Champions Undefeated

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XV, Issue 135, 7 September 1925, Page 3

Champions Undefeated

Glorious Victory for Hawke’s Bay

Wellington Fails to Stand Up to Forwards

Twenty-Three Thousand Spectators Electrified

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH

Before an attendance estirrated at about 23.000, Hawke's Bay defeated Wellington at Athletic Park, Wellington, on Saturday in a Ranfurly Shield match by 20 points to 11. The interest taken in the meeting of these two teams was unprecedented, and long before the time of commencing the terraced hill s’de and uncovered stands were packed by enthusiasts from all over the North Island ; and, indeed, there were many who from the South to see the great struggle. When the referee's whistle went at 3 o’clock sharp every part of the vast space was taken up, and many were unable to get in. The early morning broke fine, but at a little after 10 o'clock the rain came down in torrents and the prospects were decidedly black. However, at 11.30 the heavy clouds rolled away and the sun shone out beautifully. A light wind and a strong sun helped to dry up the ground considerably, but there were a few pools of water about when the teams lined out. Reviewing the game as a whole. Hawke’s Bay would have been unlucky to lose, for they certainly had the best of things all through. Wellington lacked the combination that the Bay team possessed, and they were not quick enough in following uo the ball. When Wellington assumed the lead after half-time there were a few who thought that the Bay would not be able to score the necessary points to win in the time, but their doubts were soon set at rest, for it was merely the signal for the Bay boys to “get to it”, and the way they overwhelmed the opposition was an eye-opener to everybody. That a team could keep such a reserve of energy after such a fast hour's play was a revelation. The game was fast and exciting throughout, and was probably the best exhibition of Rugby football ever seen on Athletic Park.

1) IS I ING UISH ED SPECTATCIRS. The Prine Minnister, the Hon. J. G. Coutos, and Mrs. Coates, and suite arrived about ten minutes before the start, and were accorded an enthusiastic reception. and immediately after them came His Excellency the Gover-nor-General. Sir Charles Fergusson, and Lady Alice Eergusson, and suite, who were also received with cheering and clapping, Mr. .1, A. Fraser, president of the Hastings Sub-union, accompanying them to the Vice-Regal stand. THE TEAMS. Porter led the Wellington men out first, and this was the signal for a [tremendous outburst of cheering, and when Maurice Brownlie appeared heading the Hawke’s Bay team there was a deafening outburst, which was kept up till after the kick-off. The men of the two teams were as follows: Hawke’s Bay (Black and White). — Full-back, G. Nepia; threequarters, B. Grenside. J. Blake. A. Falwasser; fiive-eighths. T. Corkill, L. Paewai; half, J. Mill; back row, S. Gemmell, .1. Ormond; lock. M. Mahoney; sides, M. Brownlie, C. Brownlie: hookers, W. Irvine. A. Kirkpatrick; wing forward, J. Walker. Wellington (Black, yellow mono-gram).—Full-back, Walters; threequarters. Bedell, Svenson, Hickey; five-eighths. Johnston, M. Nicholls; half. Warwick; hookers, Osborne. S. Shearer; middle row. Sily, MartinSmith. J. Shearer: back row, Crotly, Young: wing-forward. Porter. The referee was Mr. C. Atkinson, of Wanganui. COIN FAVOURS HAWKE’S BAY. Wellington faced a strong sun and a light breeze, but the wind was not a very great disadvantage, as it was continually changing round. Corkill started off by playing half and Mill second five-eighth, hut after a couple of minutes’ play Mill took his usual place. Nicholls set the game in motion and Paewai scut the ball back to go out. From the throw in Warwick sent the ball away to the backs, but the Bay forwards were on top of Porter. His pass was a bad one. Wellington was penalised for offside play, and Nepia’s kick went out well down. The Bay were immediately also penalised. Nicholls’s kick went to the half-way line, where Grenside mulled and he went for a skate in the mud. The Bay backs got going, but Mill sent a wild pass to Blake and the movement broke down. Mahoney was conspicuous in a Bay forward attack, which gained a little ground. Walters was lucky in getting his kick in as the Bay forwards pounced on him. Neither side had any advantage.

