RUGBY HONOURS EVEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18524, 8 October 1923, Page 9

RUGBY HONOURS EVEN.

" DEFEAT OF HAW&FS BAY. SEVENTEEN POINTS TCi NINE. AUCKLAND 'RECOVERS FORM. (FAST, SPECTACULAR GAME. All roads seemed to lead to tho Domain inn Saturday, when the Auckland Rugby reprcsen tatives me the Ranfurly Shield holders, Hawke's Bay, in a. return match arranged in aid of the .War Memorial {Museum fund. At their previous meeting Auckland were defeated by 20 points to 5, but on Saturday tho team was at the top of its'form, and turned tho tables, en the Southerners, winning a fine, fast, clever, and clean game by 17 points to 9. A great crowd assembled to. see tho (match. Tho cancelling of all notable counter attraction?, by the Rugby % L<:aguo tend other sports bodies no doubt 'had an important bearing upon the' gate takings, and the result will be that tho War Memorial fund will 'benefit substantially. The fine display of Rugby kept the spectators in good humour throughout the afternoon, and the sparkling play by both sides received immediate recognition. Tho ground was fast and somewhat hard, end a nnmber of Auckland men were temporarily disabled. Toward the close Arnold, who had been playing a great fame, was forced to retire, Anderson replacing .him. '".',■' In the first contest. Auckland played depress below true form, and Hawke's Bay degrees above iC. On Saturday the Auckland forwards, to the surprise and the delight of their supporters, equalled the powerful pack representing Hawke's Bay, and in some departments were their * superiors. Rarely, if ever, has an Auckland forward line shown, such marked reversal of form or such excellence in fast footwork and combined play in attack. The home tide's defence, too, was not surpassed by the tenacious tackling of the visiting pack.

In the first spell honours were fairly even, with Auckland having slightly the better of the exchanges in attack." In Iho second half the home team was in the ascendants The stirring pace' of the pla-y, the rapid and rugged reprisal of the forwards, the safe support of the backs and the all-round combination of the heme side, steadied the great pack of Hawke's Bay. and frequently shattered the oncebrilliant backs into confusion and, at i disorder. The champion team of the North Island played like champions, but against champions, -whose true form '-".-as only developed by Saturday's ma.tch. Pride of place, on the run of" the play, Jnust be .credited to Auckland in both forward and Tear divisions. . " Description of the Play. The game opened with Ifwersen, the Auckland captain, kicking off against a cross-wind for Nepia to 'field and to punt high, Kirwan securing to break through to the homo twenty-five. The visitors pressed the attack, in a forward rush to smother Malloy, a free kick relieving the attack. __ From a rapid return Malloy was caught in possession, but Arnold cleared .the attack. Tbo Auckland backs then opened up the best passing movement of the day, which penetrated almost to the Inst line. Brilliant attack and ' counterattack followed, with the Auckland forwards, Peters and Knight, in the van, again on the Hawke's Bay line. 'The Auckland backs, at .this stage, were in the ascendant, when Wright sent out a .swift. pass to Lucas, who, unfortunately, missed a chance on. the edge of touch. Wilson missed a pass in a good attacking position, and with :it an almost certain try. The first scorn -was registered by Auckland, Ifwersen- kicking a. great goal from a penalty. Auckland ..''.':.-"". * •.'..»..','-'*» 3' Hawke's Bay .. ... .'•.'-.. 0 ' Score Even at Half Time. The visitors' set the pace on the drop but, and in a, raking rush Cooke was slightly injured, but recovered quickly, to take, part in' a passing rush to Hawke's Bav line- The visitors cleared, -Gemmell kicking through, and following up fast smothered Malloy, nd from a penalty Nepia failed with an attempt at goal. Honours were fairly even, but the home side was showing superior pace. Ifwersen sent a long, high pass to Lucas, who sent on to Gcoko, but the latter was tackled in fch*> attempt to dash through., IGrensido made a great dash down the tide line, but the defence was sound, and

{Arnold then opened out to Lucas, who sent on to Cooke, with Nepia and Paewai in pursuit. _ O'Brien fielded a long pass from Ifwersen to dash down the field, but lacking pace was smothered before he could pass back to Hwersen, who was in close support." A try was almost certain, as there .was a clear -field • to the line. Hawke's Bay successfulby attacked, with- M. Brownlee passing out to Mill, the Hawke's Bay half, racing oyer, .unopposed, -to score a try, which Nepia failed to convert from a good position. Auckland ;. « .. ■'■".'» "i'\ 3 ■■■' '

