RUGBY IN THE MUD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21133, 5 September 1938, Page 5

RUGBY IN THE MUD

Hawke’s Bay Win

Handling Very Sure Interesting Match Tire Hawke’s Bay touring team concluded their southern tour on Saturday when they met and defeated South Canterbury at Fraser Park by 16 points to six. Intermittent rain on Thursday and Friday, and steady rain throughout Saturday morning made the ground almost a quagmire, while there were also large pools of water dotted over the playing area. Fortunately the rain ceased before the game commenced, or conditions would have been a great deal worse. Under the circumstances the attendance was good. The visitors fielded a strong side, and even under the conditions prevailing gave a fine display. In fact the game generally was one of the best wet day exhibitions seen in Timaru for many years, and the spectators who decided to patronise the match were well repaid for their enthusiasm. No opportunity was lost by the Bay backs in endeavouring to open the game up, and how they managed to handle the greasy ball was a marvel. They played close to each other to minimise the risk of mistakes, but even so they generally made ground with their moves, the wings more often than not kicking for touch when they were unable to make headway on the heavy going.

The play of the visiting back line was thrown into relief by the disinclination and inability of the home line to tackle the going. Not once did the ball travel along the chain, Morrison being wasted on the wing. Adkins apparently realised this, and sent Donaldson, who replaced Cartwright, who went off Injured in the first half, to the wing, McPhail going to second five-eighth and Morrison to centre. From the point of view of direct attack the move did not effect any improvement, but Morrison's speed enabled him to get up close and bustle the opposing backs. Once or twice he found openings, but the greasy ball beat him. Morrison played an outstanding game, and revealed himself as the classiest back on the field. Snapping up a stray pass in the first half he broke clean through the defence, but could not get sufficient foothold to run round Dyer, the Bay custodian, whom he had nicely fended off. A try at that stage of the game would have heartened the home team considerably. The All Black’s kicking was an asset, and once again he scored all the points registered by his team. Good Defcnca Little fault could be found with the defence of the home backs, all of whom went down to the solid Bay rushes. The work of Parsons, who received a severe drubbing, and Blyth in this respect was most noticeable, while Rollinson also effected a number of good saves by showing determination when the odds were against him. He and Dyer, the Bay fullback, both gave sound displays, the kicking of the latter being powerful and accurate. His positional play was also good. One of the prettiest openings of the day was made by Palmer, the Bay second five-eighth when, in the first half, he cut clean through the defence, his outside men ranging up alongside. Palmer had only Rollinson

to beat, and elected to cut in under the posts, and paid the penalty. Devine and Fox were unmarked on the outside, and a pass would have meant a certain try. As things turned out, the mistake was not costly, but it left the Bay three points down at the interval. Apart from this lapse Palmer was just as sound as the other backs on the day. The visiting pack was one of the best seen in Timaru for a long time, and although South Canterbury were shaded in most departments, they were by no means disgraced. The Black and Whites were particularly effective in the loose, their deadliness in this department being due entirely to their < backing up. They appeared to work in lines of two, and if the front men overran the ball, there were others behind to keep the movement going. With the Greens there was no system, although some of their rushes were quite effective. Fast Forward Bowman, who is surprisingly fast for his size, was outstanding in the visiting pack, and deserved the two tries which came his way. S. McKenzie, another big forward, was also conspicuous throughout, and should go a long way in the game. Dallimore shone in the line-outs, hi which department the Bay played cleverly. They seldom let the ball out in their own half, preferring to put it on the ground, but once on attack they gave Clothier good service. Ward, Jackson and Dalton also did their share of hard work. In the South Canterbury pack Fitzgerald and Adkins were in the thick of the work all afternoon, while McCully also grafted well. Fitzgerald sec.. 3 to improve with every game, and on Saturday figured in several good solo efforts. The teams:— Hawke’s Bay Full-back: M. Dyer. Three-quarters: R. Fox, R. Devine, E. Apsey.

