HAWKE'S BAY v. POVERTY BAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9847, 14 September 1903, Page 4

HAWKE'S BAY v. POVERTY BAY.

The annual fixture between tho representatives of the above Unions was played at Hawke's Bay on Saturday afternoon. The weather was delightfully line, and there was a large attendance. Great interest was taken m the contest, as is always the case when these old opponents take the field; and the fact of Poverty Bay proving victorious over Hawke's Bay last year lent additional interest to this season's match. £hvr their Southern tour, m which they secured a victory over Canterbury, and several other close games, it was generally expected by Nnpieritcs that their representatives would easily wipe out that defeat, and consequently Hawke's Bay were warm favorites. Poverty Bay were unfortunate m losing the services of one of their front rankers, C. Dunning, owing to his striking v peg whilst cycling and falling heavily. His injuries were more serious than first anticipated, and he will be unable to again don the jersey for some time. The first emergency, C. Petersen, therefore took a place m the team, Bright taking Dunning's place m the front rank with Mullaney. The ground was very hard, and several of the players on both sides got nasty bruises as a result of their coming m contact with Mother Earth. Several alterations were made m the Hawke's Bay team, Kivell taking Henry's place at full-back, while Heath and Cattenach replaced Carlson and Mitchell. THE TEAMS. The teams lined out as follows: — HAWKE'S BAY (Black and White). Full-back, Kivell, 12.3; three-quarters, A. Balfour 11.4, F. McVay 12.0, F. Russell 11.5; five-eighth, D. McCarthy 12.6 ; half, S. Toinlinson 9.12; wing forwards, J. Muuvo 11.2, and E. Tyne 11.10; forwards, M. McCarthy 12.0, A. McCarthy 11.10, Willis 12.4, Merritt 12.5, Cattanach 12.0, Heath 11.8, H. Lang 12.8. Average weight:. Forwards 12.3, backs 11.4. POVERTY BAY (Blue and Black.) Full-back, A. Russell 9.12; threequarters, G. Nolan 1.0, H. Symes 11.4, M. Murphy 12.5; five-eighths, Poananga 11.0, G. Reynolds 11.6; lmlf, J. Hay 9.9; wing forward, J. Wauchop 12.6; forwards, J. Mullaney 10.10, H. Bright 11.12, C. Petersen 11.5, J. Holmes 13.0, H. Fairlie 13.1, J. Newton 11.0, J. Morrisey 12.0. Average weight: Forwards 11.10, backs 11.2. H. Symes captained tho visitors, and J. Munro the home team. Mi* A. Williams acted as referee and Messrs A. Hillson (Poverty Bay) and W. Cameron (Napier) as touch-line judges. THE PLAY. Hawke's Bay, winning the toss, elected to defend the town goal,, having a slight breeze m their favor. Poverty Bay kicked off, the ball being returned to Reynolds, who put it out of play with a nice kick. From the line, the black and white forwards, with Willis, Heath, and Cattanach prominent, rushed play into Gisborne's 25, where a-* scrum took place. Bright, Newton, and MuUaney came to the rescue with a great clash, and Poananga, shortly after, was instrumental m still further gaining ground, but unfortunately knocked on, and n scrum was formed m thoir opponents' 25. This was carried by Gisborne, and the ball going over the line Napier were compelled to force. Ba.lfour kicked out. and some good work by Morrisey and Murphy saw play go out at centre. From the line-out, Hawke's Bay started throwing the ball about, and some pretty work between McVay, F. Russell, .and Munro took play to the visitors' 25, but the latter was thrown out by A. Russell. Murphy, getting offside, gave Hawke's Bay a free kick, McVay unsuccessfully essaying at goal. Poananga returned the kick, Willis marking. McVay again failed, and the visitors forced. On resuming, Hawke's Bay attacked vigorously, Balfour especially showing fine form, his running and kicking being applauded. Reynolds and Balfour exchanged marks, when Nolan, m a tight position, gained crround by a pretty kick into touch. From the line the Gisborne forwards broke away with the ball at their toes. Fairlie, Newton. Holmes, and Mullnney m the van, .and the game became very fast for a while, Poverty Bay having the best of the loose rushes. McVay here saved n difficult position by a timely kick. For offside plnv by Mulkney, Gisborne were penalised, and Hawke's Bay forwards, following up smartly, got right on to the ball. J. Hay. however, extracted his side from a difficult situation by securing the ball and kicking. Fairlie broke through a scrum, but the advantage- gained was equalised by a combined rush by the black and whites. Nolan, from a long kick by McVay, made a nretty catch and found the'line. Hay here got m a dandy run, and things were looking da.ngerous for Hawke's Bay when he had the misfortune to Imve the hall knocked out of his hands. Hawke's Bay now pulled themselves together a bit, and a tine forward rush saw play m the centre. The visitors, however," were playing strongly, and Hay and Reynolds, also Poananga, were putting m some fine work. Morrisey, Bright, and Petersen following, up a kick of Hay's, took