MAHONEY GETS A BAD KICK. In the ensuing play Mahoney went to the ground in a forward rush and sustained a nasty kick on the head, and he had to be carried off, Swain taking his place. Sly got the ball from a throw in, and a few yards was the gain. An exchange of kicks took place, with advantage to the Bay. Play was now in midfield, and Martin-Smith led a forward Wellington onslaught and the hall went to the backs, but the passing was erratic. in the next minute Wellington’s supporters had cause io be elated, for Porter and Svenson led a strong attack to the Bay line, where Grenside was compelled to force. A scrum took place on the line, and the unexpected happened. FALWASSER’S SENSATIONAL TRY Mill got the ball and ran round the scrum and was away oelore the oposimjuou nad realised wnai Had happened. jyC passed to rainasser near wio Zu line m the Bay territory, and the latter made one oi lus iigutning bireaxs. coining to Walters ho siiorikickccL over the latter s head, and puiLuig an extra ounce in got me ban irom lue uumiue and was cicui” away io score a inaguiiiceut try aoout halt way out. ft was a brnnaiiL eiiort and i’aiwasser wed deserved the sustained applause that was his. Irvine missed with the Kick. .Hawke’s Bay 3 AVeliington 0 Hawke’s Bay was back to "Wellington s 20, witn v\ alKer doing good worn. W ciLiugton was pcnaiiseu, nut me position was wvil out anti -Sepia s kick ion snort. UaiKur led anomer ui.aiun and was wen suppo.tel by LurKiil. >\ E.V>oN MARKS. I ho ball went out, and Svenson, irum the throw ni, Kiened througn. Diaiio Luis-KicKed in iruut of the gotu ana ;a\ciison ma med and put the nan Hawke's Bay .. W elhngLon 3 Falwasser fielded the Kick from the 20, the ball having gone behind the line m the nisi place, but there was a wciiiiigton man m trout and a penalty kick came to the Bay. Svenson sent me ball back to near hali-wuj. Hum me throw in Porter broke awaj but Nepia saved. Gemmell led a forward anack, but the back passing was bad. Uiisicie play gave the Bay a penalty, but Grenside was unsuccesslul. Nicholls returned with a Kick to near the half-way nag. C. Brownlie Knocked the ball I,'ack to .Mill, who sent it on to Paewai. who kicked and Bedell marked. falwasser caught it on the full, and was pushed out. Wellington wa awarded another penalty. Nepia mulled, and piny come across the ii< Id to the stand ■_id.-. Warwick . eci.tr < d from the throw in, but little ground lined !' ‘ 1 ■ ■ ■

away, and things were looking decidedly unpleasant for Wellington. Napia helped things along, ami Corkill. Blake and Fahvasser’s passing rush was stopped bv Svenson. A scrum followed on Wellington’s line, hut relief cimo through Swain being penalised. Play hovered near Wellington’s 25 on the stand side, and from a throw in M. Brownlie sent the ball back to Paewai and out to Falwasser. a knock-on spoiling a nice effort. The Bay was opening up the game better and Wellington was busily defending. T’he ball came out to Grenside from the scrum, but Svenson, who was playing a good game, collared him well, and relieved with a lino kick. CORKILL SCORES UNDER THE POSTS. From the throw in the ball went in a brilliant passing rush through the hands of Corkill. Blake and L’alwasser, and back to Corkill, who scored beneath the cross bars. An easy one was missed by Grenside. Hawke’s Bay (i "Wellington 3 Gemmell followed up fast, the return kick, which Walters failed to take, and with the forwards hot on the trail the ball went to touch in goal. The Bay forwards were pressing hard all the time, and Svenson marked in midfield. Play went across and back again, and Blake, who was patchy, missed a good chance. Hickev dashed along the line, and kicked, and Swain then sent the hall to Walker. For obstruction Nicholls sent a penalty kick well down. Wellington kept up the pressure, and Hickey was pushed over at the corner flag—a near thing for the Bay. NICHOLLS’S GREAT KICK. From the line-out the Bay was penalised and Nicholls made no mistake with a long kick, thus evening up the scores, amidst tremendous excitement. Hawke’s Bay 6 Wellington G Play was of an even nature and there was a lot of kicking. Bedell shot along the line, but Falwasser made sure of him. Blake put in a great kick to Wellington’s 25. Nepia made a run up and passed to Paewai, to Grenside and in to Ormond, but an infringement spoilt a promising movement. Near the line Falwasser tried an unsuccessful drop-kick. The i ay was pressing hard when Walters relieved with a mark. Half-time was then called. Hawke’s Bay G Wellington G

