RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16814, 4 June 1926, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

RANFURLY SHIELD. WIN FOR HAWKE’S BAY. BEAT WAIRABAPA, 77 TO 14. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Thursday. A record score, for Ranfurly Shield matches, and probably also for interprovincial Rugby, was registered by Hawke's Bay against Wairarapa in the first shield match of (ho season today when the defenders of the trophy rattled on 77 points lo Li. The weather was fine and the ground in perfect condition. Wairarapa kicked off and once the game got into its stride a couple of passing bouts among Ihe. Bay backs brought, play to about half-way, where it remaind for some minutes. Then Mill got the ball away from the scrum and play went to the Wairarapa line. From another scrum the ball went out to Grcnsidc, who was pushed out near the corner. Corkill picked up from the scramble and tyanded to Blake, who scored in a niev position. Grenside converted. After some pressure on the visitors’ line Stringfellow cleverly intercepted and got into the Bay twenty-five, where a penalty enabled Fuller to place a good goal. Taking the ball down at their toes from ’ a line-out the visitors again invaded home territory, but the ball got too far ahead of the attackers and a force-down resulted. The shield defenders attacked for a time, but Parker .picked up a dropped pass and sent on to Fairbrother, but the ball went out. Some lightning movements followed, and soon the ball shot toward the Wairarapa line. A race between Hood and Cooke saw the tatter touch down in the corner. (Ironside converted with a great kick. Frequent Scoring.

The visiting forwards dribbled Hie ball into the Bay 25, but an infringement let the defenders away again. Mill, Walker, Corkill, Cooke, and M, Brownlie combined in a great passing rush, culminating in the Bay captain scoring under the posts. Grenside again converted. Cooke, Walker, and M. Brownlie were associated in the next attack, and Brownlie again scored. Grenside missed the kick.

Fumbling by ihe local backs made the challenging forwards look dangerous, but a free kick allowed Nepia to And tlic line well over half-way. Then Craven secured from a line-out and scored. Grenside converted.

Blake intercepted from a visitors’ passing rush and passed to Tait, who sent on to Cooke. The latter raced away and scored. Grenside missed the kick. Half-time came with the scores:— Hawke’s Bay ...... 31 Wairarapa 3 The Second Spell. The opening of the second spell was followed quickly by a free kick for the challengers and Fuller added three points. Play was kept in the Bay half for a time, but the defence was sound. Donald was not a great success at five-eighths, being on the slow side. An attack by Hie Bay forwards then saw C. Brownlie hand lo Blake, who put in a good ruu and scored. Mill missed the kick. Immediately another lightning advance from half-way let Grenside over. His kick missed. At this stage Harvey went off with his head injured, and was replaced by Tatham. Cooke fielded a long pass from Craven, made a run, and transferred to Blake, who ran right round. Grenside converted. This was followed by another back movement. Tait scored. M. Brownlie converted. Cooke scored the next , and M. Brownlie convcrlcd. The visitors -made strenuous efforts to reduce the margin against them, but the only result was a couple of forcedowns, until at last Booth dived over in the corner. Fairbrother missed the kick. Corkill scored Bay’s next try and Grenside converted. M. Brownlie scored his third try and converted it. Renewed efforts by the visitors resulted in Fairbrother scoring. Fuller converted. G. Brownlie and Corkill got the last two tries and M. Brownlie converted both. The whistle went with the scores:— Hawke’s Bay 77 "Wairarapa Li Mr G. Maddison, Mayor of Hastings, was the referee.