FINAL TRY DEFEATS CANTERBURY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1931, Page 14

FINAL TRY DEFEATS CANTERBURY.

Cooke’s Brilliant Play turns Game in Hawke’s Bay’s Favour. (Special to the “ Star.”)

HAWKE’S BAY, August 20. THE final score was: Hawke’s Bay 17, Canterbury 14. A few minutes before it was: Canterbury 14, Hawke’s Bay 12. One of Cooke’s famous solo bursts turned the tide and won the game. The spectators could have asked for little better in the way of attractive Rugby, and the result was typical of clashes between Canterbury and the Bay. There have never been more than six points between these two provinces in any match since 1921. The first spell indicated a comfortable victory for the Bay, but a surprising burst by Canterbury after the second session had been in progress five minutes quickly convinced onlookers that any victory was to be hard earned.

Thrill succeeded thrill until in the last quarter of an hour, during which the Bay, who were behind by two points, kept hammering at the visitors’ line in a frantic attempt to regain mastery. It was sparkling Rugby, played at an exceedingly fast pace, and though more finished handling by the Bay players, especially in the second spell, might have improved the quality of the game, there was little at which the crowd could cavil. The outstanding players in Canterbury’s rearguard were Oliver, for attacking work, and Day, who, besides making a number of useful openings, played a resourceful defensive game. Hart was also very attractive, but did not see sufficient of the ball to show the maximum of his effectiveness. It would be difficult to single out any one or two of the Canterbury forwards as being particularly prominent. The pack played well as a combina-

tion, keeping the game fairly tight and preventing the Bay forwards from opening up in dribbling rushes on many occasions. Roberts was consistently sound. His accurate touchfinding, besides being the medium of saving the forwards a lot of work, was always

a delight to watch. “ Shrewd and Clever.” The Bay have a lot to be thankful for in the presence of Cooke. His shrewd anticipation and polished execution of the movements which he essayed were easily distinguishable as the attributes of a player of rare genius. A painful injury that he suffered to his leg halfway through the second spell almost necessitated his replacement. Even though he had to play with every caution from that moment onwards, and was consequently not so prominent as he might have been for the remainder of the game, it is certain that Canterbury would have been the victors had he retired. Setford Succeeds. Setford was a distinct success in his first game behind the provincial scrum for many years. If the handling can be improved, it seems that there should be very little reason for any further reshuffling of the Bay backs. E. Howell and Grenside appeared to be the most noticeable offenders, and the latter gave the impression that he is by no means so effective in the middle of the field as on the wing.

Steere, Wanoa and Anderson were the most prominent of the Magpie forwards, while M’Kay played an invaluable game as wing forward. The All Black lock, Steere, was always first away from the scrum, while Wanoa was a particularly solid worker whatever phase the game took on. Anderson

was signally useful in the loose. The scores fall short of accuracy in reflecting the relative qualities of the teams. The Bay had indisputable territorial advantage, being on the visitors’ side of half-way for practically the whole of the first spell and for twenty minutes in the second. The Bay's total, moreover contained five tries, as against two by Canterbury. Without reducing the merits of Canterbury’s performance —and the visitors deserve every credit for the brilliant rally which they made in the second session —it must be repeated that the Bay’s tally should have been much higher. More reliable place-kicking would have increased the scoring in the first spell, and rectification of frequent infringements would have produced further tries in the second. So faulty was the Bay’s play that Canterbury received eight penalties, as against one awarded to the Bay. PLAY DESCRIBED. The teams were: — Canterbury—Roberts; W. Brown, Innes, Hart, Oliver and Day; Vincent; Andrews, Sweeney, K. Brown; Manchester, Roberts, Quaid, Cotterill and Pease. Hawke’s Bay—Evans Smith, Grenside, M. Howell; Cooke (captain), E. Howell; Setford; M’Kay, Fitzgibbon, Anderson, Wilson, Steere, Campbell, Wanoa, J. Gemmell. A vigorous opening placed Hawke’s Bay on the offensive almost immediately after the kick-off, but a number of movements broke down, principally through faulty handling, before success rewarded their efforts. The Bay pack carried the bulk of the offensive and. though they made many openings for the backs, it was a forward, Campbell, who opened the scoring with a fine try secured after breaking from a scrum fifteen yards from the goal line. Evans missed the kick. The Bay forwards kept up a strong pace, harrassing the defence with re peated bursts that showed up the weak ness of the Canterbury tackling Dropped passes and infringements on an open field still marred the move ments among the backs and Hawke’s Bay’s second try was by a forv/ard Wilson. Evans again failed to convert Within a minute of Canterbury’s kick-off Steere was across, but an infringement carried the game back. Setford improved the Bay’s total by fall-

ing on the ball after it had slipped to the ground from a melee. Grenside was given a chance with a kick but could not do better than Evans. Hawke’s Bay 9, Canterbury 0. A heavy score against Canterbury seemed probable when M. Howell threw off three challengers to register the Bay’s fourth try after the whole line of backs had handled. The occasion was practically the only one on which the Bay’s rearguard had not broken down. Grenside came to light with another disappointing kick, but the Bay were 12 points up at half-time. But for two startling runs by Hart and a short-lived movement in which backs and forwards combined, Canterbury had not seriously troubled Hawke’s Bay. Cooke had been responsible for the greater part of the Bay’s superiority, while Roberts had figured prominently in the Canterbury defence, being consistently sound with accurate line-kicking. The Second Spell.