play to the home's 25. Hawke's Bay cleared their line, and', assisted by a weak,,kickby Russell, put the blue "and blacks on the defensive, but Nolan saved with a neat kick. Several scrums near thfe line were successfully repulsed, but at last the oval was rushed over, Pnananga. just beating Tyne and forcing. Hawke's Bay again, assumed the aggressive, and the visitors had a lively time of it for a while m defending their goal, the home team, on a couple of occasions, nearly getting over. Some good passing by the black md white's backs was indulged m, and Murphy bea* Balfour by intercepting. Aided by a free kick, Symes sent the oval to centre; and from a scrum a great rush by the Poverty Bay backs was started. Reynolds transferred neatly to Poannnga, who passed to Hay, the latter making a great run right* to the line, where he handed it on to Bright, who rushed over and scored. Symes just missed adding the maior points. Poverty Bay 3. Napier 0. Heath. Tyne. and A.' McCarthy got on a splendid" rush on resuming, taking play right down the field at a fast bat, and the ball going over the line Hay forced. The Gisborne forwards followed Symes' kick up and prevented a return, and from a scrum they heeled out nicely to Hay, who passed to Reynolds, but the latter, was collared. Not to be denied, Napier again invaded Gisborne's 25, and McVay, passing to Russell, the latter put m a great effort, and beating several men, including his brother, scored a well-merited try. McVay converted. Hawke's Bay 5, Gisborne 3. Interesting play took place for a time, when a fast, combined rush by the home forwards took the game into' Gisborne's quarters. Just on half-time Hay made a great run up the field, and kicking, brought down his man before he could return it, and going out of play m Napier's 25, the spell ended with Hawke's Bay leading by two points.

After the usual breathing space, the second spell was resumed. It was genernlly expected, after the good fight by Poverty Bay m the first spell, that the latter part of the game would be hotly contested. A surprise was m store for the Gisborne team, for the ball had hardly been set going, when F. Russell obtained a pass, and 'after making, a fine run, punted over the heads of Svmes'-and Xolan, and following up smartly, again snapped the ball, scoring near the comer flag. McVay failed at goal. Napier 8, Gisborne 3. After this reverse, the visitors shook matters up considerably. Murphy was conspicuous m shifting play to Napier's quarters, making a great run down the line. .For a long time, play was m Napier's quarters, the Gisborne forwards getting on some grand rushes. From loose work near line, Poananga kicked', and compelled the black and whites to force. Again Poverty Bay attacked strongly, the forwards working desperately. Symes passed to Nolan, who uut it out of play, and from the lin 0 out Poananga took splendidly, being collared just as he was about to cross the trench. From a passing run. Symes again transferred to Murphy, who made a great dash for the line, and just mifised scoring. Napier forced. I Yet again Poverty Bay attacked, the forwards, to a man, working like Trojans, and onslaught after onslaught was made on the enemy's line. Kivell marked a dangerous rush of the Gisborne vanguard m the nick of time, and Mullaney returned with a dodgy run, Hawke's Bay again being forced. The black and white supporters were becoming uncomfortable at the persistent attack of the Gisborne boys, and many shouts broke forth for the team to pull themselves together. This they did, their forwards and backs starting some pretty passing rushes. The men lined out right across the field m close proximity to each other, and the oval went from one to another m rapid succession with the utmost precision. The ball sometimes went through eight or nine players' liands, and the passing being so quick and short, the Gisborne team liad very little chance of stemming the tide when these runs were, initiated. The Gisborne backs, however, put m a stubborn defence, and saved their side repeatedly. For some time Hawke's Bay attacked warmly, and the visitors were compelled to save. The blue and blacks, with Wauchop, Morrjsey, and Newton leading, "gradually 'cleared their line of danger, but Heath, CatUuiach, and Willis retaliated by a fine rush. A fast dash by Gisborne forwards took play into Napier's 25, where Symes essayed a- pot at goal, without success, compelling the black and whites to force. • Fairlie and Bright were responsible for good work on resuming, and Hay, obtaining a mark, kicked. The forwards followed up' well, and the ball going over the line, Petersen dashed after it and scored. Symes made a. poor attempt at goal. Napier 8, Gisborne 6. The home team responded with some pretty passing rushes, taking the oval right on to Gisborne's line. Hay and Reynolds were instrumental m clearing their quarters, and took play to centre, being ably assisted by Bright ami Wauchop. Finally, a swart pass by D.

