RUGBY CONTESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 80, 2 October 1933, Page 3

RUGBY CONTESTS

WELLINGTON BEATEN

END-OF-SEASON SURPRISE

HAWKE'S BAY'S WIN

(By. Telegraph.—Press Association.) 1 NAPIER, This Day. ' For the first time this season the Wellington 'Rugby representatives were obliged to lower their colours when they met 1 Hawke's Bay at Napier on Saturday bn- > fore a crowd of nearly 0000. Thrill succeeded thrill throughout the game, and ■ the Bay eventually ran out the winners by 23 points to 20 after a desperate last effort by Wellington. Less than half an hour before the end of the game Hawke's Bay was leading the visitors by 23 to S. The Bay's tally comprised five tries, two of which, were converted, and a field goal, and Wellington's total consisted of four tries (two converted) and a field goal. The teams were as follows: — Hawke's Bay: Vartan; Cochrane, Grant, C. Smith; Le Quesne, Bradley; Clothier; Rolls, Mataira, Steere (captain), Miller, Reaney, Hannigan, Kelly, Ireland. Wellington: Atkins; Fuller, Griffiths, Thomson; Lilburne, Page; Kilby (captain); Lamaaon, Barry, Reid, Butler, McLean, Bydder, Lambourn, Dellabarca. Hawke's Bay won the toss and played with a slight breeze. From a couple of line-outs Wellington / made a big effort to open up play, Kilby getting the leather away 6mart!y and Griffiths making a pro-, mising opening, but a knock-on spoilt the effort. From a further line-out Wellington set off for the objective, but Thomn; son was pushed out near the corner. A serum followed, and Grant pulled Griffiths down just in time. Wellington, however, were now holding the upper hand, but a bad miss by Atkins saw play transferred to the other end of the'field. SCORING OPENS. Whin Bradley failed to take a pass, liow'evei1, Wellington saw their chance. Lamason and Dellabarca broke away, with the result that Lamason scored in a handy position. Fuller goaled with a great kick. ■Wellington 5, Hawke's Bay 0. The "Magpies"- made a bold bid to even up. C. Smith featured in a great run, kicking when, he reached Thompson. Miller followed up fast and was able to touch down for a good try. Grant's kick failed. Wellington 5, Hawke's Bay 3. Lilburne was then prominent in a strong run, breaking away to a clear field. When Smith overhauled him he passed to Barry, who got through for a splendid try. Fuller's kick failed. ■ Wellington 8, Hawke's Bay 3. CROWD EXCITED. On resuming Hawke's Bay attacked and the crowd was wild with excitement when, within the next two^ minutes of play, Le, Quesne secured near half-way and sent over a perfect field goal. .Wellington 8, Hawke's Bay 7. This success gave the home team much heart. They attacked again in full force, Smith missing a try by inches and-Wel-lington-getting: out of trouble by forcing. Clothier secured from a scrum and passed to Bradley, who cut out Lilburne and Page perfectly, and, with Rolls on hand, set off for the line. When Atkins was reached the ball.went to Rolls', wlio rail on to score under the bar. Bradley goaled. Hawke's Bay 12, Wellington 8. Hawke's Bay scored again' before the interval, when Smith broke through and passed to Cochrane, who transferred to Rolls. The last-named made a great run past Atkins and scored in a handy position. Bradley's kick went true, making the half-time score: — Hawke's Bay . .... / 17 Wellington 8 LEAD INCREASED. Hawke's Bay opened the second spell with a burst which took them right down to the Wellington line, but an infringementspoilt the effort. Despite this, they came again and Reaney dived across near the . corner. Grant failed to convert. Hawke's Bay 20, Wellington 8. Wellington, now taking scrums in preference to line-outs, were tmlucky in losing Barry, who retired with a shoulder injury. Barry was replaced by, MeNeile. The visitors were making the most of the wind, but even so, were not producing the Rugby expected of them, the Hawke's Buy forwards more or less showing them "the way to go home." Rolls and Smith again got moving, and Smith finished the movement with a try in the corner. Grant's kick missed. Hawke's Bay 23, Wellington 8. LILBURNE'S BAD LUCK. • A five-yard scrum gave Wellington a good chance to reduce the lead, and Lilburne certainly had bad luck, for in attempting a "pot" the 'ball hit the post and the Bay forced. A second attempt at a field goal was made by Griffiths and met with success, the "ball this time hitting the post and bouncing over the bar. Hawke's Bay 23, Wellington 12. The visitors were trying every trick in their kit to get through, but deadly tackling by the Bay repeatedly upset them. At last the visitors met with success, Page getting through after other backs had •handled. Again Fuller missed. Hawke's Bay 23,: Wellington 15. , FULLER'S GREAT RUN. The Bay went -dl out to make their position safe,'but the:e came another sudden change when Fuller secured near half-way. The AVellington wing simply ran away from the opposition for a try in a handy position, and he converted. > Hawke's Bay 23, Wellington ■20. Excitement was now at fever heat, for there were only ten minutes of play left, Wellington trying desperately to pull the gfime Qut o£ the fire and the Bay trying to make their lead safe. Both sides were going all out, with Wellington attacking, but the Bay were not finished and again they attacked, right in Wellington's corner. Wellington found relief in a penalty, and play went back to half-way and then tp the Bay quarter. However, the Bay defence held during. a hectic two minutes just before the final whistle. Hawke's Bay 23 .Wellington 20 Mr. J. Scott, ,of ' Hastings, was the referee. . FINE EXHIBITION. The game was the best exhibition of Rugby seen in this province for several seasons. Undoubtedly the principal factor in Wellington's improvement in the last quarter was the change in the back line, Lilburne being brought in next to Kilby and Page going to centre. At first fiveeighths Lilburne played a brilliant game.