RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19551, 6 August 1925, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

RANFURLY SHIELD. HAWKE’S BAY DEFEATS CANTERBURY. TWENTY-FOUR POINTS TO ' EIGHTEEN. (Peb United Phess Association.* NAPIER, August 5. Hawke’s Bay successfully defended their title to the Banfurly Shield to-day against Canterbury before 10,000 spectators, winning by 24 points to 18. The weather was line, but the ground rather slippery. Hawke’s Bay dominated the first spell, but the visitors had their full share of honours in an exciting second spell. The Hawke’s Bay team was as telegraphed, but Dailey and Jeffries were unable to take the field for Canterbury, and were replaced by Ford and Baird. Canterbury kicked off, and almost immediately their territory was invaded. Nepia opened a passing rush in which backs and forwards participated, and M. Brownlie scored. The shot at goal was disallowed on account of the ball being handled twice. Hawke’s Bay 3, Canterbury nil. Soon after the visitors were awarded a penalty in a possible position, but Nixon missed. Canterbury continued to attack, and from a scrum the hacks got going, but bad handling and crooked running merely took place across the field. An exchange of kicks resulted, Nepia finding the line at halfway. Hawke’s Bay were getting the ball from the scrums, and Mill severa, times set his backs in motion. A couple of free kicks relieved the pressure, but not for long. Loose forward work took Canterbury into Hawke’s Bay territory, but the attack Was broken up. Blake got away, but lost the ball on the line when tackled. Grensjde, however, touched down, and Irvine converted. Hawke’s Bay 8, Canterbury nil. M’Gregor set the Canterbury backs in motion, but Nepia, after fumbling, smartly recovered and cleared. Play hovered round midfield until a free kick took the home side to the visitors’ line, where a free kick was given at the corner, and Irvine landed a beautiful goal. Hawke's Bay 11, Canterbury nil. The visiting forwards essayed a loose attack, and bad fumbling by Palwasser, Nepia, and Gemmoli let Baird over. Nixon missed the kick. Hawke’s Buy 11, Canterbury 3. ■ Nepia took a baud on his own, and a brilliant solo run only failed on account of M’Gregor proving a little faster. Elvey left the field with an injured ankle, and Doreen went on. Mill set Corkhill going, and the latter made a great run and passed to Blake, who scored easily well out. Irvine missed the kick. Hawke’s Bay 14, Canterbury 3. The visitors were now getting more of the ball from the scrum, but the hacks never penetrated far, the defence being very solid, and mishandling also militate against success. The Hawke’s Bay backs passed cleanly, working together well. A scramble on the line saw Mill dive over, but he was held up. Then the Canterbury backs gave a very pretty display, winch resulted in Robilliard finishing off the movement by a run from nearly halfway. •Nixon converted. Hawke's Hay 14, Canterbury 8. Play was in midfield when half-time was called. . , Canterbury attacked on resuming. the backs got the ball out to Robilliard* but he was tackled. Another similar effort was stopped by band handling. The visitors persevered with their attack, and Nepia wjvs called on several times to clear. From a line-out the Red forwards broke through, and Hawke’s Bay had to force. The home forwards and backs indulged in in-and-out passing till the Red line was reached. Mill then got the ball from a scrum and went right through the opposition on the open side. Irvine converted. Hawke’s Bay Is). Canterbury S. Canterbury returned to the attack. In 1 adding Doreen at the corner flag Nepia injured his knee, but continued to playFrom a scramble, on the Hawke s Bay line Oliver picked up and dived over, Nixon converting. Hawke’s Bay Is), Canterbury 13. , „ Up to this stage the challengers attack had been very determined, but the Hawke s Bay tackling was deadly. Then the de fenders opened out and the bucks put i-i some great work. Eventually Corkhiu sent out a long pass which Palwasscr accepted at top speed and scored at the corner. Irvipe landed a great goal. Hawke’s Bay 24. Canterbury 13. A vigorous Hawke's Bay onslaught was launched, the forwar4s feeding the backs splendidly, and the visitors were called on to exercise all their power of defence, which they did with effect. Corkhill retired with an injured shoulder and was replaced by Barclay. Canterbury attacked again, and then.the backs started from a line-out, and Ford scored. Nixon converting. Hawke’s Bay 24, Canterbury 18. A further attack compelled Hawke s Bay to force. Oliver went off, and was replaced by J- Robilliard. Hawke’s Bay renewed the pressure, and when tne bee rang Falwasser had just dived over, inn had hit the corner llag, and lie was carnet, off. The final score;--Hawke’s Bay Canterbury Mr H. J. M Kenzie (Wairnrapa) was referee. WELLINGTON DEFEATS SOUTHLAND. • A HARD-FOUGHT GAME. (Hat. United PaEsa Association.) WELLINGTON, August 5. Wellington defeated the Southland Rugby representatives today by 19 pom s o , before an attendance of close o.i 5000 spe tators. The visitors fielded what looked like a* particularly heavy and likely team, the forward division in particular being impressive by reason of its nercuJean build The game was not a good expo.-nUon of Rugby football, but proved that it takes more than weight to win a match The visitors played hard, clean football, but failed to put the finishing touches to some attractive pieces of play. Wellington did not display high-grade form, but they proved more resourceful in botn attack and defence and showed their ability to take full advantage cf all opportunities. Passing rushes came at rare intervals, and in many attempts ended in a lively scramble for the ball In the first half Southland had the better of the game, their heavy forwards at times dominating the play, but they did not finish up their movements. Several chances to score were not availed of. Bell (Southland, of whom much was expected, was starved, while Wajsho was only fair. Ottrey was- disappointing. The forwards played with plenty of dash, and considering" their weight were a very fast pack. Alloy, Ilazlett, and Burt were the pick of a fine lot. The first-named was voted the best forward on the ground. Johnson played the best back game for the winners. Nicholls did not play up to his usual form. Svenson and Bedell both made the most of their opportunities when the ball came their way. Tilyard was poor. The diminutive Warwick was in the thick of it: while Thomas, Matheson, Young, and Sly were the most prominent of the Wellington forwards. Mackenzie as wing forward made a promising debut in representative football. In the first half Ottrey worked the blind side, and Murray took the pass and scored. Lilly’s kick went wide. Tins was the visitors’ only score. Southland o, Wellington nil. Fine passing by Warwick, Nicholls, and Svenson resulted in Warwick scoring. Nicholls converted. Wellington 5, Southland 3.

