Hawke’s Bay Go Under To Auckland

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 193, 30 July 1932, Page 5 (Supplement)

Hawke’s Bay Go Under To Auckland

Rep. Rugby Match at Hastings

Not a Spectacular Game

• Visitors’ Backs Show Good Form

Faulty Handling by the Bay

The Bay won the toss, and Auckland kicked off facing the sun, the ex-AU jßlack, Berridge, kicking to Lambie, foho found the line near half-way. The Jine-out developed into a scrum, in .Which the ball was not put in properly jmd another scrum was ordered. The tall then went through the Auckland tacks, but they lost territory. Pearsen [was pushed into touch, and in the jthrow-in Auckland were penalised and JReaney centred to Comthwaite down field, who returned to Smith, the Bay pinger knocking on. BLIND-SIDE ATTACK. Carter worked a nice blind-side attack, but the Bay forwards, breaking quickly, took play to the visitors’ goalline. Here a free kick was given to the visitors, and had the Bayites been looking they might have brought off p, score from this kick. The Auckland van, in a swift piece of dribbling, took play to quarter way.

In the presence of about 4000 spectators on Nelson Park, Hastings, this afternoon, the Auckland Rugby representatives secured a well-deserved win over the Hawke’s Bay fifteen by 10 points to 8. Ideal weather conditions prevailed, though the ground was in heavy condition. From the commencement of play it could be seen that the visiting backs were going to be a source of danger, and throughout the game • were a thorn in the home side. The Bay forwards, however,proved to be better than their opponents. In the second spell particularly the Bay had a territorial advantage, but the game in general was not of a spectacular nature. Scrums were frequently marred by unnecessary hard play. Early in the second spell Drake was obliged to retire, and observing the no replacement role, Auckland played the remainder of the game with fourteen men. In the closing stages, Carter, through injury, was more or less a passenger, prior the which he played a heady game, being frequently the pivot of attack.

With the exception of Walter Wilson, whose long experience proved invaluable, the Bay were practically a young side and performed creditably against such seasoned players as Finlayson, Hadley, Berridge and Heazlewood. Smith, the Bay winger, was most impressive with his powerful running, but he was not given a liberal share of the ball.

Prior to the big game the Hastings Citizens’ Band delighted the spectators with a quickstep march around the arena, and during the interval they played a popular overturn. After the teams lined up on the field the band played the National Anthem, and cheers were given for the players as they took up their position on the playing area. The teams were:—

The first five minutes of play had favoured the Bay, though possession of the ball had been more with Auckland than the hc»ne side. However, the determined tackling of the Bayites distressed the opposing backs, who failed to make territory. A feature of the Aucklanders' play was their readiness to indulge in passing bouts when on defence. Drake did much to raise a prolonged seige, his dribbling rush being an excellent one. Breaking away smartly from the ,throw-in Satherley ran to half way before kicking, but Drummond was quick to return play to the home territory. AUCKLAND’S FIRST SCORE. From a loose scrum the ball went out to Comthwaite, who made a good opening to allow Milliken to run in unopposed to score near the posts, Heazlewood converting. Auckland 6 Hawke’s Bay ....... .. 0

Play remained in midfield until ths visitors were penalised. A scrum infringement accounted for the Bay being penalised, and a good kick into touch moved play into the home territory. From the throw-in the Blue and White backs gained a few yards, but off-side play sent them back to midfield. A further infringement of the off-side rule took them back to their quarterway. The throw-in was in their favour, and the forwards moved down field at a great pace, a short punt being well cleared by Varton in the face of an opposing forward attack.