Hawke's Bay . . '-.:■ ... 3 With honours even Auckland attacked, but a free kick to Hawke's Bay found play in Auckland's twenty-five, Ifwersen finding touch at Hawke's Bay's twentyfive. Hard kicking by Hawke's Bay saw a great race ensue as the ball went over the Sine, for Auckland to force, beating McGregor in the run through. In the raking rush Malloy was temporarily injured, but resumed play. McGregor kicked to the Auckland Hue, the ball being > returned to half way where, from a scrum, the Hawke's Bay forwards came through in a fast raking rush, which Malloy. stopped as the whistle sounded for half time, the scores being: Auckland" ... .... 3 Hawke's Bay . . ..3 Play in Second 'Spell. The second spell opened with Auckland attacking in the Hawke's Bay twentyfive, where Paewai cleared to the .Auckland full back, Malloy returning with interest. The visitors broke away in a fast forward rush, Orraond attempting to dash through, to be soundly tackled. .Arnold cut off a pass and broke away, with Cooke and Lucas in support. Pressing the attack, Arnold again got, possession, but "Wilson failed to take the pass \ in a good position, a free kick relieving >. the visitors' line. The defence was sound, but Auckland came away* again, Ifwersen cross-kicking to Lucas, the ball bouncing -out of reach, and another'good chance was lost. Arnold, who had been playing V; a great game, was forced to retire, Anderson replacing him. ' • " V Fast play , followed. with the •'■ Auckland backs handling brilliantly, but Wilson failed to use his pace, and the ad- ■' vantage of tho attacking position passing to Cooke,- who was too well marked to get through. Auckland again assumed the ascendant, and 'the backs, passing in complete combination, swept to the Hawke's Bay line, where Cooke scored a great try. which Ifwersen just failed to convert with a magnificent kick from the edge of touch. Auckland, 6; Hawke's Bay, 3. Auckland were now playing a great game, and amid great enthusiasm Ifwersen secured in Hawke's Bay twenty-five to pass to Cooke, who misfielded, but recovered cleverly, to pass to Sheen, who dashed over to score a try, which Ifwersen converted with a fine kick. Auckland, 11 : Hawke's Bay, 3. Finish Pull of Incident. - The visitors were.being raced off their lees by tho superb pace of Auckland backs, and interesting play followed When Ifwersen broke away again in a brilliant rush for -tho pass to go to L. Knight and Kenny, .who was almost over when a kick over the line was forced by Kivell. From a line-out O'Brien broke away and amid intense enthusiasm dashed down the" line to pass to Wilson, who reverse-passed. • to O'Brien, who scored a fine try, which Ifwersen,just failed to convert with a good • kick from the edge of touch, a " poster " . resulting: Auckland f . ' «'« ■•..';■»,is 34 ' Hawke's Bay .■ ' «■ *» «

From a drop put. Hawke's Bay, Jn a great, final effort swept to Auckland's toe, where from a massed movement 0. Brownie© scored a try which Paewai failed to convert. :■ v . Auckland .'„ ,« kh 14, Jdawkes Bay ~ .*'">• n 6 Chi the drop out Mill broke clear, and with McNab in close attendance, set' up a dangerous attack an Auckland's twenty* five. From a scrum at centre the ball was passed * out to Grensidc, who dashed down the line with the defence drawn to score a try which ho failed to convert: : Auckland *~ '".'* .* 14 Hawke's Bay . . . , ..«.'■■ 9 Auckland broke away from a line-out. OBrifth, Anderson and Peters, with Wilson in support, raced down the lino for the latter to score ho final try just on time. Itwersen failed to convert, the game ending: • . : • ■ ; . Auckland ~, ...» 17 Hawke's Bay .-.' ... ..9 ATTENDANCE AND GATES. TOTAL OF 22,000 PRESENT, ABOUT £1000 FOR MUSEUM. Tho official figures of the attendance and gate takings at tho match show that 21,000 paid at the gates, and that 22,000 people were present. Tho sum of £1300 was taken at the gates, exclusive of tic bets sold and seats booked. It is anticipated that the War Memorial fund will benefit to tho extent of about £1000. The exact figures are not vet available.

RECORDS OF MATCHES.

PAST SEASON'S CONTESTS.