Brisk work by the Hawke’s Bay pack found Canterbury on defence when the second session opened, but the Canterbury backs were responsible for an attack from which Roberts was given an opportunity at goal. He landed a fine kick. Hawke’s Bay 12, Canterbury 3. The performance was repeated shortly afterwards, when Canterbury again were in the Bay’s territory. Hawke’s Bay 12, Canterbury 6. Sweeney looked like increasing Canterbury’s tally when he started for the line with no one to pass. He was overtaken by Smith, however, and in falling injured a leg so severely that he had to leave the field, being replaced by Hooker. Oliver registered Canterbury’s first try a few minutes afterwards. Securing in a defensive position, he cleverly dummied Smith, ultimately sending Hart racing down the line. Oliver was handy to receive an in-pass when the Bay full-back confronted the winger, and the five-eighths went on to score a brilliant try, which Roberts failed to convert. Smith had to retire with a head injury received when he was attempting to frustrate Oliver’s dummy. He was replaced by Rhodes. Hawke’s Bay 12, Canterbury 9.

Canterbury’s next and final score was the result of a fine forward burst, K. Brown crossing in a handy position. Roberts goaled. Canterbury 14, Hawke’s Bay # 12. For over a quarter of an hour Canterbury had seldom been on the defensive, but Brown’s try was a signal for a vigorous burst by the Bay, who monopolised the attack for the next twenty minutes with repeated thrusts designed to penetrate the defence and overhaul Canterbury’s total. Faulty play almost cost the Bay the game, however, for tries were lost on no fewer than four occasions by infringement. The Canterbury line was crossed four times in quick succession, but knock-ons spoiled each movement'. A brief sortie by Canterbury saw the Bay on the defensive for a minute, but Cooke reversed the situation by racing to the goal-line. When he reached Roberts, he kicked, and when he dived for the ball it bounced backwards over his head, but Wanoa, who was only a yard or two behind him, gathered it to carry on and score the final try. Evans was successful with the kick. The remaining few minutes of the game was a forward battle in midfield, the game ending with the score:— HAWKE’S BAY 17 CANTERBURY 14 VERSATILE SPORTSMAN. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, August 19. The manager of the Australian Rugby team, Mr T. C. Davis, is not interested in football only, as in his former days he was an inter-State cricketer. He played for the Western Suburbs Club, and was an opening batsman with the famous left-hander, Warren Bardsley. He has represented New South Wales at cricket. This the first occasion Mr Davis has visited New Zealand, except when he called at Wellington for a couple of days on his way back from the war. He held a commission in the Australian Imperial Forces as captain of the Machine Gun Corps. At present Mr Davis is a councillor of the New South Wales Rugby Union and president of the Western Suburbs Rugby Club. INTER-COLLEGIATE GAMES. The Christ’s College first fifteen will leave Christchurch this evening for the annual tournament with Wellington College, Wanganui Collegiate School and Nelson College. This year the tourney is to take place in Wanganui, the first round being played on Saturday, when the draw will be as follows: First match, Wellington College v. Nelson College; second match, Christ’s College v. Wanganui Collegiate School. In the second round the winner of the preliminary series will play off, whilst the losers will meet to decide possession of the “ wooden spoon.” Last year, when the tournament was staged in Christchurch, Nelson defeated Wellington in the final. The Christ’s College team will be as follows: Full-back, A. P. J. JVlonteuth (captain); three-quarters, T. A. Gresson, B. L. J. Spence and H. G. Sedgely; five-eighths, H. F. Flower and C. N. Mackenzie; half-back, T. B. Morten; wing-forward, C. C. G. Webb; forwards, A. H. Harding, D. H. Arthur (hookers), B. P. Smith (lock), J. H.. Holderncss, A. A. Roberts (supports), A. R. W. Ormond and R. A. Kimberley (back rankers). The emergencies will be A. K. B. Williams, A. M Gunn (backs) and E. R. Harper (forward). WAIRARAPA WIN. Per Press Association. MASTERTON, August ID. In a fast, keenly-contested game, the Wairarapa Rugby representatives defeated Manawhenua to-day by 29 points to 17. The half-time score was 10 •points to 6 in Wairarapa’s favour.