Rugby Football

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 235, 18 September 1922, Page 2

Rugby Football

RANFURLY SHIELD. EASILY RETAINED. AND HELD BY HAWKE’S BAY. Any doubts as to where the Banfurly shield will be located until next season were set at rest in Napier on Saturday, when the King Country representatives, who were aspirants for the honour of having their name engraved on it, were decisively beaten by Hawke’s Bay after a game in which the challengers were only sufficiently strong to show up Hawke’s Bay’s play. There was a very large attendance, about the same as that at Hastings on the previous Saturday. Though most followers of the sport favoured Hawke’s Bay nobody felt assured that they would be good enough to hold the shield as the visitors came here after a narrow defeat by Wairarapa determined to make a bid for the shield in no uncertain manner. They were, however, hopelessly outclassed. Bay forwards were too much for them and the backs amply covered by these forwards, and greatly improved on the form of the previous Saturday, did much as they liked. Though the visitors are not begrudged the points they did get, it must be stated in criticism of the local team that there should have been no points scored by the visitors. The penalty goal was the result of a piece of carelessness that would have caused an outcry had the scores been about even instead of widely different, and while the try gained by the visitors was a nice piece of work when it got to the final stages it should never have reached them. The reason was that Bay “let up ” for a period. Though the public would not complain on the fare provided it does not go to a Banfurly sheld match to see a team do any slacking, and there were times when this easing up was noticeable. The fact that the home team scored 26 points in the first spell against a fairly good breeze and could only add 16 points when it got the advantage of that breeze is in itself a prima face case of easing up. Regarding the players. The changes on the inside of the back division showed up to advantage throughout the game. This division did not of course have to submit to the spoiling tactics of the opposition forwards as they did in the Bay of Plenty team, but the backs played an all round better game. The ball came out faster and cleaner and .the weakness of the opposition only Served to make this more apparent. Kingston played a clean heady game at ’mlf and was always where he was wanted. O’Donoghue played one of his best games while each and every member of the backs was consistently good, Blake being about the weakest on the day’s play, but being ahead of the previous Saturday’s form. Amongst a great pack of forwards Kirpatrick, Brownlie, McGregor and Gemmell shone out. Batchelor was as usual wherever /he ball and lived up to his offside reputation., On the • other side Byrne, in the five-eighths, stood out, but. he was not backed by a finished lot of backs, though Thomas played a good game. The forwards did not show any remarkable brilliancy, Clark being the best of the bunch. Browen at> wingthreequartcr marked Barclay thoroughly throughout the game. Concerning the Ranfurly Shield, the H.B. Rugby Union is already coming to the impression that it is not all that it might be, when a union is strong enough to hold it, especially if the union is one of the smaller ones, not overburdened with its financial credit. The rules provide that in cases where the matches are special ones, that is the visitors to Hawke’s Bay to play a chai 3enge for the shield when they would otherwise not have coine, reasonable expenses have to be paid. In the event of Hawke’s Bay being able to hold the shield next season—and with three Brownlies, Gemmell, McGregor, a possibility of Richardson (Otago) and a promising lot of backs they should be able to do so—it means that “reasonable expenses” will have to be paid to practically every team paving a visit. “Reasonable expenses” become fairly heavy. It is reckoned that the expenses of each Bay of Plenty and King Country were over £lOO, which is only about £5 per member. Had Bay of Plenty visited Hawke’s Bay in the ordinary way they would not have received ajiything as such union pays its own touring expenses under the system in vogue. Under the Ranfurly Cup rules the local union was worse off by £75 on this one match, and the probability is that they will see a similar sum disappearing after Saturday’s match. They make a good profit on the match nevertheless, but when provision has to be .made for future tours of the extent of the recent one this profit does not go very far. Steps to have the rules amended will probably eventuate. As they stand now another union