TARANAKI AND HAWKE’S BAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 July 1927, Page 6

TARANAKI AND HAWKE’S BAY.

tjTTTt.TT■T.II'JG RUGBY CONTEST. CHAMPIONS’ NARROW ESCAPE. (by TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) BASTINGS, July 27. The Taranaki Rugby representatives met Hawke’s -Bay at Nelson Park today, 'before an attendance of about four thousand. The weather was fine, but the ground was very Heavy after tinrecent rain, consequently the game resulted in a forward struggle. The teams were as follow: Hawke’s Ray: Yates, Grensade, Blake, Huxtaible, Oorki-11, Te Ngaio, Edwards, Barclay, Campbell, S. (lemmell, M. Brownlie, Tankard, Conratl, Swain, and J, Gemmell. Taranaki: Perry, Dinniss, Brown, Bourke, Hohaia, O'wen, Eynskev, Wilte, Efepin, Walter, O’Keefe, Waixl, Robinson, Young, and Guy.

The visitors went early to the attack and kept Hawke’s Bay defending hard. O’Keefe carried Taranaki to the goal-line, and from a scrum the b • went to Gynskey, who sent on to Bourke, but the latter mulled, and allowed Taxes to secure. The Hawke’s Bay forwards now took a turn at attacking, and Brown cleared a determined rush by lei eking, but a mait brought the home team back again, and Petty was compelled to farce. Barely had the ball been kicked again into play when the Taranaki forwards carried play to half-way. Brown received the ball, sent trn to Dinniss, who though collared, broke away again, and straggled across; Brown converted ,a difficult kick. Taranaki 5, Hawke’s Bay nil.

The Home team now got going. From a line-ouit M. Brownlie broke away, and sent the ball on to J. Gemmed, to Swain, to Huxtaible. and back to. Gemmell, who scored: Grenside converted. Taranaki 5, Hawke’s Bay 5. The visiting forwards nia.de the going hard for the home pack, continually penetrating their territory, and just before the spell ended Yates had to force. O'n the change-over Hawke’s Bay took the ascendancy land were on Taranaki’s line, but Petty smartly cleared. A few minutes after, from a line-out, M. Brownlie hurled himself across well out; Grenside's kick was a failure. Hawke’s Bay 8, Taranaki 5. Play travelled up and down the field for a time; Grensdde took a Jong penalty shot and Yates tried a pot, both of which failed.. Wills, Ward awl Walter led a Taranaki attack, but Conrad turned the tide. Hawke’s Bay then forced matters, but Petty and Brown were safe. Back movements by both sides were not productive of much, good on account of the heavy ball. A strenuous forward battle took place in the closing stages, play being up and down the field. Led by Walter, Paramrlvi Tvcro getting 'till© best o*f it Bourke fielded a kick from Yates and battled Ins wav through the Hawke s Bay forwards to pass to Ward, who banded back to Brown, who scored in the corner, but his kick failed. The final whistle then sounded with the scores:

Hawke’s Bay 8 Taranaki ® Mr. R. Paton, of Wellington', was the referee.