HAWKES BAY REPS. PROPPED AND COPPED

NZ Truth, Issue 1128, 14 July 1927, Page 14

HAWKES BAY REPS. PROPPED AND COPPED

EASY_WIN Auckland And The Maori Tourists ;(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Rep.) In most appalling weather some 80()0 ardent followers assembled at Eden Park, Auckland, to see the famous Maori team which so successfully toured France and Britain last season try their merits against the Auckland reps. PLAY opened up brightly with an • attack by the visitors. A couple of rapid passing bouts had Auckland early on the defence. Considering that most' of the, players were complete strangers to each other's play, the bouts were exceedingly clear-cut and accurate. \ It looked as if Auckland would have to do their best if the visitors could only sustain their efforts. Backs and forwards worked well together and gavo the home team a busy time. 7 During the first quarter the greater part of attack came from the Maori team, but they were unable to top off their work. Though several sorties were made by the Auckland flying brigade, they found the defence too sound.) . The second quarter showed •* the Auckland team to much better advan- . tage. The combination was improving, though much of ' the handling was faulty. Too frequently 'players endeavored to handle the ball when it should have been kept at their toes. This gave the visitors chances to frustrate movements, and they were not slow to take advantage of the position. Later the Maori vanguard took control,- and with an Irresistible combined rush broke clean through Auckland's defence and scored a worthy try. The secpnd half opened up very brightly, arid In the final quarter, with scores -at 22 to 3, the task looked a hopeless one for the Maoris. The final score m favor of Auckland was 31 to 6. > Taken by arid .large, the game was above the average, irrespective of , the fact that the homo team's score was so much the greater.Batty put three to his credit, Keene was responsible fforr r a brace, and .'■'. Rlghton orte. The two backs to cross, tho , line were McManus and Hook. Berridge converted two of the eight and also landed, a penalty goal. Rika was the only one of the visitors to score, he putting the 'two tries to his credit, making 10 out of 12 for the forwards. ; ■ „ Rika was the outstanding forward on the losing side. - He puts plenty of dash 'and weight intq : his work, and tnUst have been wonderfully fit to -carry through to the j end as lie did. He'was always up | with the game and ranks among tho first flight. "".... With the exception of the "lent" local players, the back team was not at all impressive. Wano;i kept up with play and stopped many of 1 * Auckland's passing bouts'. Paewai, who captained the visitors, played right up to his best reputation. Ruru and Seymour, the two wingsrs, also local players "lent" to make up ■ the side/did their job well. ■ Turei, full-back for the. Grammar -team, was another called m to fill a vacancy, and well he did it. Repeatedly frontal attacks reached him and he took all sorts of risks m stopping them. He had some nasty rushes to stop, but did ript hesitate to get down to them. \ Of the home team, Keene and Batty were the outstanding players. Realising that good footwork must play agroat part iri the game, it was soon manifest that these two would be outstanding features, and so it proved. In the tight stuff Knight made the most use of his size and weight, and Is getting ' into good form for future rep. games. "Shoi*ty" McManus had plenty to do behind the scrum and did it well. Though riot a classy player he is one of the gamest. , A. Cec. Badeley has certainly struck form. \ '. ' Berridge was riot too well suited with the conditions, but played a sound If not brilliant game. . , Hook did .'most things right. He certainly missed a few -passes, but this was excusable on the day 7 7 Freddy Lucas, was everywhere. In * attack he sent his team well to it, and whenever, he scented danger was always on the spot to back' up. the full should, heTget into trouble. 1 The All Black is >playi,ng better than ever, and his anticipation q.t times is almost, uncanny. ' ;■ „;':.. 'mininiMmiimiiimiimmi'lmmmmmmimummmummmmmmHumwm't

SOLO EFFORTS HELPEDJN ABUNDANCE SCORE The Ranfurly Shield Holders Led From Strength, But Challengers Trumped Their Aces SOME GRAND SLAMS In~SEASON'S STAR GAME

