CLARKE’S GREAT PLAY

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1934, Page 10

CLARKE’S GREAT PLAY

REST OF TEAM HARMLESS GREAT HAWKE’S BAY WINGER. HOME FORWARDS DOMINATE PLAY. (Special Reporter.) Hawke’s Bay kicked off towards the seaward end with a west wind blowing across the ground. Play went to Taranaki's eastern comer with a succession of line kicks, from which Hawke’s Bay won all the line-outs,. Smith secured from the final one and grounded the ball triumphantly in the comer for a try after five minutes’ play. Evans’ kick was wide. Play was held up with S. Fookes and Boswell injured. . Smith went sailing down the line and passed infield to Le Quesne, for whom Boswell was waiting. Evans took a free-kick for a scrum infringement, dropping a place-kick in the goal-mouth for the Taranaki pack to clear from a melee. The Taranaki backs were not moving vzell and Fookes was . caught with the ball. From a scrum at Taranaki’s twenty-five Clothier ran round and sent Bradley through. The ball went overhead to Reaney but Sullivan caught the ball first and forced. Evans and Smith came down the wing, however, with little opposition and after a pause Steere scored unopposed in the corner. Evans , converted. BOSWELL RETIRES HURT. Boswell retired with an injured neck and Sangster took his place. Hawke’s Bay infringed and Collins had a kick at goal from the twonty-five against the wind, the ball sailing just outside. The challengers’ backs staged a good movement and then Collins was caught by the heel while preparing to drop-kick. Play became opportunist on many occasions, with Hawke’s Bay the more aggressive. Taranaki’s backs woke up a little and showed better on both attack and defence. K. Fookes and Sullivan caught Vartan, who was penalised for holding on, and Collins’ kick was just short from 40 yards out Taranaki won a line-out for once and K. Fookes lined ten yards from the goalline. Hawke’s Bay forwards were well offside and Collins kicked a good goal after twenty-five minutes’ play. Hawke’s Bay 8 * Taranaki 3 A free-kick to Taranaki and then a good line-kick by Sangster placed Taranaki in Hawke’s Bay’s comer, but first Steere and then Mataira broke through the Taranaki line and rushed play back to half-way. Apsey from there carved holes in an anxious defence to send Bradley across, Taranaki being well out of position. The scorer failed to convert his try. A scrum was formed at half-way. Hawke’s Bay hooked cleanly and Clothier ran just long enough on th£ blind side to place Smith beyond Hunter's reach. Sullivan came across to aid Collins but the Hawke’s Bay forwards were on the spot and both Collins (Hawke’s Bay) and Steere handled before the Bay captain scored his second try. Evans missed narrowly with the kick. Halftime came with the score:— ' Hawke’s Bay 14 Taranaki 3

The wind blew freshly as the second spell began and the sun came out behind Taranaki. S. Fookes was standing off as a wing forward pure and simple and at once made his presence felt. Reaney applied’a late tackle to Collins as he cleared and the full-back was temporarily “out” with a face injury. Ray Clarke was playing magnificent football and constantly gained ground with fast loose rushes. Clothier worked the blind side again and sent Apsey away on a run that went 50 yards before Fookes found the line. Sangster and Wills cleared but the ball went over the other side. Smith rocketed up the line and somersaulted over' Collins the moment after he had passed to Le Quesne. The five-eighth ran round behind the goal and appeared to touch down. Taranaki walked back but the referee signalled no try, holding that the ball was bounced. BARRACKING BY CROWD. The crowd hooted for five minutes and contented itself with solid barracking for Hawke’s Bay, which changed into a roar of applause as Smith charged for the line again. The previous movement was repeated, except that Rolls was there instead, and he made sure of the try. Evans’ kick missed. Hawke’s Bay 17, Taranaki 3. Collins was a sick man but took a high attacking kick perfectly as Steere and Reid charged him chest high. The full-back dropped the ball, staggered a' few yards, limping and holding his back, and collapsed. After two or three minutes he recovered and took his mark, continuing slightly groggily. Clothier worked the blind side again and sent Bradley and Smith across the line. Hunter had his hands on the ball and there was a.. five-yard scrum. Collins cleared and down at the other end all the Taranaki backs handledstraight across the field—for Hunter to receive the ball and Smith’s tackle at the same time. Hawke’s Bay took up the attack again and shocking play by Taranaki left Collins alone holding up Le Quesne and Apsey on his own line. Apsey found himself with the boll and looked around to find Evans coining up from the middle of a wide expanse of green. There w'as no Opposition for the centre to score in the corner. Evans missed with the kick and Hawke’s Bay led by 20 to 3. Taranaki backs were still striving hard but the clean-cut efficiency of HaWke’s Bay nipped all movements in the bud easily. Clarke and Wills led Taranaki downfield and broke through. from a scrum, in Hawke’s Bay’s twenty-five. Wills passed on to Clarke, who bowled' Le Quesne over and passed to Sangster, who had seen the idea. Sangster’s pace was no greater than usual but he had only 10 yards to go and got there. The touch judges disallowed Collins’ kick but the referee signalled a conversion. Hawke’s Bay 20 Taranaki 8 Fookes and R. Young sent Taranaki far up-field with well placed kicks to gaps in the defence, but Young was the only forward following up. Smith zig-zagged his way past Hunter and was collared in a cloud of dust by Fookes. The ball rolled over the line and two of each side raced for it, landing together. There was a five yards scrum, and later another when Collins carried the ball back. The full-back tried to put his side on attack by running round, but had not enough pace to get away from Le Quesne and his. line-kick went to Apsey. Apsey beat Edwards badly and Evans smashed into a tackle by Sullivan that laid the Taranaki man out. Apsey had only to pass to Reid, however, and the forward scored. Bradley’s kick was a failure. A final effort by Taranaki saw Sullivan streak downfield in his best work of the day. Edwards was outside him but Sullivan tried to dummy, held the ball and was tackled. Edwards, however, swerved infield as the centre shook free and prepared to pass, and so the movement broke down. Hawkes Bay 23 Taranaki .... 8