Bay Beats N. Hokianga in Uninspiring Game

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1948, Page 3

Bay Beats N. Hokianga in Uninspiring Game

HARDING SHIELD RUGBY

OHAEAWAI, Mon. (Sp.).—The Harding Shield remains in possession of the Bay of Islands after the fourth challenge match of the 1948 season.

North Hokianga, widely looked upon as the Middle and Far North’s most improved team, proud of its conquest of Mangonui in the Halliwell Cup game a week ago, went down to the Bay by 3 9—o, and the score should have been higher.

The bulk of the first spell was duller than any rep game seen in the Bay this season.

Owen Dunning and Stan Booth, the five-eighths, who played excellent attacking games were men of small stature on Saturday even though the game, as it turned out, was one in which their ability to handle and to penetrate might have been invaluable. With a clever fullback in W. Hawkins and a capable centre in J. Herbert, many such opportunities were ignored in favour of “safety” tactics.

HAD THEIR MEASURE It did not appear to be more than 10 minutes before the Bay had the measure of the challengers without extending themselves. Having done so, it appeared as if they thereupon did not bother to extend themselves.

J. B. Smith took the ball 40 yards upfield and found the line well inside Hokianga’s 25. Throughout the game, his sprints and line-kicking were a major reason why only 20 per cent of play was in the Bay’s 25. The other major factor was the work of the Bay forwards who worked solidly from start to finish without ever needing to be brilliant. They always seemed to ruck the ball or heave their opponents off It. It was much the same story in the lineouts, where Stan Young was a tower of strength. Tall Jack Smith, Bay last year but in Hokianga colours now, was far less spectacular in the lineouts , and the loose than had been expected.