AN idea of the delays Drought aboul through accidents can be gatherec from the fact that it took exactlj 120 minutes from the start to the completion of the two spells. This meant that as 90 minutes is the actual playing time, a full half hou* was taken up m giving the St. Johr Ambulance men a chance to patch th« Injured. Both sides suffered m this direction Jbut Wairarapa the, more so. It was no unusual, sight to see. the game progressing whilst one and sometimes twe men lay stretched -out awaiting assistance. The early stages of the game were tc a cei'tain extent spoilt through certair players having recourse to ' tactics which are not supposed to be included m the game of Rugby. > Fists flew m all directions and the set scrums 'were seized upon as opportunities for the front-rankers, to dc quite unnecessary head bumping. On one occasion the referee had tc call a halt and warn the two sets ot front row men. They, however, took little notice of the warning. Then came the dramatic .dismissal of "Morrie" Brownlie and Quentin Donald. "N.Z. Truth" holds the referee ,: responsible for a good deal of the trouble. It was hard to imagine that he did not see Jim Donald and "Morrie" Brownlie continually exchanging blows m the early part of the game. Just as he; warned the hookers, so should he have treated these two offenders. Quentin Donald was indeed unlucky for he undoubtedly suffered for his brother's indiscreet action m taking on Brownlie. , Quentin had just come into the fisticuff picture and actually when ordered off. neither he nor Brownlie had exchanged a blow. TThey were certainly about to have n smack. The whole business was regrettable but the referee could have taken better command m. the early stages of the game and the players would have quickly realised , they had to obey. ' T he Play Although the game could not -be termed a brilliant exhibition of Rugby it was one of the hardest games one could wish to witness. ■1-Jawkes Bay on the day were the superior . side. ■:, Their forwards carried all before them and had the Wah-arapa team been -'with out the services of Cooke it is just a, pity what the score would have been. The brilliant five-eighths played one of his best games. In anticipation he was uncanny. The Bay tried every possible scheme to keep the ball from Cooke, but they failed. He was a magnet and no matter, m which direction the Bay .kicked the ball. Cooke was or hand to receive it. When Cundy Intercepted a pass, Cooke, like a flash appeared on the ecene : to score a.' brilliant try. Take Cooke away and Wairarapa would make but an ordinary showing. Put him once again behind the Bay forwards :and the' present team defending the Shield would not be disgraced playing against the pick of New. Zealand. ,v * . ■■.■■*.:■ For New, Zealand's sake it is to ': be^ hoped Cooke will .retain his form and that, he will be available to: make the tour to South Africa next year. On Saturday, Cookie more than once had to fake his turn at being knocked out. , . ' 7 He was a favorite with the crowd. Cundy, who played first to Cooke, is ho ordinary exponent of back play. Pie is fast arid has the advantage of carrying more weight than the usual run oi five-eighths. He is also very safe m defence..: Stringfellow and R. Booth were just fair dn their positions, but Roache had it well on Corkili who defended the Bay goal. Roache had to stand some liard knocks and he was responsible for some sound defensive r play. The HIMIIMIillllllUIIIIIIII((lllllll[llllllll|[||[||||llllllllllllllllllllllllllll(llllllllllllll|:i||(l||l

t f; • -c „ || (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Representative.) n " || After the brief stay of five weeks m Wairarapa the Ranfurly j| z || Shield was recaptured by Hawkes Bay m a game whidh from many \\ i || points of view will go down to history as being most remarkable. From || 3 || .start to finish the 12,000 odd spectators were treated to thrills m |j , || plenty. Only two very fit teams could have gone through the trying II !If ordeal. Well on m the first spell there was witnessed the dramatic. || -* || dismissal from the field of two famous All Blacks — "Morrie" Brownlie || || and Quentin Donald. From then on both teams had to battle along || I | j with only fourteen men. ■ . 11

3 =-*imiMMiiitiiiiiiiHiiiiiniiinimiiinmiiHiMMMH«mimimiiiiiHiiiumHiiMimuiii(miiiiiiui!mtinim , try he obtained was fully deserved, for was Bill Irvine and until dismissal ! the reason that he has the good habit came his way,, Quentin Donald. • of fast following up his own kicks. These two joined- issue with Swain > Hart, who played on the right wing, and J. Gemrnell m the front row of the was the weak man In the Wairarapa scrum and for doing so frequently > team. brought trouble to their side.