Seven minutes after the start Drake and Hadley had paved the way to the home quarter-way. Then the visitors opened nicely, Cornthwaite badly beating Bradley and Grant to send his winger, Milliken, over for a really pretty try. The Auckland backs were more enterprising than the Bay, the CarterJamieson • Berridge combination showing up prominently. Le Quesne was hanging on too long, endeavouring to break down the defence close to the scrum. He was starving his. three-quarter line. Again Auckland were caught offside, 1.,.: Bathercly failed to pilot the bah over the erosshar. Then a sensation followed. From u scrum Heazlewood kicked downfield and found the Bay backs all out of position. Finlayson

smartly gathered in the ball to race for the line without a man in front, but Grant was in hot pursuit, and thinking he would be tackled from behind, the Aucklander threw out a wild pass which Milliken was unable to collect and Ayres sent the leather into touch beyond the quarter-way and the spectators were able to breathe comfortably once more.

Heazlewood furnished the first real thrill when he brilliantly beat Rolls, Wilson and Reaney and started a passing rush after selling a couple of “dummies.” His effort deserved a try, for it occasioned the total collapse of the home defence. The home forwards, particularly Rolls and Satherley, were playing well in the loose and made several excellent breaks.

The teams are as follow:— AUCKLAND. Full-back: Heazlewood Three-quarters: Milliken Comthwaite Pearson F i ve-eighths: Berridge Jamieson Half-back: Carter Back row: Drake Middle row: Potter Kahu Wiklund Williams Front row: A. Finlayson Hadley Newdick (captain) HAWKE’S BAT. Full-back: Vartan. Three-quarters: C. Smith, Grant, Ayres. Five-eighths: Le Quesne, Bradley. Half-back: Lambie (captain) Back Row: C. Satherley. Middle Row: Rolls, Reaney, Wilson, Large Front Row: Ireland, Drummond, Flowers

Steadily working down field the Bay forwards received a liberal share of the ball until they were penalised and play returned to midfield, where a hard scrummage followed. BAY HOOK WELL. Hooking well the Bay forwards, led by Reauey, quickly reached the visitors’ quarter-way. Play see-sawed for a few moments to settle down in the Bay territory. A briliant kick by Varton found the side-line well down, and when the ball was thrown in the Yellow and Black forwards featured in their best attack to gain to the visitors’ quarter-way. Here the ball came out to Le Quesne, who made a splendid dash, being upset by a low tackle by Pearson, and Heazlewood cleared. A splendid cross-field kick by Smith again took play close to the visitors’ goal-line. Up to this stage the Magpie forwards had been in the ascendancy, their spirited dashes and fast persistent following up being the only counter to the enterprise of the

visiting backs, who were quick to move into action. Colin Le Quesne again made a nice opening but in keeping with his previous efforts it was futile as he was grassed whilst in possession. Still, the toiling work of Reaney and Co. kept the Bay on the attack, though it was gruelling work.

The Bay heeled from the scrum, but Bradley let the ball run through his hands and Berridge took play to the home territory. Then Comthwaite carried on and looked dangerous when he passed in-field, which, fortunately for the Bay, was intercepted by Le Quesne. In the series of line-outs which followed Walter Wilson was prominent. Eventually Rolls and Lambie broke away with the ball at their feet.

TROUBLE FOR VISITORS. Heazlewood was caught in possession and this was the beginning of trouble for the visitors. From a scrum near the corner Lambie bustled through and the forwards rallying round enabled Ireland to dive over, Grant equalising the scores with a great kick. Hawke’s Bay 5 Auckland 5 The Auckland backs were handexceptionally well, and Cornth waite put in a couple of brilliant breaks. He was fully testing the Dannevirkian’s defensive powers. The Bay’s first try was a spectacular affair, Lambie showing surprising speed to bustle the visiting custodian. The scores were even after thirty-two minutes’ play. From the drop-out the visitors launched an attack, which was upset by a wonderful kick into touch by I arton. Then Walter Wilson broke away, taking play over the visitors’ quarter-way. Reaney was unable to gather the pass and this enabled Auckland to rally. The Bay came back to the attack, and from a loose scrum Ayres endeavoured to leap through several opponents, but was halted by a heavy tackle.