whether it had any chance of winning the shield or not could send away a team and claim expenses, whereas they would probably think € wice about sending a poor team if they had to pay their own expenses. THE TEAMS. King Country (Black and Gold). — Full-back, J. Jones; three-quarters, J. Macken. B. Thomas, G. Brown; fiveeighths, P. Byrne, T. Maata; half. A. Burton: forwards. N. Scarrow, C. Huon, L. Harty, J. Graham. N. Harty, G. Conrad, J. Hobson; wing, B. Clarke. Hawke’s Bay (Black and White). — Same order: G. Yates, B. Grenside, J. Blake, W. Barclay, O’Donoghue. J. Kirwan. L. H. Kingston; forwards, T. Daly, S. Gemmell, J. McNab, C. Brownlie, J. McGregor, W. Irvine, A. Kirkpatrick; wing, W. Batchelor. THE PLAY. Gold won the toss and played with the wind. Bay forwards commenced to make their weight felt immediately. Gold were penalised on the half for holding, and Kirwan lined inside the 25. Browlie was then penalised for offside on the line. The game to a line on the half, and Batchelor sent it up. The forwards were down on it and prevented a return, but Gold relieved, and Batchelor was penalised for off-side. Thomas and Byrne carried play to the home 25. where a knock-on resulted. Brownlie carried away, but a weak pass by Kirwan broke the attack. A line out near the half ensued, and the ball went out to Grenside, who was run out near the corner after a great run. Kingston at half was getting the ball away nicely. Bay then got a penalty for obstruction *bv one of the forwards. and O’Donoghue was unsuccessful with the kick. Daly kept the game in Gold half with a pretty mark, but Batchelor spoilt the position with an off-side round the ensuing scrum. The forwards were playing a splendid game, while the tackling was perfect. They kept on the visitors’ half, a further penalty for obstruction being given. Another try for goal by O’Donoghue was unsuccessful. An obstruction by Bay saw the game change over, and Gold made a try for

the line, but a kick through was forced by Yates. The game went over to half again and out to Grenside in an attack by the backs. Grenside centred, and Jones fumbled the ball. Batchelor following through knocked the ball from his hands and scored. O’Donoghue converted. Bay 5 Gold 0 The ball was then lined on Bay 25, but this was carried away, and went out to Grenside again. Grenside and Blakp had an inter-passing bout down the line, and Grenside scored, O’Donoghue narrowly missed the goal. Bay 8 Gold > 0 McGregor got off-side on the hall. Macken tried for goal from over the half, but missed. A forward then opened up on the home 25, and the ball went to Barclay, who was tackled on the 25. The game became tre- . mendously exciting. Kirwan, with a run through the team got to the posts before he was grounded, and Hobson kicked away. Yates beat him for the ball, and the game came back over the half from the Bay end. Most of the Bay backs handled the ball in fast, loose work. A hard fight on the 25 ensued, Go|ld defending splUendidly. The backs opened out again, but were . smothered. O’Donoghue dropped the ball behind him and Grenside on his wing side of the ground gathered, and streaking round with little opposi- , tion scored in the corner. Yates made a poor attempt at goal. . ll Gold 0 ( Play stayed on the half for a minute or two, then went up from long kicking and following up by the Country. Byrne was shining in the backs, and opened up one or two back movements which ended on the line out. Bay forwards were keeping the game smothered and opening out to the backs, the result being the almost continuous ati tack by Bay. Maata had to go off with an injured knee at this stage, and was replaced by Young. Gold for- ; wards then broke away, to be stopped by a fine piece of play by Kingston, who opened up through the forwards, but Grenside passed out. Play returned in close play to the half. Barclay centred and McGregor made a fine take, and transferred to O’Donoghue, who scored under the posts. Yates converted. Bay 16 Gold 0 Kirwin set through from near the half, and kicked through. Byrne forced. The attack was maintained, Gemmell and Kirkpatrick taking it up near the line. A line-out resulted, and the forwards got into it. A pass back was given, and, Grenside securing in field, rushed through and scored. Yates converted. Bay 21 Gold 0 Gold forwards rushed the line again, but Kingston relieved near the posts, and the game opened out to some more brilliant back play in centre field. Byrne kicked through and Yates missed the ball, but was in time to smother it. Gold kept the ball down, however,, Kingston and Yates playing prominently in defence, the relief being completed by Brownlie, who, however, had daylight let into his