LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 3, 29 September 1919, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

AUSTRALIANS WIN, AT NAPIER. By TolesrAph—Press Aisociation. . Napier, .September 27. Tho,- Australian Northern Union footballers'defeated Hawke's Bay this afternoon by 1)7- points to 4. Tho match was witnessed by about .five thousand people. Prom, the kick-off the Australian forwards attacked, but rather careless handling uf the ball whs responsible for a check.. A little later Norman mulled a passed, and a scrum resulted. An opening presented Itself, and Gilbert got over well out from tho posts. Burge foiled with the kick, From a 6CVUUI., a dangerous-looking passing rush was "cleverly stopped, by'the j-iawke's ; Bav„-backs v ..Australia .were awarded a J free-kick, and Oxford placed the ball between the posts., A passing rush, initia ted'from a scrum, enabled Cubitt to get clear, concluding a good run with a try. Oxford converted. The home team attacked from the kick-off, but the Australian forwards forced the play back' to the half-way line, where a forward pass interrupted, their progress. Watkins later secured the ball from a v scrum, and transferred, to Fras*r, who scored under the posts. Oxford converted. Just before this score Manning (Hawke's Bay) ■had' to leave the field, suffering from facial injuries, nnd was T, Bullivant. The next score came through liallowav. who started 'a great passing rush, which went right across the field, culminating in a score in the corner by Cubitt.. Oxford again landed a beautiful goal. Hawke's Bay then reached their opponents' twenty-five from the kick-off, and two little slips on tho part of the visitors looked as if further progress would be. made, but the Australian backs got veil away again. •The home backs tackled well, and gained a respite. In,the scrum-Sel by got'offside, and as the result of the kiclc going too far, Hawke's Bay touched down. ' M'Carthy fipt away nicely from a scrum at halfway, and Hawke's Bay. were awarded "a penalty-kick close up, but at a nasty angle. Kelly's kick was j.-ot successful. At this stage 'Thorogood replaced Bobin»on, who retired with an injured kneo. Another opening from a Bcrum was made by Jl'C'arthy, but Holloway intercepted, and the visiting backs got away like lightning, Cubitt ndding yet another try. which Oxford converted. Soon after Fitzgerald was troubled with the effects of being gassed at tho front, and had-to be carried off in an unconscious .state. For a time Hawke's Bay managed to assume the offensive, and kent . the visitor's. busily defending. Eventually Sweeney got clean away from his own twenty-five, and scored under the posts, in spite of Bullivant's attempt to stop the runaway. . Oxford again convened. .Australia, '30; Hawke's Bay, 0. Gulf-time sounded soon after this score was registered. ; In the second.spoil .the aggressive tactics of the -Australians were continued for a time, but the home team succeeded in dffendini their line. Persistent endeavours resulted in Burge scoring from an opening made by Holloway. Oxford failed to convert on this occasion. The effort was apparently too much for Burge, who retired .with a tod leg. Shortly afterwards • a peunlty-kick was awarded Hawke's Bay, and M'Carthy found the | mark. Later, Eraser (Australia) - passed to Ryan, who crossed near tho goal-posts and ran round. Oxford's kick was successful. 'The home team advanced with a really good passing rush, nnd Selby reached the line, but he had just got on the touch-line en route. Australia's next score was a try by Thorogood. Australia now had the gamo well in hand, and fries followed' in quick succession by Cubitt (.')), Kenvick, Eraser, and Norman, four of which Oxford converted. M'Car- | thy placed a penalty for Hawke's Bay, making the final score G7 to 4.