Jim Donald will long remember this J Reside is a fine stamp of forward, 'match. He. made' . yiarticukirly show-

' the great mistake ■ of clashing with "Morrie" Brownlie and he suffered'accordingly. Not that Brownlie did anything with the set purpose of hurting Donald, but because that the players who give more attention to the man than the ball m,- , variably spoil their . own play. , Jim was injured badly midway . through .the first I spell, wh c n he . would have been doing a justice to t ihis side had ho . given way to E. B. 5 Booth, who even- - tually ' had to re- ; place the Wairal rapa skipper towards tho close of the game when it was really too late

to be of material assistance.' who follow Rugby it could be seen 1 r> . ■ 1 r .. . „ i.-„ that the Bay's policy was to keep the Certainly for the greater por ion baH as much posslble from Cooke of the game, Donald was useless , f j to his side. Thus, when the Bay forwards, secur- ! He came m for a bad time from the ed the ball from the scrum more often I Bay supporters when it was seen Jack than not the Bay half, Edwards, would . Blake was laid out after Jim had ef- dive m again amongst the forwards ' fected a hard tackle. who would pack round and generally \ The demonstration was quite uncall- succeed m gaining ground. «.d for. It was certainly a hard tackle. In scrums and m line-outs the Bay s but it was fair. . forwards were masters all the time. i It is the man who goes for another Swain and J. Gemmell. generally beat

I 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 U 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M ti t ! M I I I I I I I I I I I I I I M I I I I I I . who is . not m possession of the ball i who is not entitled to sympathy if the i crowd considers it wise to make a ■demonstration. Hard playing is not I rough playing. 1 If our team is to do well m South Africa next year it wilK need to be : hardened to what is, after all 7 real I Rugby. > Although Wairarapa fielded a fine ) pack of forwards they 'were not quite * of the same calibre as the men from j the Bay. Outstanding amongst them iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiimii/iiiminM/iiiiimiiiiiiiiiimMim

ing out m the tight work. Fairbrother and Harvey caught the eye more m the loose rushes. The half-back, Willoughby, had an unenviable time beihind the scrum trying to stop the forward rushes oi the Bay pack who always came at him m pack formation. Judging by Saturday's display it is going to take a strong combination to again succeed m removing the shield from the present holders. Norman McKeny.io a. pp ar ent 1 y 'learnt much from the first meeting of his side with Wairarapa. To those

tit I M I I I I II M I I I I I I I I MU I I I II I I I I I I M I I I I I II I I I I I I I M I II M I I 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 ! M l l < M II M I I I Irvine and Donald for the balland m the line-out Cyril Brownlie time ana again secured and broke through. In the loose the Bay vanguard simply smothered their opponents. "Morrie" Brownlie, during his brief sojourn on the ground,. gave evidence that he has lost none of his great football ability. He is an ideal' wing-forward. Cyril,' until "Morrie" was ordered off was playing indifferently. He appeared to take his brother's departure as something m the nature * lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllli

} , _ of a personal hurt for from then on he was as one inspired. It was but a 'repetition of his own case m England m 1924, when after he (Cyril) was ordered off "Morrie" rose to the occasion and played wonderful football. • • '■'..-. Certainly on Saturday, Cyril Brownlie was the best, forward on the ground by a long chalk.' He never let up, and going down the field at a great pace, he spread the. Wairarapa men out as if they were toys. The big fellow has only to give the nod and he will make one of the 1928 team to South Africa. Brownlie had a good second m Conrad, the Bay lock. This big fellow kept m the thick of play throughout and proved that he will have to be considered when the selectors are m search of men for the coming tour. -. Swain, Sam Gemmell, J. Gemmell, Wilson and Campbell all helped to complete one of the best forward packs seeii out for some time. Cooke was, without question, tlie best back on the ground, but he did not have much on Bert Grenside. The Bay winger was m great heart and this is the more remarkable when it is a. fact that he was not long out of hospital. Like Cooke he was everywhere and like Cooke his habit of anticipating was quite uncanny. Grenside put across two beautiful goals from awkward angles. \. > The Bay winger stands alone m that position to-day, and "Truth" tips him to be one of the first backs picked for the South African trip. Prilliant In Parts Barclay, after Brownlie left the field had quite a lot to do. He went up to wins-forward and a good fist ho made of it. His try towards the end of the game was very brilliant. Jack Blake stood his ground well an/I at times gave glimpses of the brilliancy he is known to possess. A pleasing feature of Blake's play is that once the ball comes his way it is a safe bet that he will gain ground. Te Ngaio m defence was always safe, except that Cooke generally beat him. The Maori five-eighths has the good habit of running straight when m possession of the ball. Huxtable showed pace on the op- * posite wing to Grenside. He was ,safe, too, m catching the ball and showed fine judgment m line-kick-ing. Corkili was the Ba3*'s weakest point as full-back. He was slow to move, had the bad habit of waiting for the ball to bounce and generally be appeared to be anything but at home. In fairness to Corkili it should be pointed out that, he was just recovering from a" sickness, and 'further that he is not accustomed to the full-back position. As a five -eighths or half Corkili can distinguish himself. Norman' McKenzie is sure to see that there is a strong man m this position m the next shield match. "Truth" kept an account of the number of line-outs, free-kick and scrums. In the first spell there were forty-six line-outs and m the second, spell sixty line-outs. In the first spell Wairarapa received 11 free kicks and the Bay 5. In tho second. spell Wairarapa received 5 free kicks and the Bay three. Throughout tho game there were twenty-eight set scrums 'from which the Bay received the ball the majority of times. The decisive win by 21 points to 10 leaves little doubt about the superiority of the Bay over Wairarapa on the day's play. The question now is can an 3' of the other provinces muster a combination sufficiently strong to lift the shield from the present holders? > Until such a team can be found the Hawkes Bay Union will make the best of its opportunity of clearing up the heavy debt it has incurred m erecting a magnificent grandstand. miniMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