. GRANT MISSES A SHOT. Play moved to midfield, when the visitors were penalised and Grant elected to have a shot at the goal, the ball falling a little short. Again the Bay swung into action, Grant running through to Heazlewood when he passed to Ayres, who had a clear run in if he had gathered the ball. The visitors made the most of this fumbling and lost no time in removing play to a position of safety. Following up a high ball they carried on to reach the home quarterway, where the ball rolled into touch as the spell ended with the scores reading— Hawke’s Bay ~. 5 Auckland 5 Hawke’s Bay were rejuvenated, the forwards and backs showing more cohesion. The handling had improved, and the attacks gener ally were more concerted. For the first time the Bay backs appeared dangerous. The crowd were accorded a rare treat when Heazle wood threaded his way through the home side to half-way. Ayres came into unfavourable promin-

ence when he failed to take Grant’s pass with a clear field ahead. All the same, Grant’s pass would have been better had it not been sent too far ahead of the winger. Territorially the Bay had had the best of the game up to the interval. Nevertheless the Auckland backs were most impressive, and ever dangerous. They surprised all with their praiseworthy tactics of launching attacking movements to clear them from dangerous positions.

THE SECOND HALF. When play resumed the sun was hidden by the clouds, which improved conditions for the Bay. From the dropout a scrum resulted, and when about to pick up the ball Large came through to kick it out of Carter’s hands. The Bay, in a hot assault, pressed to the visitors’ goai-mouth, Satherley making a desperate effiort to score. In a struggle which followed a force down was ruled, being the first occasion that such relief was resorted to. At this stage play was held up through Drake being injured following a scrum on the heme quarterway. A particularly hard scrummage followed, m which players were cautioned by the referee The ball was ordered to be put in again, from which the Bay took play across field, Milliken kicking into touch. From the line-out Lambie got the bail out to Grant, who almost broke through, but was grassed, and Le Quesne, coming round in support, kicked across to Milliken, who again kicked into touch. From the throw-in Flowers, Wilson, Reaney and Ireland carried on to halfway, Reaney again breaking away to take play over the visitors’ quarterway. A loose scrum enabled the Bay almost to reach the visitors’ goal-line, where they were penalised. Heazlewood failed to find the line and Varton returned the ball to the Auckland quarterway.

BUSTLING BAY FORWARDS. The Bay forwards now bustled their opponents, but two off-side breaches kept them from scoring. Thb attack, however, was not halted until Lambie was hurt. Drake also sustained injury and had to leave the field.

Wilson, Satherly and Beaney were in great form immediately after the interval. They were instrumental in causing Auckland to force for the first time in the game. The forwards of both sides set the pace, both in the open and in the thick. The home backs were handling poorly and this robbed them of any chances of scaring. On the other hand the Magpie forwards were full of dash, Reaney playing an inspiring game. He was ably supported by the Celtic representative, Wilson. Up to this stage the visiting packmen had been very even, no one shining to any extent.

A series of hard serums followed in the corner, being broken up when Car. ter, working the blind side, nicely raised the siege. The ball came across field to the side line where, from a mark, the visitors gained to midfield.' Carter secured from the throw-in and eluded the Bay rearguard to send Cornthwaite on. The latter, in a fine spectacular effort, carried play to the home quarter-way. The visitors lost possession of the ball, and this enabled Le Quesne to remove any impending danger and the Yellow and Blacks again were in their opponents’ territory. Auckland were penalised and Grant took the kick, which was a poor effort, and play was taken across field.

