RANFURLY SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 12

RANFURLY SHIELD.

AUCKLAND SOUNDLY BEATEN. STRENGTH OF HAWKE'S BAY. FORTY-ONE POINTS TO ELEVEN. DEBACLE IN SECOND SPELL. [EY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, Saturday, Auckland's third attempt to lift the Ranfurly Shield from Hawke's Bay was stfived off at McLean Park to-day, when the. holders won by 41 points to 11. The weather was ideal and the ground was in perfect condition. The attendance numbered about 0000. The teams lined out as follow :-—y Auckland.—Butler, Hook, Lucas, Ifwersen, Freeman, Cammick, W. Wright, Finlayson,; McWiiliams, Cathcart, Webber, Knight, Hadley, Palmer, Batty. Hawke's Bay.—Nepia, Grenside, Blake, Jensen, Cooke, Johnston, Mill, Single, Swain, M. Brownlie, C. Brownlie, Mahonev, Kirkpatrick, Irvine, Walker. Auckland won the toss and Brownlie kicked off. McWiiliams accepted the kick and despatched Freeman, Cammick and Lucas on a good run, which ended rear half-way. Nepia returned a penalty kick bv Lucas and the Auckland forwards worked down to the twenty-five, where Freeman, taking a good mark, drew first blood with a fine drop-kick five minutes from the start. Auckland, 3; Hawke's Bay, (L The visitors did not hold the'lead long, however, for scarcely three minutes later Hawke's Bay were awarded a penalty, and Nepia landed a splendid goal from just over half-way, making the score 3 ali

Hawke's Bay Takes the Lead. Fielding the kick-off Irvine sent Hawke's Bay to the attack, but Butler cleared. Cooko returned play, and handling in the scrum gave Nepia a chance to land his second penalty goal with a drop-kick barely three minutes after his first. Hawke's Bay, 6; Auckland, 3.From a scrum on Hawke's Bay's twenty-five lima Cooke kicked through and play went to half-way. Mill here made a, slashing run, but was dumped and a scrum was formed on the twenty-five line. Mill let Johnston through, arid tho latter passed to Cooke, who capped the effort by scoring under the posts. Nepia added the extra points. Hawke's Bay, 11; Auckland, 3. Headed by Kniglit, Auckland pushed to Hawke's Bay territory, where an infringement gave Nepia a chance to clear. Supported by Batty, Knight again broka away, but was stopped. Shortly, after• wards Lucas intercepted a pass from Cooke and got clear. The defence was too strong, however, and a spasm of kicking was indulged: in. . Butler attempted an almost impossible running drop-kick, but M. Brownlie relieved. The crowd was. roused to great excitement by a great race for the ball by Grenside when Hook fumbled.. Lucas relieved the pressure, but not for long, as a scramble on the. line, saw C. Brownlie dive over. Nepia missed the kick. Hawke's Bay, 14» Auckland, 3. On resumption Auckland were awarded a penalty kick, but Butler failed to im prove the score. Until this'! stage Auckland was playing well together, but Hawke's Bay was finding .gaps in ,; the backs. Play was held up for two minutes through an injury to Batty. Ifwersen Scores for Auckland. ■ Mill's pass from; a scrijm at half-wav was; smothered,, and the Auckland" vanigu'ai&n broke; through. : Ifwersen secured - to McWilhamS, woh rpturned the pass: and lfwerseii scored'. The kick was. too difficult. ifor Butler to convert. ' Hawke's Bay; 14; Auckland, 6. Nepia delighted the : crowd with a wonderful lirw kick, • but he - was caught napping a few seconds lateilv A melee, on the line saw Knight push his way over, but he was brought back. The pace quietened considerably for some time, until Wright sent Hook down the line, buf. the latter was. pushed out.' Cammick ahd Lucas essayed a passing bout between them, but M. Brownlio cleared the danger.; Auckland -returned with, vigour,, however, and > gave Hawke's Bay .a merry time on the line with battering forward attacks. Grensicle, with a good run, turned defence into attack, but Auckland was awarded a penalty kick. McWilliams' kick failed. ' Hawke's, Bay sprung a sUrpris,e-when ' Mill let the ball afray from a scrum to Cooke, who parsed to Blake.' The latter ran round . Butler, and with a fine dash ; finished under the. 'posts. Nepia's kick was again successful. Hawke's Bay, 19; Auckland, 6. - f

Auckland's Combination Weak. After tame play in midfield a line-kick by, Nepia was fielded by Irwersen, who, supported by Lucas, carried play well down the field. A pretty passing, movement saw Ifwersen,- Cammick and Lucas cut through the opposition, the last-named scoring near the posts. McWilliams coilverted with a fine kick. Half-time-sounded' immediately, with 'the .scores: Hawke's' Bay, 19"; Auckland, 11. AucMand had been holding the heavy Hawke's Bay forwards well, but the, Visitors' backs were weak and were not showing as much combination as displayed by Hawke's Bay. ■ • ■■ ■ Oh tlie change-over the Auckland forwards worked to the twenty-five line, where "Cooke cleared and sent them back to their own territory. The visitors again' compelled Cooko to force. They kept up the pressure until Nepia lined and the crowd was treated to a display of kicking, which ended in the Hawke's'Bay twentyfive. The visitors' vanguard, with Fiiiilayson in the lead, at length broke clear, but they were stopped in time! Thrilling Play by Holders. Excitement rose to; fever "heat when Cooke tore, through the opposition and despatched M. Brownlie: with Grenside to the line'. The latter was crowded out, but immediately afterwards .M. Brownlie forced his way over from a melee. Ncpia's kick missed. Hawke's Bay, 22: Auckland, 11. Shortly afterwards, a valiant attempt by Nepia to drop a penalty met with disappointment, the ball hitting the upright. A piercing attack by . the Hawke's Bay backs ended in the goal-mouth,, and a free kick. eased the situation. Hawke's Bay was not to be outdone, however. C. Brownlie picked up the ball in the ruck and passed to the backs, Cooke running in tp score well out.. Grenside failed to convert. Hawke's- Bay. 25; Auckland, 11. - Auckland was : not long in retaliating and worked plav to the line, but the crowd was, thrilled when half the Hawke's Bay team strung out in an irresistible passing rush, which was' finished off in brilliant manner by Blake.. Grenside goaled. Hawke's Bay, 30; Auckland, 11. . Auckland on Defence. The pace was now telling, and Hawke's Bay kept, the visitors well pinned down in their own territory. A period of dull play was followed by another splendid try, when Johnston, securing from a lineout, let Blake in near the corner. Grenside converted. Hawke's Bay, 35; Auckland, 11. Then Mahoney, as the resnlfc of a passing rush among the Hawke's Bay forwards, scored near the posts, but Grenside's attempt to convert failed. Hawke's Bay, 38; Auckland, 11. Auckland succeeded in getting to the line again, but the tables were turned when Walker broke away with C. Brownlie and Swain in support. Swain grounded well out, but M. Brownlie failed to improve the score. Hawke'a Bay, 41; Auckland, 11. Hawke's Bay was having much'the bet- • ter of matters, the. superior fitness of the , players standing them in good stead. Tim® sounded with the, scores:— Hawke's Bay , . ... .. 41 Auckland .. . « 11 Mr. R. Patten, of Wellington, refereed.