DALTON OUT-RAKED BY MATTINGLY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 183, 20 August 1937, Page 9

DALTON OUT-RAKED BY MATTINGLY

Hawke's Bay Continues Its Winning Way HOME BACKS SUPERIOR Soutb'Tand's sequence of Rugby victories over Hawke's Bay was brohen at Nelson Park, Hastings, yesterday afternoon wlien tbe Magpies \ maintained their remarkable run of ( suceosses for this season by convineingl.v defeated the Soutberners 19 — o. Tdeal conditions prevailed, the ground being hard and dry. Tbe weather was gloriously fine and tbe attendance was estimated at close on 3500 — quite tbe best for Hastings since tbe days of tbe Ranfurly Shield games in this disirict. Yesterday' s victory was Hawke's Ba.y's sixtb win of tbe season, and tbe margin was tbe smallost to date. But for all that there is not tbe sligbtest doubt tliat tbe better t^ain won, and tbe ditference between the two sides was quite in keeping with tbe scoring. A big surprise was in store for tbe Bay supporters, however. A marked superiority in the rearguard was tbe match-winning factor and not, as expected, aniong tbe forwards. In tbe booking line All Black Dalton was eclipsed by tbe Soutbland rake Mattingly. Tbe latter' s success provided tbe main topic of discussion among entbusiasts, In tbe first spell Soutbland were successi'ul in getting tbe ball five times out of six from the set scrums, and though after the interva] the margin was reduced to about two out of three, at no stage did Dalton gain tbe upper band in tbe beeling line. l'rior tbe game it was annouuced that tbe Hawke's B.ay pack was tne keaviest fielded this year. It certainly appeared a heavier pack tban Soutfiland but in tbe set scrums it was not nearly so efi'ective, there being a lack of concerted efi'ort and pusb. This iailure no doubt accounted ior Dalton's inability to beel as efficiently as usual. Brilliant All Black Trio. However, in every other pbase oi bis play Dalton was briliiant. He was rated tbe best forward on tbe ground and played an mspired game in tbe loose and open; Associated with hira were bis two All Black conirades, rlori lleid and Kverard Jackson. This trio provided a wonderfui exliibition. Tbey were, in fact,' quite up to tbe staudard tbey displayed at Wellington last Saturday iu tbe first Test against South Africa. Their followingup and fiying-tackles, and tbe manner in wbich tbey bunted together, comprised one of tbe main features oi tbe game. All tbe remainder of tbe Bay forwards played up to form in tbe loose. Special lbention must be made of Jack O'Brien, wbo twice set tbe backs on tbe move as tbe result of snatebing up tbe ball in the ruck and opening up tbe play by initiating passing bouts. No. 1 in the Soutbland pack was Irwin, wbo was exeelled only by Dalton. 'Tbe Soutbland er was consistently good in tbe tight and throughout was a leader of tbe visiting forwards in tbe loose. Next in order of merit was ihe All Black, Ward, and then S. Purdue. Tbe ioriner was not as prominent as anticipated and be applied himself mainly to lendifag bis full weigbt to tbe pack and to providing a very effective sbelter to bis halfback J. Purdue. In tbe rucks, following scrums and line-outs S. Purdue lent valuable assistance. With Irwin, bis service enabled tbe Soutbland forwards to make frequent breaks. When it comes to comparing tbe rearguards the laurels must be awarded to Hawke's Bay. Tbey revealed better understanding, greater iniative by far, and, man for mau, were generally faster. Tbe secret of tbe Bay backs supremacy lay iu tbe fact that the inside backs were quicker olf "tbe mark and raced rigbt up to their men bel'ore sending tbe tbree-quarters away. Devine, after an indifferenfc start, roso to tbe occasion well and engineered several fine openings. Apsey gave quite bis best exhibition of the season, revealing sometbing of bis old form. Southland's star Wingers. Soutbland emulated the Springboks type of back play. "Feed tbe wings" was their policy. Wbile it was suecessiul on occasions, tbe weakness lay in their slow passes and lack of support to the wingers once the latter were in possession. Sutherland and Henderson; on tbe wings, were botb very fast. Tbe foriner was particularly good and put in many brilliant bursts that weie deserving of success. Tbe llat-footed stance and slow passing of tbe Soutbland inside backs allowed tbo Bay breakaway forwards to put in some efi'ective spoiliug. On defence tbo Bay backs were equally superior to tbe opposition rearguard as tbey were on attack. Tbey wero called upou to do surprisingly rnore tackling tban was anticipated by jeason of tbe remarkable seivice given tbe Southland backs per , medium of Mattingly> tbe booker, and J. Purdue at tbe base of tbe scrum. Tbe Bay forwards, too, were deadly iu their tackliug and tbe combineil efl'orts of botb divisions iu tbis regard nullified to a great exteut tbe advantage Soutbland gained in tbe set scrums. The Soutbland inside backs were -weak on defence aiid did not relisli getting down on tbe ball in tbe face of the onc&ming Bay forwards, wbo ropeatedly broke tbrougb down tbe centre of tbe ground. Half-back Purdue gavo a splendid accoiiut of himself despite tbe great attentioa be received from the Bay forwards. Both tbe Southland wint-

er s, Henderson and Sutherland, did J all that was asked of them, and Bal- | lantyne, at fullback was good. | Clotbier, Bradley and Robins all ,| did good work, witbout revealing | brilliance Morrie Dyer at fullback | gave every satisfaction, being very | safe and quite tindaunted by the | Soutbland * forwards. f When Hawke's Bay step out at | McLean Park. Napier, next Saturdny | against Otago, tbey will do so with | a fine record of achievement behind | them foi in their six qutingis tbis f season tbey have scored 199 points, as | against their opponeuts' 29, or on an | average of 33 to 6 a game; |