CHALLENGERS’ FORWARD RUSH. 'Hie second half promised to see a battle royal, and what u battle it was! Blake’s kick went to Nicholls, who scut the ball back to half-way. From the throw in Svenson handled, but he could not get the ball away. Porter, w ho was always in the leading division, started a dribbling rush, which the Bay was unable to stop, and the ball went out quite close to the shieldholders’ line. The Bay got the ball consistently firom the linc-out.s, and Mill was always ready for it. Paewai kicked along the ground and Irvine followed up. Paewai was quick in taking a mark, and the hail went out at haif-way. SWAIN PUTS THE BAY AHEAD. Hie Bay lorwarus, led by Swain, mvaueq eiiingum s lerniutj, but V» iiiiurs reneveu. iviul was giving uie bacKs plenty oi opportunit-wa-, uml n was itoin one ol ms openings mat owain gob over, tic sent me bacKs away and waiters miuieu a Kick and b»vam ioiioweu up last and ran across in a iiunuy pusinon, but me KicKiug was baa, anu irviuc lulled to aua me major points. Hawke’s Bay 9 Wellington G The pace was a cracker and the Bay lorwarus were piaymg a. great game. h eliHigtuii was siiuitnug np to n wen. and me Bay could not imiiier pierce me Ueience. Gemmed led a rusii, ana a penalty was given against .Mieurei. inc x>ay was m Wellington > tweniynvc, ana JL'aiiwTsser was uniuc-Ky m tue curlier, being Kept up. m. wrow nue seuuieu, but ne was luo laic, rmwassci uciiig uut when lie let me bail go. i; \Hie was wuiKing hard anti almost got mruugii wuii i>.e had ai lue. vui...il biui.c aw.;j anti j_>t'ucd look His kick, bub lb was misjutigeu ano ne liau to gu Duck. Wellington was compelled across. .1 luv wcnv oauKwaius aua iuiwiiid, ana Iruin one siue to tne oilier at a nub pace. I'iuiu a tnrow in xauwai sent ilio call out l.u idaiie, io x'alwasser, bub m<: latter was luo tar lurwaid. .\cpia tooiv. me bail uii me mil and came right up, getting a nice kick in, me ban going out at Wellington's iwemy-nve. Wemiigton was compelled to lurue. latwasscr mucto one oi ms ciidiacterisuc tluugv runs, ana tuuK piay again to the iront oi Weiuiigtun s goal. HARD LUCK FOR - KIRK. ‘ From a scrum break up Kirkpatrick broKe awa.v, bub he was canon uacK. •'.ixirK ’ mougiit he had an easy one. TWO CAS FA LT 11->. The Bay Lack-- wore handling with more accuracy and they opened up "in-' brilliant passing movements, bin The dpfencc was holding well Walters got hurt .nd Tiiyard replaced him

Paewai was also hurt, and Barclay re lieved him.

WELLINGTON IN T HE LEAD. AVeliington now made matters warm and had Hawke’s Bay thinking. Nicholls broke away and kicked over Nepia’s head but Blake saw what might happen and ran behind Nepia and got the ball before Porter could reach it. but he was not able to turn the tables, and the ball wont out. Nicholls got the from the throw’ in and let Svenson have it. who was too quick for Blake and Falwasser and scored between the posts. Nicholls easily converted. AVeliington 11 Hawke’s Bay 9 EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT. The placimr of Wellington in the lead fired the supporters of the city representatives to renewed activity, and cheering and roaring was awful. The 2000 Hawke’s Bay supporters also bad their say and they kept up a continual roar. The reverse acted like a ionic to the Hawke’s Bay players, the forwards especially, and they came to the attack like a cavalry charge. Tilyard kicking out to save his side. There was hard play on both sides. Nepia missed a penalty kick from well put on the twenty-five line. Bay continued tho pressure, but Tilvard relieved with a long kick, which Nepia neatly took on the full, and making a short run kicked again to Tilynrd, who mulled, and Nepia was up on him. THE BAY’ IN THE LEAD AGAIN. Tilyard made a bad cross kick to C. Brownlie, who shot the ball out to Walker. The latter put in a great run, then in-passed to Gemmell, who ran across near the posts. Irvine this time made no mistake with the kick. Hawke’s Bay II AVeliington U DEMORALISING PACE. The pace of the Hawke’s Bay forwards simply astounded the spectators. Thor demoralised the opposition forwards, and it could be seen that it was only a matter of a minute or two when another score would he registered. Blake marked from a high kick of Nicholls's in front of the goal, but the kick was no good. Irvine was nearly over. SWAIN OVER AGAIN. The forwards kept up their hammering and at last Swain fell across with two Wellington men with him. but the referee was on the spot and awarded a try. Invine missed with the kick. Hawke’s Bay 17 Wellington 11 THE FINAL STAGES. The crowd, who could see that onlv a miracle could save Wellington, as there was only a few minutes to go. began to move. The Bay never let for a moment, ami were goinu faster than ever, mowing down the AVollington Upwards like a machine, and keeping the ball to themselves. Kirkpatrick, ('. Brownlie a”d Ormond were doing great work and <he otlu'rs were doing rdm«>st as well. Porter. Svenson and Nicholls were the outstanding players on the other side, and they did yoenian service. (Brownlie broke away with three AVeliington men bunging on to him. Warwick stopped the rush, and Wellington was awarded the only free kick of the spell. ANOTHER SCORE ON TIME. Irvine looked like scoring, but made a bad pass near the line. Nepia brought the ball back by a great auu up, and from a lino out M. Brownlie forced his way over the line, (ironside’s kick fell short. Hawke’s Bay 20 Wellington 11 The final whistle was then sounded, ending one of the greatest Rugby expositions ever seen on Athletic Park.