THRILLING RUGBY

Southland Times, Issue 23000, 21 September 1936, Page 8

THRILLING RUGBY

Hawke’s Bay Defeats

Auckland

A WONDERFUL FINISH (United Press Association.) Hastings, September 20. Staging a thrilling finish the Hawke’s Bay Rugby representatives defeated Auckland at McLean Park, Napier, on Saturday afternoon, before an attendance of only 3,500. The northerners held the advantage for more than three parts of the game, but lacked the finishing powers of Hawke’s Bay, who ran out winners by 25 points to 19, eleven points being scored in almost as many minutes, in the closing stages of the game. Hawke’s Bay’s success was almost entirely due to its forwards who played magnificently throughout, even in the first spell, when the run of play generally favoured Auckland, the Bay forwards were slightly superior in the open to their opponents but were poorly supported by their backs. In the first spell Auckland had a monopoly of the scoring, D. Solomon, Anderson, Bell and Booth all scoring a try, Bush converting the last two, as against two tries scored by Jackson for Hawke’s Bay. After the interval the Hawke’s Bay forwards took sole command and, instead of handing over possession to their backs, they kept the ball to themselves. This change in play made all the difference. They gradually overhauled the Aucklanders’ tally, which had been increased slightly and, ten minutes before time, they drew level, 19 points all. By this time the Bay pack had subdued its opposition and run both backs and forwards off their feet, with thrilling, sweeping rushes, in which the Bay backs began to join in for the last ten minutes of the game. The result of this fusion of the Bay forces was a dazzling display of high class Rugby, that gave a wonderful finish to generall favoured Auckland; the Bay far as Hawke’s Bay was concerned. The scorers in the second spell for Hawke’s Bay were Miller (2), Wilson, Hannigan and Reid. Bradley kicked two conversions. Carson scored a try for Auckland and Bush kicked a penalty goal. Altogether 'there were eleven tries scored, Hawke’s Bay scoring seven of them. FINAL SEDDON SHIELD GAME MARLBOROUGH DEFEATS WEST COAST. (United Press Association.) Blenheim, September 19. Marlborough capped its season’s unbeaten record in representative Rugby when it defeated West Coast’s challenge

for the Seddon Shield, by 14 points (four tries, one converted) to nil. This was Marlborough’s eighth successive win this year. The team played brilliant football in all phases of the game under ideal conditions. The winners owed their success to superior speed in a game which was played throughout at a slashing pace. Opposed to a hefty pack, the Marlborough forwards were quicker, getting a good supply of the ball for the backs, who outclassed the opposition with fast passing movements and snappy penetrating thrusts. West Coast was too slow in both departments, relying on weight, which proved fatal under the ground conditions, which made for fast play. The outstanding Marlborough backs were Mellish, Lane, Robinson and Kotua. The scorers for Marlborough were Robinson (2), O’Sullivan, and Paine. The pick of the forwards were Brown, M. Woolley and Paine. Conspicuous among the West Coast forwards were King, Walker, Cox and Scandrett.

KING COUNTRY DEFEATS AUCKLANDB AN IMPRESSIVE VICTORY. (United Press Association.) Auckland, September 20. A representative Rugby match resulted in a win for Kling Country, which defeated Auckland B by 33 points to 15. The Auckland side contained seven A representatives, who were unable to travel to Hawke’s Bay, but King Country displayed brilliant form in the second spell. In a curtain-raiser Auckland Post and Telegraph beat Wellington Post and Telegraph by 17 points to 14. MATCHES IN BRITAIN SWANSEA BEATEN BY NEATH. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) London, September 19. Rugby matches resulted as follows: Blackheath 23 v. Rosslyn Park 0; London Scottish 3 v. Wasps 9; Bath 10 v. Bedford 11; Cardiff 11 v. Bristol 0; Devonport Services 18 v. Old Blues 0; Gloucester 3 v. Coventry 0; Leicester 20 v. Plymouth Albion 5; Northampton 6 v. Richmond 23; Newport 30 v. Abertillery 6; Swansea 0 v. Neath 3; Portsmouth Services 13 v. London Irish 10; Waterloo 3 v. Headingly 13; Glasgow High School 14 v. Otley 8; Hillhead High School 21 v. Glasgow Academicals 13.

N.S.W. CHAMPIONSHIP DRUMMOYNE DEFEATS UNIVERSITY. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) Sydney, September 20. Drummoyne won the Rugby premiership of New South Wales by defeating University by 19 points to 18.