converted. Old Boys o, Rovers O'. The ball went to the other end of the field 1 and there was scrambling play on Old Boys line. Then Maud© cleared by lacking. Sutcliffe followed up and scored again The major points were added, uia Boys 10, Rovers O. From a lme-cut Sutcliffe got the ball again and scored under the posts. The lack went over. Just after half-time Sharp got the first try for Rovers. The kick failed. Maude started a passing rush, and Samson scored. The lack fouled. A few minutes later Maucle scored, for Old Boys, but tlie kick failed. Then on the call of time Alaude scored again. The game ended: Old Boys 24, Rovers 3. Air. Wallace was referee. ROVERS A (13) V. TE KARAKA (10). Jackson soon scored from a passing rush, in which both the Woods took part. A. Woods ’ converted. Rovers •5. To Karaka 0. Rovers were shortly afterwards compelled to force. 6’Grady got the ball from the ruck an'd scored. He also added the major points—s all. After scrambling, play, Wilton. carried the ball over and fell on it. The kick was successful. Rovers 10. Te Karaka 51,• King made a good run down the line and scored for Te Karaka. O’Grady converted—--10 all.

The bell then rang an-d it was necessary to play another spell until a try or torch down was made, a force to count one point-. After even play, Rovers got the ball from a. line-out, and after a passing rush Higgs scored, Roversth us winning by 13 to 10'

after an even game. Mr. E. Corbcrt held tlie whistle. SECOND ROUND.

OLD BOYS (14 V. MANGATU (0). After even play the hall, was dribbled over Old Boys’ line. Maude forced. From the kick-off Old Boys’ backs got. the ball and started a passing rush, which culminated in Sutcliffe scoring under the posts. The kick Hit the post. At half-time thescore was: ,01d Boys 3, Mangatu 0. Shortly afterwards* Samson scored. Old. Boys S, Mangatu 0. Smith then scored but the try was not converted —ll- —O. After loose play, Harris, coming up fast, crossed tlie lino just on time. The kick failed, and the game ended: Old Boys 14. Mangatu 0. Mr. Mahone was referee. ROVERS A (5) V. ROVERS B (0). The two teams were evenly matched, though Rovers A were slightly the heavier. After a period of even play, from a passing rush by Rovers A F. Higgs scored. The kick went over—Rovers A 5, Rovers 80. After loose play. R. Benson- scored, and V. Hay added the major points —5 all. The bell went with the score unaltered, and another spell was necessary. After close play V. Hay scored a good try, the junior team thus heating their seniors by S to 5. The boys deserved their win. Mr. Watson was referee.

FINAL. OLD BOYS (10) V. ROVERS B (3)

Old Boys kicked off against a strong wind. Their backs soon got going, but a bad pass at the end soon spoiled the movement. Maude kicked tlie ball out, and from the line-out Devery got the ball and carried it up the field/ The pack followed and a score seemed inevitable, but a knockon spoilt the rush. A series of lineouts followed, from one of which L. Hansen got the ball and raced down the line with no one able to catch him. He "scored behind the posts and Harris converted — s—o.5 —0. A seem'd later the bell rang for half-time, with Old Boys attacking. On resuming Old Boys were penalised for off-side play in front of their goal. The place kick failed. Rovers started a passing rush. Devery intercepted the ball and made a run with, no one in front of him, and scored beneath the posts. Harris converted. Old Boys 10, Rovers 0. A good passing rush started by Rogers resulted in Proudfoot getting over, just before the bell rang. The kick was not attempted. Old Boys thus won by 10 points to 3. Air. E. J. Poswillo was referee.

The Old Boys’ team played the most scientific game of the day. They owed their victory to good, clean passing by the backs, who time and again carried the ball well up the field. Rogers and Proudfoct played well for the losers, while Devery and Sutcliffe w 7 orc the best of tho Old Boys’ players. _ Maude and Hansen were also prominent. The Old Boys’ team was : Devery, Maude, L. Hanson Smith. Harris. Samson and Sutcliffe. Each member of tlie winning team will receive a cap. WANGANUI BEAT. TARANAKI. WANGANUI, June 3. A Rugby match between Wanganui and Taranaki was played to-day in fino but bleak weather. Tlie attendance was about 6000. Wanganui hail the hotter of a straggling, hard game and won by 17 points to 3. The homo side showed good combination on occasions, whereas Taranaki failed to combine and their display generally lacked finish. At the end’of the first half, Wanganui led by 9 points to nil, unconverted tries by Collier, Beilis and Head. At the opening of the second session, Ennis accepted a pass in', front of the Wanganui goal and scored a good try. From thenco on Wanganui had the better of the game; Collier scored as the result of a fine solo run, and as the outcome of a brilliant passing bout, Mc"Auliffe crossed unopposed, Head converting the latter try. Taranaki rallied on occasions, but the finishing touch was lacking. Beilis was injured during the game and had to retire.—P.A.

The cable news in this issue accredited to the London ‘‘Times” has appeared in that journal, 'but: only where expressly stated is su-h news JkUe editorial opinion of th« “Tiwoa.”