The following are records of all representative matches played by Auckland and Hawke's . Bay for the season - just closed. If. will be noted that both teams have played'the same number of matches (14), but ' Auckland has onlv lost one (Ranfurly Shield match), while Hawke'a Bay has lost two (second match against Wairarapa and second match ; against Auckland). The margin of points for in favour of Auckland is 98 (535-237), while Auckland baa had 132 points against and Hawke's Bay 90. - AUCKLAND. Beat Maoris, 8-3; beat Southland, 37-3; beat Taranaki, 30-9; beat Wanganui, 68-0; beat North Auckland, 33-6; beat King Country, 21-16; beat Otago, 16-5; beat. New South Wales,. 27-11: beat Thames Valley, 24-15; beat Wellington, 21-15; beat Sub-unions, 20-11; lost Hawke's Bay, 5-20; beat King Country, 18-9; beat Hawke's Bay, 17-9. . Summary (including B. matches) : Played, 14; won, 13; lost, 1; points for, 535 points against, 132. HAWKE'S BAY. Beat Waira.ja.pa, 6-0; lost Wairarapa. 0-6; beat Wellington, 10-6; beat Poverty Bay, 15-0; beat Canterbury, 9-8 beat Bay of Plenty, 27-0; beat Bush Districts, 12-6; beat King Country, 14-8; beat Taranaki, 29-3; beat Wanganui,, 16-6; beat New South Wales, 32-15; beat Horowhenua, 38-11; beat Auckland; 20-5: lost Auckland, 9-17. Summary: Played, 14; won, 12: lost, 2; points for, 237; points against, 50.

ENTERTAINMENT OF TEAMS.

AN ENJOYABLE FUNCTION.

Both teams were entertained at din-, i ner at the Albert Hotel on Saturday | evening, when a very enjoyable function ! resulted. • i The Mayor, Mr. J. HI Gunsoiu in pro- > posing the toast of the Hawke's Bay Union and team, said that Auckland had welcomed the visit of many notable football teams, but he could say that no visit had given greater pleasure than that of the Hawke's Bay team, which they now celebrated. C The team . had : displayed the highest, qualifies of sportmanship, and Hawke's Bay, -on this visit had done a great deal for New Zealand football. He \ was delighted to say that the character of the teams was of the highest class. In i view of the English tour next season, iC had to be remembered that the team would carry the national honour, and New Zealand would have nothing to fear off the field as it had nothing to fear on the field. Civic interest's were increased by such visits. He conveyed to the Hawke's Bay Union the high appreciation of the Auckland people generally- in the union making the visit possible. ;. In replying, Mr. J. M. Brown, manager of . the Hawke's Bay team and secretary of the union, congratulated the Auckland team on its handsome victory. Hawke's Bay. had no regrets.. The game was played in a very fine spirit. . Mr. M. Brownlic, captain of the visitors., also replied. ■, Mr. J.' B. Andrew, Mayor of Napier, said they had witnessed a match that day such as they had never witnessed before. The game was played in a manly, gentlemanly, and sportsmanlike spirit, which, was something for the younger generation present to emulate. HI? proposed tho toast of. the Auckland Union and team. :-.'.".:.". ■.:■■'

; The toast was responded to by Mr. J. Arneil, president of the Auckland Rugby Union, and Mr. B. Casey, of the. Auckland team.

The toast of the referee, Mr. J. Pcake, of Christ-church, was proposed by Mr. N. R. McKenzie, the selector of fhe Hawke's Bay team, and replied to by Mr. Peake. Mr. G. 0. Fache proposed' the health of the selector?, the reply beyv' made by the selectors. Mr. V. R. Meredith (Auckland), and Mr. McKenzie (Hawke's-Bay). The football used for the match was presented to Mr. Meredith. '~' The members of the Hawke's Bay and Auckland teams were entertained to an optinjr by the Mayo". Mr. ,T. H. ■ Gunson, and the Auckland Rugby Union yesterday. They were driven in 12 motor-cars to the Zoo, the El'erslie racecourse, Cornwall Park, and One "-..Tree : Hill, where afternoon tea was dispensed. The party also visited Olahuhu and Eemuera, and returned to Auckland at 5 p.m. The visitors, together with Sir. J. B. Andrew, Mayor of Napier, and Mr, J. Vigor Brown, left for Napier by last evening's express.

Mr. C. G. Macindoe, a vice-president of the Grammar School Old Bovs' ■ Club, is presenting tho members of the Auckland team with a gold medal each as a memento of their fine performance in Saturday's game.