IN THE VAN Sting In Alhambra's Busy Tail (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Rep.) The 10,000 fans who paid for admission to the Carisbrook ground on Saturday received, a lot for their investment. THE bill of fare consisted, firstly, of the Varsity-Kaikorai encounter, . while following this appetiser (was the promise of a slashing affair between Pirates and Alhambra, for the last-named have the reputation of bobbing up In the most unheard-of places and at the most bewildering times when all the prophets have prophecied and the prognosticat-ors foretold that the team would go to the pack. And not, perhaps, without good reason, m recollection of the paralysing victory of Pirates against Alhambra m the first, round when the losers were a distinctly scraggy outfit. That match must have set them and their supporters to scratching their heads and thinking hard things about football, for very shortly afterwards a • pretty definite programme of training had been mapped out and the boys took cover under the sheltering wings ■ of "Punch" McDougal and other oldtime Alhambrans. • > Was the extra effort worth while? i Well, if ever a club opened the eyes i or gladdened the heart of a supporter, the Alhambra team has m its more recent performances, among which includes the scalp of 'Varsity — a team i that is not to be sniffed at. , On Saturday they met Pirates, the leaders, proving to everybody's satisfaction that they were going to be no easy pigeon to pluck. In fact, Pirates had to keep the spurs dug avell m to stave off defeat, and.it was only through their reserve .stock of energy and initiative m the last ten minutes that they managed to thrust aside defeat and draw (15-15). Varsity, m their 17 to nil victory, played a cleverer, more snappy game than Kaikorai, and although at times the encounter was desperate, bringing to light some exhilirating movements, there was little reason to doubt the eventual winners. "Baldy" Ross, the Varsity fiveeighths, was right plump on his game and if there was any hot stuff sticking out you could bet your boots he'd be right there. Kelly, the Kaikorai wing-three-quar-ter, seemed at times to bo smitten with a violent attack of ego, which, as usual, availed him nothing. As a one-man-band artist- ho needs a few lessons, for unless he plays the game 'better than the chaps on the other side, he's likely to get sadly "left." And that's what happened once or twice on Saturday. ■ Lindsay, . m Varsity's three-quarter line, played one of the finest games seen during the afternoon and it is hoped that the selector will allow him to remain m this position for the remainder of the season. Switching a player of his calibre from position merely militates against effective combination, not to mention the mortification to the player when he realizes that he cannot give the satisfaction ho should. Keep him there, Mr. Selector! McClymont, tho Varsity winger, had a deadly sting m his play, and his quick, snappy work often had his attackers between twin decisions. In the Pirates-A.lhambra tussle, Watty Coombes and the brothers Knox led the zebra forwards m their dominance over the 'blacks. Had the zebra backs been cleA'er enough to add their quota of initiative anticipation to that contributed by their associate forwards, they would have won — and that right easily. Although good m defence, the Alhambra backs lacked punch m attacking sorties, whilst their methods of combining with each other should be put to the lash. Wylie, their half, and Callander, five-eighth, seemed to be the pick of their outfit. Next Saturday Varsity come to grips with Alhambra, Kaikorai are scheduled to try conclusions with Zingaz*i, Avhilst Pirates will call upon Southern to put their best forward. iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir