THE HAWKE'S BAY TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 26

THE HAWKE'S BAY TOUR.

THE NATIVE MATCH— THE NATIVES WIN. The Hawke's Bay and Native teams played a match at Christchurch on August 15. Despite the fact that it was an off day, something like 2000 persons attended Lancaster Park in the hopes of witnessing a first-class display of football. In this thfy were disappointed, as it was plainly apparent five minutes after the start that the Maoris were so much superior to their opponents in every department of the game — kicking, perhaps, excepted— that interest flagged perceptibly, and scarcely a round of applause was given throughout the match. The Maoris scored 13 points to 2, and it is no exaggeration to say that, had they chosen, they could have pretty well doubled their score. Now and again the Hawke's Bay representatives would break away and carry the ball well up -the field, but the advantage was only momentary. Their display was very disappointing, and in no wise up to the form shown in the match against Canterbury, when they played with any amqunt of dash and spirit. The amount of work the team have done lately probably had the effect of making them stale. The collaring of the forwards on the whole was poor, and they allowed opponents to break through their ranks time after time. The backs, "however, were, very good, and collared excellently ; while Taku and Lowry made several fine runs. Le Quesne showed excellent form as full back, his safe and determined oollaring and good kicking adding to the reputation he earned by his display against Canterbury. M'Rae was not successful, but Wi Duncan was a great success. Robson played much the best game forward, being one of the few who showed some life ; and Hiroa, Corbett, and Hawkins were also well to the front. The last named was the only one of the forwards who seemed capable of tackling his dodgy opponents. The match was, such a soft thing for the Maoris that their play seemed to partake more of a practice than a match played in an earnest spirit; but for all that they gave an exhibition of clean and accurate passing, smart piclringup',' and marvellous dodging such as was not surpassed even by the Englishmen. The dodging runs of Gage, " Tabby " Wynyard, Elliott, Ellison, and Alfred Warbrick at times simply paralysed the col" laring of the ' Hawke's Bay backs, and had the Maoris chosen to take advantage of the work of the backs, their score would have amounted to something very large. It was clear, however, that they had no desire to make a record, and it was only due to these runs and the passing that. the match did not become very flat indeed. The tries for the, Maoris \yere gained by A. Warbrick (2), Taare (3), and Ellison, Williams, Wynyard, and Taiaroa (one each). Two goals only were kicked, one by Williams and the other by Wynyard. Robson and Corbett scored for Hawke's Bay. THE WELLINGTON MATCH. Over 2000 persons attended at Newtown Park on Saturday to witness the football match between Hawke's Bay and Wellington. A piercing cold wind was blowing all the afternoon, and towards the end of the first spell a sharp shower fell — • otherwise it was fine* The game, which resulted in favour of the»local team by three goals and three tries (12 points) to «#, was one-sided and uninteresting throughout. SimJ (back) and Stuart (forward) supplanted Dixon and Sullivan in the local team as it was found at the last moment that the latter were unable to play. Lowry, the Hawke's Bay captain, won the toss, and selected to defend the western goal, having slightly the best of the wind. • Immediately after the kick off the visitors' territory was invaded, and owing to the high kick of one of their team Fraser obtained a mark just outside the 25-yard, flag, though directly in front of the goal posts. The ball was placed for Collins, who put it well between the posts amidst great cheering. After the kick off the visitors got on a fine rush, but through kicking too hard only a force down resulted. For a few minutes the leather remained in neutral ground, but then the Wellington forwards, who had much the best of the scrums, carried the ball well into their opponents' twenty-five. Collins, the local three-quarter, .making a neat pass to Fraser, the latter got \ a near the corner flag. M'lutyre made a gr d n,i but unsuccessful kick ab goal. Soon &ftr c thia M'lntyre, Reich, Johnson, and Cookrof^ headed a fine rush, Reich passing to M'lntyre He got within a yard or two of the Hawko 1 a Bay line where he was collared ; but handir g the ball to Cockroft, the latter fell across tb- d line alongside the posts. NioholJs, the looal 'skipper, took the kick and scored the major -paint. Wellington had then scored seven points within a quarter of !u ?° U £ „• p *° thls , tiorje ifc appeared likely that Wellington conic*, run through their opponents; but Lowiy, calling on his men, headed a five rush, and fora time the Wellington line was in danger, Thompson at three-quarters having mulled the ball, the visitors obtained a free kick in Wellington's twenty- five, but no score resulted, the ball going into touch. Moorhouse relieved the Wellington goal, and for the remainder of the spell the visitors were acting on the defensive, but owing to the fine play of Lowry and Taku (three- quarters) and Le Quesne (full back) no further Pcorc was registered. Immediately after, the game was resumed, Hawke's Bay were again compelled to act on the defensive, aud Thompson had the ball passed to fasta when in frent of goal, but the leather did not rise off the ground. Morrison, Robson, and Hawkins headed a fine rush' to the local team's twenty-five; but the 'oval was soon back again, and although Taku, Lowry, and Le =

Qaesne prevented scoring for a time. At last Reich got in at the corner flag ; Collins took the kick, bat failed to increase the score. After some give and take play, during which the game was first within one twenty-five and then the other, Moore, along with Sfcnarfc and Johnston, got through the visitors' backs, and the former touohed down between the posts. Nicholls kicked an easy goal. From this oub the local men had the best of the game, and a few minutes before no side was called Sim carried the ball over the line, when Moorhonse fell on it. M'lntyre was entrusted with the place, but the ball went wide. As stated, the game was uninteresting, inasmuch as the visitors were on the defensive nearly the whole time, and although occasionally getting on fine dribbling rushes, play was soon again in their territory. Several of their forwards showed a disposition to loafing, and this threw extra work on the backs, who, although running well, were very weak in collaring. Le Quesne saved the team more than once, and Lowry also removed danger on several occasions, bat was badly supported in his rushes. The local men played with better combination than against Wairarapa, but at times their passing was very wild. Continually the advantage obtained by loose rashes was neutralised by throwing on, or kicking too hard. Johnston, Cockroft, Reich, and M'lntyre were the pick of the forwards, while Thompson as three-quarter was shoulders above any one on the ground. Sim also played a fine game as three-quarter, and it was chiefly due to his and Thompson's efforts that the Hawke's Bay forwards, after passing the full back, were prevented from scoring. THE MARLBOROUGH MATCH. A match was played at Blenheim on August 19 between teams from Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, in the presence of a large concourse of people, about 1200 being present. The weather was fine, and the game was watched throughout with much interest. The visitors were the favourites at the start, but the local team were not without their supporters. Hawke's Bay won the toss and their opponents kicked off. In the first spell for a long time the game was confined to neutral territory, neither side gaining any advantage. At length Hale, one of the Marlborough forwards, took the ball and grounded it behind the Hawke's Bay line close to the corner flag, but no farther score resulted. It was evident that the Marlborough men were heavier than their opponents, and the extra weight was made to tell in a series of rushes, although Wi Duncan by determined play managed to prevent a score against hi 3 side upon several occasions. On the other hand, the rest of the Hawke's Bay backs showed a selfishness which prevented them from taking advantage of more than one chance offered to them. During the second half of the game" the Marlborough men showed their superiority in their forward play, the ball being kept for the most part in the enemy's quarters. A few minutes after this spell was started Ball received the ball from a clever pass by Nesbitt, and seat the leather, between the posts, thus increasing the score of the local team to 4 points. Ball later on was offered another chance, but just missed by a few inches. The Hawke's Bay men then pulled themselves together, and by dint of fast rushes brought the ball close to Marlborough's goal, and were awarded a free kick on account of a contravention of the rules. The attempt was very easy, but Robson made a miserable failure. The rest of the play was uninteresting, and the match resulted in a win for Marlborough by 4 points (a goal and a try) to nil. For the local team, Speed (captain) played a grand game, as did Redwood, Nesbitt, Ball, Greig, Dodson, Mowatt, and HaJe. For Hawke's Bay, Wi Duncan was a host in himself, and Robson, Hiroa, Hawkins, Fleming, Corbett, and Swan were the most prominent among the forwards. Towards the end of the first spell Hawke's Bay lost the services of James and Morrison — the former receiving a nasty kick on the head, and the latter having his knee severely injured. Neither of these men took part in th*e game afterwards, so' the visitors had to continue with 13 men. James was unable to leave Blenheim with the rest of the team. The record of the tour of the Hawke's Bay team is not one that offers cause for congratulation, as the following summary of the results of their matches will show : — August B— v. South Canterbury, at Timaru : Won by a goal and two tries (five points) to a goal (three points). August 10— v. Canterbury, at Ohristohurch : Woa by one goal (three points) to a try (one point). August 13 -v. Otago, at Dunedin .- Lost by three goals and seven tries (16 points) to nothing. August 15— v. Katives at Christchurch : Lost by two goals and seven tries (13 points) to two tries (two points). August 17— v. Wellington, at Wellington : Lost by three goals and three tries (12 points) to nothing. August 19 —v. Marlborough, at Blenheim : Lost by a goal and a try (four points) to nothing. Summary : Matohes played, 6 ; won, 2 ; lost, 4. Scores : For — Two goals and four tries (10 points) ; against, 10 goals and 19 tries (49 points).