RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 177, 12 July 1920, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NORTHERN V. SOUTHERN HAWKE S BAY

A WIN FOB THE NORTHERNERS.

A steady downpour of rain fell during the whole of the match played by teams representing Northern Hawke’s Bay -v. Southern Hawke’s Bay at Nelson Cricket Ground, on Saturday afternoon, when . mere were about bUU spectators present, in- ! eluding a large contingent of country visi- - tors. Had the weather been line, there I would have been a record attendance, as unusuai interest was uianuesteU in the meeting oi me two teams, wno were com siuereu to be very evenly matched. Tne ground was in a very sloppy condition auu in me second naif tne game resolved itsen into a mud scramble Between me lorwards of both sides. rne slippery nature ol the nail was against a brilliant display by tne backs out it must be said that tne iv or merit rearguard handled the learner in a manner mat quite surprised ontooxers. Ttieir forwards, 'too, seemeu more at home than tneir opponents on the heavy ground, and put in some fine dashing play, io this iact may be attributed tneir win by 6 points to nil, which is a lair indication of the merits of both teams, although the supporters of South era Hawke s nay claim that had the weather been hue their set of backs wouiu have been seen to belter advantage, anu that the score would have been in then favour. Tne team is certainly a very goou combination. Tne teams lined out as follows :— NORTH. Full-back: Johnson. Three-quarters: Ngakura, Mapu, anu Thomas. rive-eighths: O’Donoghue and Kivell. - Halt-back: JJe Castro. ' Forwards: Bunker, Kirkpatrick, Ander son, Northe, McNab, Swain, and Hebberley. SOUTH. ! Full-back: Kir wan. • Three-quarters: Thompson, W. Barclay, : and Tayior. 1 Five-eights: R. Price and F. Barclay. I Halt: xtrunseil. 1 Forwards: Neilson, Oliver, Hamilton. Kuru, Davis, Harrison, Johnson, Barker. THE GAME. Southern set off on the aggressive from the start ot the nrst speil, nut De Castro relieved with a spienuiu kick, and Mapu started a passing run which loosed dan gerous but was spoilt througn Thomas tailing to handle me ban. .soutneru again attacked, but De Castro saved with au- • other fine Kick. Northern followed up the advantage gained, and being awarded a penalty. Jontison landed a maguincent goal. North o. South nil. South made jFfyauous efforts to equalise the score, anu iook play right up to the North’s line. ’ where Johnson saved with a good kick The southerners again attacked strong ly, but once again Johnson came to the rescue. Tne bail was then rushed to South's twenty-live, but Kirwan extricated I his side from danger by a iong kick into I touch. From the throw-in Mapu starteu I a passing run, but a mull spoilt a great chance of increasing the Northerners’ score. They were, however, shortly afterwards rewarded, Ngakura, who thoroughly : justified bis inclusion in the team, securing a try, which Johnson tailed to coni vert. North 6, South nil. The spell ended i with South strongly attacking in North’s tweuty-nve. SECOND SPELL. When the second spell commenced the ground was a quagmire, and the supporters ot Southern Hawke’s Bay were ot the opinion that their heavy torwards would more than hold their own, but they were doomed to disappointment, the Northern men putting in some splendid foot and loose work. South at nrst seemed as if they would gain the upper hand, penning the North down in their twenty-five for a time. North then rallied, and from a mark had a shot at goal, which was just missed. A Northern player got over the line but was declared to be off-side, Thomas also got over, but lost the ball and a force resulted. Still another try was nearly scored by Ngakuri, and then play was shifted up to North’s territory, where a Southern piayer got over through the aid of Taylor, but a score was missed through his losing the ball when finely tackled. From this on nothing of note occurred, the ball being in neutral territory when the whistle sounded ‘‘no side,” with the score remaining unaltered. Mr. W. J. Connor was referee.

For North, Johnston, De Castro, Mapu, and Ngakura were the best of the backs, whilst among the forwards Bunker, Hebberley, Kirkpatrick, and Anderson were the pick. For the South Kirwan, W. Barclay, R. Price and Brunsell were most prominent in the backs, and Hamilton, Harrison, Johnson and Barker in the forward division.

AUCKLAND TIES WITH NEW ZEALAND Auckland, July 10. The New Zealand Rugby team which is to tour Australia played Auckland to-day in the presence of about 8000 spectators. The ground was heavy after the recent rain. Contrary to expectations the game ended in a draw, eleven points all. The New Zealand backs were superior to the local backs, but the Auckland forwards, particularly in the second spell, outclassed their opponents. The following was the New Zealand team:—Full back, O’Brien. (Auckland); three-quarters, Storey (South Canterbury), Algar (Wellington). Steel (West(Coast): five-eightbß. C. Badeley (Auckland), Tilyard (Wellington); half. Brown (Taranaki); rover. Donald (Wairarapa.); forwards, Carroll (Manawatu), Duncan <qtago». West (Taranaki), Moffitt (Wellington;, McLean (Buller;. Jacob (Horowhenua). Baird (Southland). There were two casualties, Moffitt and Fletcher being both compelled to leave the field. Fletcher with an injured ankle. Australia' 11 botb nlalie the trip to

TARANAKI DEFEATS WANGANUL Hawera, July 10. The football match Wanganui v. Taranaki was played in wet weather, and resulted in a win for the latter by six points to nil. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL* AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON DRAW. Wellington. July 10. The Brown Shield match; Auckland v. Wellington, was played in heavy rain on the Basin Reserve before about 1000 spectators and ended in a draw, one goal each. LEAGUE FOOTBALL. ENGLAND WINS THIRD TEST MATCH. Sydney, July 11. The third League football test England v. Australia attracted 40,000. The "ashes" being already won and lost, both teams threw caution to the winds and indulged in enterprising play, sometimes bordering on recklessness. «The final scores were England 23, Australia 13.