FOOTBALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 August 1924, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. RANFTJRLY SHIELD. WIN FOR HAWKE’S BAY. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) t HASTINGS, Aug. 18. In the Ranfurly Shield match on Saturday the Nelson challengers were defeated by Hawke’s Bay by 35 points to 3. The ground was very sloppy, rain falling practically continuously throughout the game. The attendance in consequence was only fair. Hawke’s Bay had the best of it from the commencement, and the defence was never seriously tested. Nelson handled the Ivall well in the mud, but their movements lacked the necessary finish. No tries were converted, but two penalties were successful. Nelson’s only score came just on time. Falwasser scored four tries for Hawke’s Bay. ASSOCIATION GAME. NEW ZEALAND (2) v. CHINA (1). AUCKLAND, Aug. 16. An attendance of 18,000, showing a great partiality for the visitors, witnessed the first test, China v. New Zealand, at the Domain to-day. New Zealand winning bv two goals to one. The weather was fine, but the ground was slippery as the result of heavy rain overnight, and the condition of the ground affected both sides. Nevertheless there was unmistakably fine footwork. The visitors on the whole were the cleverer, and shbwed better combination than the New Zealanders, bub they still lacked finish. The goal scored by New Zealand in the first spell was rather tame, the opposing backs being-apparently taken off guard. Honours were about even in the first spell, the New Zealand forwards taking the better advantage of their opportunities, the Chinese losing advantages by passing too far forward when dose to their opponents’ goal and allowing the New Zealand hacks to cleai-. Apparently the Chinese are adapting themselves to the New. Zealand style of play, as they tackled harder than last Saturday* and used the shoulder. The Chinese had the better of tho first part of the second spell. They started off at a pretty pace, and surprised everybody by pressing from the outset and maintaining the advantage. The New Zealand forwards made every effort to score, but the defence. was very solid. The Chinese forwards were more often in a position to score than New Zealand forwards were, but lack of finish and a certain amount of timidity prevented them from adding points. In the first snell Campbell scored for New Zealand from a corner kick by Times, and Jap scored from a pass by Wu. The Chinese bad the better of the second spell, New Zealand scoring the winning goal just on time by Campbell catching from a pass by Lines, who had obtained from McCreanor. The final score was: New Zealand 2 China j THE LEAGUE GAME. ENGLISHMEN WIN LAST MATCH. CHRISTCHURCH. Aug. 16. The English Rugby League team concluded its tour to-dav with a match against Canterbury, which thev won bv 47 points to 10. The dav \vas dull with no wind, and about 7000 ppople were present. The visitors were much the cleverer, and the issue was never in doubt.