trousers, much to the amusement of the crowd, especially as the new pair were somewhat tight. Play resumed in mid-field, where Kingston again secured and opened to Kirwin, who broke through the defence, and passed to O’Donoghue, who got over on the outside and grounded under the 1 posts, being winded in the tackle, which followed. Yates converted and the half-time score was: Bay 26 Gold 0 SECOND HALF. On the change over. Bay got the advantage of a fair breeze. Gold went up from the kick off, but Grenside relieved. Byrne marked, but the play from his kick saw the ball go into dead ground. Kirwin secured from the kick off and landed the ball near the corner. Jones managed to make a nice save, and'Barelay secured, but his kick was smothered. The Gold forwards carried it over the half, where Kirkpatrick secured in a line-out, but a knock-on stopped progress. Kirwin and O’Donoghue shifted the game back to the Gold 25 where Batchelor offsided. The penalty gained gold some ground, and the Bay backs got going again, the ball going out to Barclay, who was too well marked and forced out. Play returned to the half, several knock Ous and off-side penalties eventuating. Bay forwards continued to open out to the backs, and Gemmell and Kirwin rushed it up to the Gold line again. Scarrow then gave an offside, and O’Donoghue kicked a. magnificent goal from nearer the half than the 25. Bay' 29 Gold 0 Gold forwards moved up. Clarke being prominent. They got down to the corner, where Kingston saved by kicking into touch. Bay backs got the game away over the half. Thomas secured and passed, but Blake tipped it, and the movement stopped to contiue to the home 25, then back to the visitors’ 25, where Kirwin secured and passed in field to Batchelor instead ot to an open wing. A scrum under the posts ensued, and Irvine was ordered off by the referee. Gold carried away, and the play opened out to a magnificent forward rush, ending in a lineout on the corner. Bay backs had the ball with a splendid opportunity, when Kirwin stopped as though he thought the whistle had gone. Ke then passed, but Thomas intercepted, and the play went away to the half. A moment later Byrne got a chance to try for a potted goal, but he missed the ppsts by a couple of feet. Gold kept up the attack. The wind had practically ceased. Gold backs got going on a few occasions, but they lacked finish. Bay obviously slowed up. Kingston then secured and moved up. Bay backs got going, and Kirwin secured, and running round scored under the posts. Yates converted. Bay 34 Gold 0 King Country opened up and Thomas broke through. He threw a high pass to Burton, who knocked on. The gam© stayed in front of the goal, when the ball was kicked for a goal from the field. This missed. Grenside brought the ball back without forcing, and threw it into the field, when a Bay player took it. A penalty was given for off-side, and Macken goaled. Gold 3 Bay 34 Gold continued the attack, and Byrne secured to Thomas, who gathered well and scored under the posts. Macken converted. Gold 8 Bay 34 Bay set up another attack and kept the ball away from their end. Grenside carried about three men men over the line and then lost the ball and a score. A minute or two later Daly, who had played a consistently good game, secured and scored in the corner. O’Donoghue failed with the kick. Bav 37 Gold 8 Bay ressumed the attack. Kirwin kicked through. A back was smothered on taking a high bounce, and Batchelor secured and dived over the line. Yates coinverted and time sound, ed.

Bay 42. Gold 8 Mr. W. O’Neill refereed in his usual efficient style. TE AUTE v. HIGH SCHOOL. This proved a splendid match as expected. High School were not at the start playing their usual game and were disorganised in the backs, largely through South, who never went up to tackle and varied his position from full-back to wing threequarter. To Aute, with the wind in their favour opened the score after some loose play on the line. Ruru dived over but lliaia was unable to convert. School then attacked and the forwards got through a line out. Russell scored and M. Beauth kicked a fine goal. Te Aute moved up and an offside gave Chesney a chance at a goal, which he negotiated. School’s next score was from a fine piece of work started by Potaka in his own 25 and passing through August, M. Beu th and Bennett, the latter scoring. M. Beuth again goaled. Half-time sounded with the score School 10, Te Aute 6. School had opened up considerably, and their forwards upset Te Aute, who were playing a fine game, but were not passing or accepting well in the backs. School again scored within a few minutes of the change over. Potaka opened to Beuth, who let it to M. Beuth on the corner