McCarthy to Tyne, who punted, enabled Munro to follow up smartly and score. Symes, m attempting to save, was badly obstructed, but the referee failed to notice the breach. D. McCarthy just fiiiled to convert, kicking a "poster." Willing play followed the resumption of hostilities, the Gisborne forwards making great efforts to draw level. Mullnney got over and scored what appeared a fair try. but the referee was unable to determine, mid ordered a scrum five yards out. Even play resulted, and on the ball going out of play near Napier's line, the result of a nice run and kick by Symes, the whistle sounded no side^ with the score: Hawke's Bay 11, Poverty Bay 6. The Gisborne team, though defeated, were by no means disgraced. Hawke'.s Bay, both m the scrum and back division, were heavier than their opponents, and m the second spell their forwards "hooked" the ball well, giving their backs plenty of chances. Their combination was a long way superior, both the forwards and backs putting m effective, work. The passing at times was a trout to witness, and gained much applause. In the loose, open rushes Poverty Bay were irresistible, time after time clearing their line with a fast dash down the field. The visiting vanguard, everyone of them, proved honest workers, and gave a lot of trouble to the Napier backs by their fast following up. Bright, Newton, Mullnney, and Morrisey were the best m the open. Fairlie also played splendidly, the Tokomaru rep. coming through the scrum with the ball at his toes m fine style. Wauchop, Holmes, and Petersen "also put m solid work. # The Gisborne backs were very safe, their defence being a feature of the game. A. Russell, who was suffering from a severe cold, was weak, and not up to his usual standard. Nolan, Symes and Murphy played good games, the latter getting on several dangerous runs, on a couple of occasions just missing a score. Nolan had most of the work on his side, and acquitted himself with every credit to himself and district. Symes did not get many chances, but he did his work very satisfactory. His kicking was right off. J. Hay, Reynolds, and Poananga did the brunt of the fiard work, the two first-named playing brilliantly. Hay, taking the game right through, put m more work than Reynolds, and was undoubtedly the best oF the kicks, Reynolds being a. close second. The Hiiwke's Bay team proved a clashing one, their backs <md forwards all playing well together, and only, beat Poverty Bay by their superior combination. F. Russell. McVay and Balfour were a fine throe-quarter line, the former surprising the spectators by his excellent play. Kivell was safe at full, and D. McCarthy made a fine five-eighth. S. Tomlinson, at half, appeared stale, and put no life into his work. The forwards were a willing set, ;ind m close work were particularly noticeable. Willis. Cattanach, and Heath were, perhaps, the best. The wings, Tyne and Munro, both played well, the former especially. The trip was a most enjoyable one, and the team, by their conduct, both on and off the field, won the good opinions of nil. Nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the sojourn m Napier, and the weather was delightfully fine during the whole, of the time. The Hawke's Bay officials, principally Messrs J. Fortune (secretary), Renouf, Jones, and Smyrk, were untiring m their efforts to entertain the visitors. A musical evening was spent at the Working Men's Club on Saturday evening, when a very pleasant time was spent.