SPECTACULAR RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19982, 6 July 1939, Page 9

SPECTACULAR RUGBY

VICTORY FOR WAIROA NAPIER - HASTING S BEATEN MARGIN OF 20 POINTS TO 19 (Sx>eeial to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. In one of thc most exciting matches witnessed in Wairoa for some years, thc home team yesterday defeated a visiting Napier-Hastings fifteen by 26 points to 19. Both teams played' fast and spectacular Rugby, the backs throwing the ball about with abandon. The Wairoa forwards combined well, and featured on several occasions in sparkling dribbling rushes. The visiting .pack tolled hard right throughout the match, and the backs displayed 'speed and penetration. The Wairoa backs showed perfect understanding, and their handling, despite ■the greasy state of the bail, was all that could be desired. The teams were:— Napier-Hastings.- — Bligih, Smith, Cono-le, R. Joll, Stanford, Holt, Tomoana, Kirklcy; S. Jackson, Wilson, Cox, M. Thompson, Frazer, W. Mataira, and D. Thompson. Wairoa. —Harvey, Rika, Brady, T. Marti, Nor fhcr'oft. Powdrell ,T. Hook, lb Brownlie, McLean, Spooner. lie- 1 - ban, P. Smith, Iluafa, Malaira, and O’Rourke. Scoring Account Opened After three minutes’ play NapierHastings opened their scoring account when from a high kick by the visiting half-back, Tomoana, from near the half-way mark Wilson broke through to score in a handy position. Jackson converted. —Napier-Has tings 5, Wairoa 0. s Soon after the visitor’s' further increased their dead when after a good movement iin which both the forward's and backs combined beautifully, Jackson went over for a good try near the posts. The kick .failed. — Napibr-Hasitirigs 8, Wairoa 0. Wairoa then took a turn on attack and' from, a good rearguard movement the bail travelled out to Rika, cn the right wing, who after a strong run. downfield, was grassed (just short of the line. Almost immediately Wairoa pressed l again and from a melee within the visitors’ 25 Helean secured, and running across field scored in the corner. The kick failed. —Napier-Hastings 8, Wairoa 3.

Right from the kick-off the visitors attacked and from a fine passing bout starting near the Wairoa 25yd. line, Frazer cut through the home defence ■to touch down under the posts. Stanford .converted.—'Napier-Hastings 13, Wairoa 3. Wairoa Hopes Raised Wairoa retaliated and swept play down to opposition territory, wheic, from a scramble near the goal-line, Northcroft gained .possession and, hurling himself through the defence, scored in a handy position. He converted his own try. NapiCiHastings 13; Wairoa 8. Heartened by this, Wairoa continued to press, the home forwards moving into action inside the opposition 25. From Mataira the ball travelled out to P. Smith, who in turn passed to Brady, second five-eighth. After a good run Brady drew his .man, and with a good pass sent Rika over to score in a difficult position. The attempt at conversion failed. —NapierHastings 13; Wairoa 11Wairoa continued to press and from a scramble well inside the visitors 25 Powdrell secured and passed to Hook, who after running round -the scrum, got the ball out to Rika, on the right wing, who in turn in-passed to Hook again for thc Wairoa haltback to score. The kick failed.— Wairoa 14; Napier-Hastings 13.

Fluctuating Fortunes

On 4he resumption of play after half-time 'the visitors, stung by this reverse, retaliated, and from' a scrairJble near the Wairoa goal-line Stowart, who replaced Mataira after the latter had to retire from the field owing, to an Injury. bullccked his way over to score in a difficult posit.on. The kick failed.— Napier-Hastings 16, Wairoa 14. At this stage a heavy shower m ram made the 'ball greasy, and difficult to handle. Wairoa took the lead -again when Pcwdrel] secured from -behind the scrum and, short-punting, daanoa up to gather in 'the ball nicely. After a good run he threw a long pass oui to "(Brady, who had followed up fast, and -with a strong burst of speed Brady scored near 'the posts. The kick —Wa'irca 17, Napier-Hastings 16. The home team further increased i their lead when Brady kicked a good penalty goal from well out ra the 25yd line—Wairoa 20, Napier-Hastings The visitors then took a turn on attack and swept play down to the opposition gcal-line, where Hook s clearing kick went into thc arms m Stanford, the visitors’ first five-eighth. The Napier-Hastings man was grassed just short of the line and from the subsequent melee regained possession and 'with 'a good pass sent .Smith over for a (try. The kick failed.—Wairoa 20, Napier-Hastings 19.

Good Dribbling Rushes

Waii'era continued to attack, the forwards featuring in- several good dribbling rushes. From, a scramble in mid-field Brady secured and' alter a strong run kicked in-field _ 101 Spooner to outpace the opposition and, gathering in nicely, score near the ’ (posit's. (Brady -missed an easy kick —-Wairoa 23, Napier-llastings 10. The Wairoa backs, considering the creasv slate of the .ball, were handlino exceptionally well. With- only a Cow -minutes to go before time, both learns pressed hard. Breaking away from micl-field with the ball at his feet, Brady, the Wairoa second liveeiahths, carried play towards the opposition goal-line and alter overrunning the ball Brownlie continued the dribbling rush. When just short of the line, .Rika, who had been following up fast, secured nicely to dash over and score a good try near the corner. The attempt at conversion failed. The final whistle sounded with the score: Wairoa 2() Napier-Hastings .. .. 19 Mr. R- M. McDonald was t)ho referee. •