and he got over. M. Beuth was unable to convert. Potaka, as usual a shining light, again secured on the half, and kicked through. Anaru lost the ball and Potaka going, through scored under the posts. Williams got the post with his kick. Subsequent play was open and exciting, passing and tackling being first class. Nice back passing saw Williams over in the corner. A good kick missed. School 19, Te Aute 6. L. Thompson got the next try a runaway one down the line. Following this Te Aute got over after a period on the home 25. Ruru got over under the posts with a a fine run. Ihaia converted. Te Aute kept going and another fine score was obtained. The kick failed. The score of a game well worth seeing finished School 22, Te Aute 14. Mr. E. Berry refereed. TE AUTE TRIP OFF. Auckland has now advised that they cannot arrange the game in Auckland ’’between Te Aute and Grammar School next Saturday, and the trip, which was arranged as the result of an invitation from Auckland has been cancelled. 6EVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT. H. 5.0.8. A ANNEX WILLS CUP. (Waipawa correspondent). A large number of spectators were present on the Empire Grounds on Saturday afternoon to witness the various games, for the cup presented by Mr. T. W. Wills to be played for by local teams. The following are the results:— First Round. H. 5.0.8. B (3* v. Waipawa A (nil). A very even game. D. Alexander scored for the Old Boys. Pohukura B (3) v. Ex-High School (nil) Wai Hunter scored for Pohukura. H. 5.0.8. (27) v. Pohukura A (3). The Old Boys had a runaway win, six of the team scoring tries Waipawa B a bye. Second Round. Pohukura B (10) v. Waipawa B (nil). H. Hutana and Ellington scored tries for Pohukura and H. Hutana and T. Meha converted one each. H. 5.0.8. A (14) v. H. 5.0.8. B (4). McLean, 0. Rathbone (2) and Anstis scored and Rathbone converted one for the A’s and R. Coe potted a goal for the B’s. Final. High School Old Boys A, 17 (E. McLean, W. Bloor, E. Dunn, L. Anstis captain, W. Thorne, C. Rathbone. J. Hobin). Pohukura B, 4 (H. Hutana, W. Hunter captain. W. Tawhia. T. Melia, W. Ellington, P. Logan, P. Tawhia). This was an uninteresting contest, the Old Boys’ combination proving too good for Pohukura. winning by 17 to 4. L. Anstis, J. Hobin. C. Rathbone, W. Bloor and E. McLean scored tries and C. Rathbone converted one for the Old Boys and P, Logan potted a goal for the Pohukura team. Mr. E. J. Maher and A. Collett controlled the games very satisfactorily. UNIVERSITY TEST. SYDNEY 22—N.Z. 19. Wellington, Sept. 17. The final test match between tho Sydney and New Zealand Universities was played at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon before an attendance of 9000, including His Excellency the Governor-General and suite. The' firs 4 half of the game was keenly contested. New Zealand having the advantage of a fairly strong southerly wind, but the standard of play was nothing to get excited about. In the second spell the venue of play changed with startling suddenness from one end of the field to the other, the interchanges being brilliant and varied. The ,finish was a dramatic final, the Sydney score being obtained just as the bell rang no side. The spectators were delighted with the open character of the play in the second half, it just failing to reach the ideal of Rugby because of mistakes made by players both in taking and passing the ball in combi ued rushes The final scores were—Sydney 22, New Zealand 19. N.Z. PROVINCIAL REPS. WELLINGTON 25— CANTERBURY 9. Christchurch, Sept. 16. The local season for representative fixtures came to a glorious conclusion when Canterbury met and succumbed to a weak Wellington fifteen to the tune of 25 points to 9. On performances Canterbury must be reckoned the poorest provincial team in the South Island this year. A crowd of abut 700 witnessed the match and for the greater part of the time were ironically sarcastic. OTAGO 14—SOUTHLAND 0. Dunedin, Sept. 16. The football season was practically brought to a close in Deundin to-day, when Southland and Otago met on the Carisbrook ground in the last interprovincial match of the present year. The attendance numbered about 12,000 persons. The display of football was not of a particularly high order. At half time the score was 3 to nil and the final score was 14 to 0 in favour of Otago, which has won eight interprovincial matches played this season. SHIELD MATCH: NELSON 13— WEST COAST 6. I Nelson, Sept. 16. Nelson defeated West Coast in a Seddon Shield match this afternoon by 13 to 6 in glorious weather before an attendance of about 4000. At half ‘time Coast led by three to nil, but in the second half the Nelson forwards ran all over their opponents.