Some vigorous play followed, Bedell, Svenson, Nicholls, and Warwick participating in offensive movements. Nicholls had some shots at goal and eventually put one over. Wellington 8, Southland 5. The Southland forwards played excellent football, and came down the field with considerable dash. Svenson, Warwick, Nicholls, rnd Bedell were prominent at times. Svenson secured and sent tho ball to Walters near the visitors’ line. Tho Wellington full-back scored, but Nicholls’s kick failed. Wellington 11, Southland 3. After gne-and-tnke plar an illegal tackle by the visitors gave Nichols a chance, and he landed a fine goal. Wellington 14, Southland 3.

Tho Wellington forward- then displayed more dash and had the visitors guessing for a period. From a general scramble Thomas picked up and dived over, and Nicholls converted. A minute later came the end of a hard-fought game. Wellington 19 Southland . . ••• m ... w i

WAIKATO v. BUSH DISTRICT. (Pun United Press Association.) PAHIATUA, August 5. The Waikato Rugby football team to-day defeated the Bush Disticts by 16 points to 13. The ground was very heavy, but a good open display was provided. Tries were scored for the winners by Clemett, Johnson. Thompson, and Charlston, and Mitchell converted two. For the Bush, J. Galvin. / Burling, and Tyree scored. P. Galvin and Udy converted one each. Waikato owed their victory to the ability of their backs to seize opportunities. The forwards on both sides were particularly even. PRIMARY SCHOOL MATCHES. The following primary school’ matches will bo played on Saturday:— A Grade.— Musselburgh v. Arthur Street, at Oval 1 (9 a.m.) ; St. Clair v. George Street, at Oval 2(9 a.m.); Macandrew Road v. Forbury, at Oval 1 (10 a.m.); N.E. Valley v. High Street, at Oval 2 (10 a.m.); Kaikorai v. Caversham. at Montecillo (9 a.m.) ; Albany Street, a bye. B Grade.—Green Island v. Maori Hill, at Oval 5 (9 a.m.) ; Mosgicl v. Port Chalmers, at Oval 3 (10 a.m.): Arthur Street v. High Street, at Montecillo (10 a.m.) : Caversham v. Normal, at Alexandra Park (9 a.m.) ; Macandrew Road v. Kensington, at Alexandra Park (10 a^m.); Forbury v. N.E. Valiev, at Opoho (10 a.m.). C Grade.—Ravenshourno v. Forbury. at Bathgate Park (9 a.m.); N.E. Valley 2 v. Musselburgh 2, at; Tahuna 1 (10 a.m.); Kaikorai v. Caversham. at Bishopscourt (10 o.m.i; Port Chalmers v. Macandrew Road 2, at Bathgate Park (10 a.m.).