RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 137, 24 May 1928, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

TRIAL GAME FOR REPS.

HASTINGS-NAPIER TEAM WINS. WAIROA DEFEATED lfi-9. The first representative Rugby match of the season was played at Napier yesterday. The fixture was a trial game for the selection of the provincial team, and there w-as a large gathering of fans. The Wairoa Sub-Union fifteen met a combined Hastings-Napier team and were defeated 16—9 The match was a ragged one and there was very little play of a spectacular nature. The ball was set in motion by the Combines (black and white) who quickly went to the attack. A promising rush was stopped bv Ebbett and Dennis working play to the quarterway For five minutes the nlay hung between the Wairoa (green) quarterwav and midway. The ivhites were hooking the ball all the time and giving thei r backs plenty of work but the defence held. South kicked high and the forwards crowded round the visiting full-back, Jimmy Scott who was beaten for the ball, but a knock-on near the line relieved the tension for the Greens. The Combines essayed a blind-side sortie and failed but in the melee the visitors were penalised. Yates just missed three points by a foot The drop-kick was ruled a scrum and Burney was penalised for not putting tlie ball in properly. Layton took the kick and for the first time in twelve minutes’ play, the visitors gained a territorial advantage. From the line-out the ball came into the possession of the Green backs and Lawton kicked to Darbv. who was tackled bv Bennett. Following up fast was Corkill who carried on the attack by giving the forwards the ball. In'the scramble xlennett took a snappy mark in front of the nosts His drop-kick at goa] was a dismal one. A minute later Jimmy Smith nearly landed a great “pot ” The superiority of the home hookers enabled the Combines to near to mid-field. Then it was that the fans saw the Wairoa backs go iiffn action for the first time, but the effort was spoilt bv Sam Smith mulling his pass. For a time the Greens held an advantage but they were not dangerous. Jimmy Smith took a futile kick at goal and the ball was returned to Sam Smith who made a nice opening to send Scott flying across. Corkill failed to increase Wairoa’s lead. COMBINES IN FRONT. Following up the kick-out Bother, way gained possession and “dummied” his way through the backs, hut his pass was smothered. The Combine forwards attacked strongly and had the visitors fighting hard on the defence. After a respite while Williams received first-aid the home backs went into action but Russell mulled hi s Pass. However, in the melee the ball rolled out and Russell gathered it up to bullock his way across with a couple of Greens hanging on to him. With a good kick Yates placed Hastings-Napier in front after thirty minutes’ play. For a time the Combines continued to attack but they were forced to retire. Then the visitors took a hand at the offensive Ebbett. Sam Gemmell and J. Scott, in a combined effort were robbed of a score by Darby bringing nff a prettv save. He wa s called up to do the stunt again when Ebbett led another forward rush. The spell ended with Jimmy Smith taking a fruitless kick at goal. THE SECOND SPELL. Afte r the “lemons” the Combines set out to increase their five to three majority. Following a. scrum Huxtable broke away but he was well grassed by Bennett. However, the forwards carried on the movement and had Wairoa hemmed in on the corner. A poor passing bout by South and Co. left play in the opposite corner. After the scramble the home backs went into action again and South sent Huxtable flying to the line but the winger was brought down by a lucky tackle bv Scott. Tlie forwards played stacks-on-the-mill with Huxtable as fodder. From the ensuing scrum Cooke whipped the ball out to his backs and it went through the line to Russell who crossed near the corner. Yates failed to convert. COMBINES INCREASE LEAD. The ensuing play was centred between the quarterways. There was a succession of free-kicks followed byforward scrambles then the visitors commenced to throw the ball about A great passing bout in which the l>all was handled nine times ended in South saving with a quick placement to the twenty-five flag. After this the Whites took thei r turn at the

attack. A blind-side sortie by Cooke and Huxtable failed then Campbell, Durney and Steero almost dribbled their way across, but play was stopped at the corner. From a scrum Steero broke away and put in a short run before sending Durney across to score behind the bar. Yates had an easy kick at goal and made the score 13—3. WAIROA SCORES. After this reverse Wairoa settled down on the attack. The forwards, led by Sam Gemmell and Ormond, were almost over when Durney made a hasty save. From the resulting line-out Bennett took the throw-in while on the run and forced himself across for a tricky try. The kick was disallowed for handling on the ground. Two minutes later the Whites were on the attack and Yates kicked a splendid goal from a penalty. Keeping up the attack the Whites made desperate efforts to pierce the defence. Three scrums on the line followed bv two line-outs ended in the Greens forcing. Yates and Gemmell put in solo efforts a few minutes later but were grassed, then Mercer placed Wairoa on the attack. Darby was called upon to do some quick saving. Bennett. Sam Smith and Corkill made a passing bout but all w-ere tackled.and Russell had to force to stop the Wairoa forwards. A few minutes later Wairoa elected to take a scrum on the home quarterway instead of a free-kick. The ball came out to Bennett who, while held by South, transferred infield t 0 Scott who sent Corkill over thq line Jimmy Smith missed rhe kick. With hut fi ve minutes to go the Wairoa forwards gave a dashing display and the Combines had a trying time keeping them at bav until time was called with the score reading: Hastings-Napier 16 Wairoa 9 Mr. IV. O’Neill refereed. N.S.W. TOUR ARRANGEMENTS. Wellington. May 23. Some alteration 8 have been made in the itinerary of th e New South Wales team. The match at Dunedin on September 8 will be the second test, and that at Christchurch, on September 15. which wa s the second test, will now he the third test.