NEPIA OUTSTANDING

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 June 1935, Page 3

NEPIA OUTSTANDING

ALL BLACK TRIAL IN RAIN. y CONDITIONS IMPOSSIBLE. (By TelegrapU—Press Association.) ' HASTINGS, June 6. Owing to heavy rain the All Black trial match between combined teams from Hawke’s Bay and Busk on one side and Poverty Bay, East Coast and Bay of Plenty on the other, did not afford the players or the New Zealand selectors a fair opportunity. The playing . area, . McLean Park, Napier, was partly under water even before the game commenced, and play took place in continuous Tain. The southern backs outclassed the northern rearguard, Apsey, Smith and Le Quesne, aft Hawke’s Bay players, showing surprisingly good form unpr the circumstances. The outstanding fio-ure of the game was George Nepia, who played full-back in the northern side and contributed eight points. His goal-kicking was particularly meritorious and his general play was such as to ensure him further consideration. ‘ Conditions made the selection of forwards almost an impossibility, the best being Reid, Mataira and Rolls (Hawke’s Bay), Pohipi (Bay of Plentv), . Martin, Matheson (Poverty Bay),* Reedy (East Coast) and Olliver (Bush). , . . The final score was 22 to If m favour of Hawke’s Bay and Bush. Eor the winners Smith scored two tries and Le Quesne, Reid, Dalton and Mitchell a try each, while Reid and Edy converted one each. For the northern team Nepia kicked two penalty goals and converted a try, while Martin and Reedy scored a try each.