To-Days Shield Match

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 209, 21 August 1926, Page 5

To-Days Shield Match

Auckland v. Hawke’s Bay EIGHTIETH MATCH FOR TROFHY 4—* BIG ATTENDANCE AT McLEAN PARK, Glorious weather prevailed m Napier to-day for the Auckland* Hawke’s Hay Ranturly Shield match. From an early hour this morniag Napier again presented a carnivalappearance, large crowds parading tbe streets awaiting the time tn move off to McLean Park to witnees the clash. The grounds were in excellent order, this being largely due to tbe fine work put in by the Napier Borough Council employees during the week. The members of the Rugby Union had given the accommodation careful consideration and the arrangements were well in hand to handie the large attendance. Through the kindness the CSiW Postmaster. Mr. C. A. Mathieson, • telegraph office was again stationed on the ground, when four operators were kept going at top speed transmitting press reports end telegrams One wire worked direct to Auckland and another to Wellington. Tna pressmen greatly appreciated the arrangements and are indebted to Mr. Mathieson. The business done last Saturday by the office is believed to have constituted a record lor the Dominion. About noon the crowd began to move towards McLean Park, the cars being directed to the various streets which had been allotted as parking places. A splendid system of dealing with the great volume of motor trafno was arranged by the police, andl * large force was stationed at the various intersections to enable the cars to be disposed of in a smooth and efficient manner. Despite last Saturday’s record attendance and the great runaway victory, the lure of Rugby was almost as great to-day. and. by 1.15 p.m., there was an attendance of ateut 6000 With long queues filing in af> the various gates. Both teams were accorded an enthusiastic ovation as they took the field. Auckland won the toss and defended the eastern goal. In the Bay team Jensen replaced Paewai a* wing-threequarter. AT 2.46. Hawke's Bay 6 Auckland .. 3 Shortly after play started Freeman dropped a nice penalty. Two minutes later Nepia evened the score, doing likewise. Within a tew minutes he again repeated the dose with a magnificent kick, ROSS SHIELD MATCH. TR Napier (5) v. Hastings (nil). At halt-time Napier lea by 5 point* to ml. The second spell saw th* wind in Hasting*’ favour, but Napi*r had the best ot the game and it ended in Napier’s favour with the scor*s unchanged. Mr U. McLean refereed. NAPIER v. HASTINGS JUNIORS. Napier showed better combination and led at half-time by 9 points to nil. tn the second spell a good game followed but Napier maintained their ■ lead and the game ended 15 points to 6 in their favour. Mr. L. Henry refereed.