The match was being played in strict accordance with the edict of the English Bugby Union., The teams did not leave the field at the* interval, though hundreds of youngsters invaded the arena to gather round the teams, the Aucklanders having a busy time with autograph hunters. When Drake retired injured 18 minutes after the interval no replacement took place. A CLEVER MARK. The Bay forwards were again bustling their opponents when Carter took a clerver mark. The kick resulted in a melee at half-way, and Lambie worked his backs for Le Quesne to kick down-field, Smith being penalised for playing the man instead of the ball. A man in front nullified the free kick, and from a scrum Ireland secured to pass to Smith, who made a nice opening for Satherley to race over, but he failed to improve. Hawke’s Bay 8 Auckland 5

Play hovered in midfield until Lambie attempted to fina the side-line, being beaten by the ball bouncing infield for Milliken to dispose of it. quickly. A scrum followed, from which the Bay hooked, but the passing was faulty, and the Auckland forwards came through. Vartan made a clever save, kicking back to Milliken. Although bustled the latter got his pass out to Cornthwnite, who sent the ball out to his captain, who made a sen. national thrust through the Bay rearguard. A scrum followed near the quarter-way, and Carter, cutting in

nicely, worked through alone to score a great try near the posts, Heazlewood adding the extra points. Auckland 10 Hawke’s Bay , 8 The Bay's second try was a cleverone, Ireland and the Wairoa winger, Smith, showing enterprise when sorely pressed for room to move in. The try came twenty minutes after the interval. The visiting packmen were taking - a leaf out of the home forwards’ book and repeatedly made inroads into the home territory. Hadley and Finlayson were playing as though determined to compensate for the loss of Drake. It was the fine work of the visiting forwards that led to Auckland’s prompt reprisal try. Carter, coming into the limelight with a brilliantly tricky run and a meriorious dive as a crowning effort. Auckland went to the front for the second time after thirty minutes’ play in, the second spell.

A GRUELLING ATTACK. With this reverse the Bayites rushed play to the home twenty-five, where a gruelling attack followed. Unnecessary rough play was noticeable in a resulting scrum, and play was held up through Carter receiving .an injury, but he carried on, limping rather badly. A nice piece of combined play by the Bay backs saw the ball travel across field, but their opponents, playing well up, prevented any thrusting movement taking place. However, the Bay forwards worked down-field, and Smith, taking a pass, was almost over when he passed infield for Berridge to make a clever interception, which was a brilliant save for the visitors. Play moved to mid-field, where the visitors were award a free kick, which resulted in a scrum. Securing from a throw-in the visitors kicked well beyond Varton. who managed, to clear. The visitors kept up the attack, and the Bay were obliged to force-down. From the dropout most exciting play followed. The Bay backs opened a passing rush which was upset by Pearson intercepting with one hand, and he ran twenty yards before being grassed. The Bay forwards again rallied to sweep into their opponents’ territory, but were repulsed with remarkable swiftness. At this stage play was held up temporarily through Milleker sustaining a cut over his ear. The Bay again were dangerous when Heazlewood succeeded in forcing ahead of Lambie.

GRANT FAILS WITH KICK. Auckland were penalised following the drop-out for obstruction, and Grant took a shot at goal, the ball dropping under the cross-bar. The final whistle was blown immediately afterwards with the score reading:

Auckland 10 Hawke’s Bay 8 The forwards did not mince matters at this stage, both sets playing with plenty of vim, especially in the tight. A respite whilst Carter received flrst-ald treatment, must have been welcomed by all the heavyweights. The two full-backs were playing soundly, Heazlewood being called upon to display his wares more frequently than Varton. Smith’s effort down the side-line was a brilliant one, and roused the crowd to a great pitch of excitement. Berridge’s anticipation undoubtedly robbed the Bay side of a try. The Auckland forwards continued to show improved form, Weklund, Williams and Potter figuring prominently in harassing the Bay backs. The home forwards appeared to have wilted under the cotlnued # strain, for Auckland were now having the best of play territorially.

Unquestionably the better team won. Territorially Hawke’s Bay had the advantage, but Auckland were more enterprising and displayed more polish. Their backs played with great confidence, inspired to some extent by the soundness of Heazlewood at full-back, but more by reason of their accurate handling and initiative.

Mr. E. D. Berry, of Napier, ably controlled the game.