Five-eighths: E. Palmer, L. Bradley (first). Half-back: L. Clothier (captain). Back row: J. Dallimore. Side row: C. Wilson, R. Ward. Locks: A. Bowman, S. McKenzie. Front row: D. Dalton, R. Keeble, E. Jackson. South Canterbury Full-back: C. E. Rollinson. Three-quarters: W. Murphy, K. McPhail, T. C. Morrison. Five-eighths: C. Cartwright, K. Blyth. Half-back: D. Parsons. Back row: G. Adkins (captain). Side row: E. Fitzgerald, T. Polhill. Locks: E. Ivey, P. Gale. Front row: W. McCully, P. Columb, I. Greer. The Play South Canterbury charged through from half-way and the Bay were penalised in the 25, where Morrison had a shot from wide out which was well off the mark. Bowman and Palmer headed a rush to half-way where the Bay backs swung into action, Fox making a brilliant dash up the line before being pushed into touch. Breaking fast in the loose the Hawke's Bay forwards adopted bustling tactics, but Morrison sent them back twice with driving kicks. When Devine failed to take a difficult kick, Fitzgerald made a solo dash to the 25 where he was joined by Murphy. Murphy kicked over the line but in the dash for the ball, Dallimore was a fraction quicker to force. Hawke’s Bay were penalised for lifting in the scrum and Morrison with a brilliant kick from wide out in the 25, posted the opening score of the match: South Canterbury 3, Hawke’s Bay 0 Cartwright retired with an injured leg, and was replaced at second five-

eighths by J. Donaldson. South Canterbury continued to attack, and when Hawke’s Bay were penalised for lifting their feet in the scrum, Morrison i;ad another shot which missed narrowly. Hawke’s Bay effectively worked the blind side to attack, Fox again being despatched up the wing. The backs were handling splendidly and P-’—er cut in smartly to be hauled down by Rollinson three yards from the line. Hawke's Bay again swung into action, however, and the ball travelled out to Apsey, after Palmer had cut out a man, the winger scoring a good try. Fox failed with the kick. South Canterbury 3, Hawke’s Bay 3. From a scrum on the 25, Hawke’s Bay were again penalised, and Morrison kicked his second goal, the ball travelling low to skim over the crossbar.

South Canterbury 6, Hawke’s Bay 3. The forwards were battling hard in the atrocious going and for many minutes play could not progress past half-way. The Bay backs, handling particularly well, worked their way to the 25, where after several attempts to cross, they were driven back as a result of a splendid interception by Morrison, who made a solo dash for 30 yards before being spreadeagled in the mud. Half-time was called with Hawke’s Bay attacking, with the scores:—

South Canterbury 6, Hawke’s Bay 3. Hawke’s Bay set their backs in motion at the start of the second spell, and bustled the defence. From a scramble on the line Bowman went over for a good try. Bradley converted to make the score — Hawke’s Bay 8, South Canterbury 6. Following up fast the South Canterbury forwards, headed by Fitzgerald,

and McCully, swept to the 25, but the scene was changed immediately when Devine cleared to half-way. South Canterbury came again, however, and attacked for some minutes without penetrating the Bay defence. Morrison saved a certain try when he got up to haul down Apsey, who appeared to have an open door to the line. South Canterbury, however, failed to clear wh-n Rollinson was caught to possession and Bowman, racing up fait, sc'—d his second try of the day. Fox converted, making the score: — Hawke’s Bay 13, South Canterbury 6. The Hawke's Bay backs were handling brilliantly considering the conditions and again the whole line were

seen in action. The ball travelled out to Fox who was away in a flash, but Morrison raced up to bring him down 10 yards from the line. With South Canterbury inches from the Hawke’s Bay line, Adkins crossed but was effectively held up by Devine, and South Canterbury were driven back after they had unsuccessfully tried to screw the scrum. Going down to a strong Hawke’s Bay forward rush, Rollinson received a kick on the back and had to retire. He was replaced by N. Ford. Breaking away quickly from a scrum in the home 25, the visiting backs and forwards made a combined dash for the line, Bradley going over for a good try. The scorer failed to convert. Hawke’s Bay 16, South Canterbury 6. I .'orrison made a great rush upfield and weaved his way through, the defence to place South Canterbury a few yards from the line. From the scrum, however, South Canterbury could not handle and the Bay came through to half-way. In spite of a determined solo dash by Adkins, South Canterbury could not penetrate the defence, the game ending with the scores: — Hawke’s Bay 16 South Canterbury 6 Mr C. L. Cutler was referee.