HARDEST GAME OF SEASON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 185, 23 August 1937, Page 9

HARDEST GAME OF SEASON

Visitors Lack Brilliant Leadership BAY'S FINE TACKLING Brilliant loose forward play, combined v llli determined tackling by all members of tbe team gave Hawke's Bay its seventh victory of tbe season on Saturday. Otago, erstwbile holders , of the Ranfurly Shield, were the latest 'victims. and they provided tbe Magpies witb tbe liardest game to date tbis season, tbe score being 14 — 8. Once again Hawke's Bay were beat-' en for the ball in tbe scrums. The Otago rake, E. Murpby, was more successful than the All Black, Doug. Dalton. The margin of superiority, or efficiency, bowever, was not so marked as in the Southland game on Thursday. Tbere was an improvement in tbe packing of the Bay scrum, but tbere is still much room for improvement. Tbe Bay's 3 — 4 — 1 scrum, tbougb heavier than tbe opposition's 3 — 2 — 3 pack, found the latter very stubborn to pusb, While on scrum formations, it was interesting to note tbat tbe ball came a good deal more snappily from tbe Otago scrum than it did from the Bay. The Bay forwards were more spectacular than tbe Otago eigbt in tbeir work. Tbeir spoiling was magnificent and very effective. In tbis phase the trio of Bay All Blacks, Dalton- JacksonReid, were just as prominent as in tbe Southland game. Dalton was again the best loose forward for Hawke's Bay, but Everard Jackson was quite tbe most consistent toiler in the tigbt and was right up to the front in tbe open. Bowman and Hannigan, too; were frequently prominent. . The Otago forwards played a different type of game.' The essence of thier work was compactness. In the scrums they were neat and tightly pacted. It was a very efficient plodding macbine, but lacked individual brilliance. Footwork Favoured. Like tbeir cousins from further south, tbe Otago forwards favoured footwork, rather than handling, but the lack of brilliant leadership was apparent. Their two most earnest workers were Quaid and J. Maboney, while Nieper shone out at times in tbe loose, especially in breaks from tbe lineouts. Everything favoured back play and it was not surprising to find tbe ball out in tbe open a good deal. Botb sides sought to keep tbe game open, but by reason of Otago's hooking suocess the responsibility for doing so mainly rested upon them. As with packing, so it was with tbe Otago backs, and there was a present- * pient of neatness about tbeir play tbat was conspicuous. Individually and collectively tbeir movements were clean — tbe passing was crispj the short kiclts bj' Trevathan were nieely judged; all moved off tbe mark witb the snap of trained atbletes ; and tbe wingers sbowed plenty of speed. ' As a combinatxon they were most impressive, and tbat they failed to score more than two tries was entirely due to tbe resolute tackling of tbe Bay as a whole. Repeatedly the ball went right along the cbain of Otago hacks but eacb fiian was soundly tackled and downed. Tbere was certainly not a Jet-up for tbe inside Otaro backs, wbo were bard-pressed tbrougbout. Otago's most suceessful winger was R. S. Mahoney, who galloped away twice for ti*ies, and eacb time be received tbe uall near the quarter-way. He proved bimself a most determined runner, but it appears to be a case oi a score or nothing with bim, for h( apparently cannot in-pass.

Taylor's Snappy Saves. A feature of the majority of the Otago backs was tbeir fine footwork. All appeared to be adept side-steppeis. and' »eat on the gwerve. The All Black five-eighth, Txevatban. was a model in this respect, and Bcrghan was also cbovo tbe average. They exploited, it mainly when it came to getting tbeir side out of difficulty. "He bal to work harder than against tbe Springboks" commented someone on tbe stand, when referring to All Black Taylor, tbe Otago fullback. It certainly was a busy afternoon for him. He was constantly called upon to efi'ect snappy saves and he did not let bis side down. He obviously found the going bard, for be was severely dumped on occasions and it was noticeable tbat towards tbe eHd of tbe game he took bis time on regaining his i'eet. Once be called a respite as tbe isult of the Bay full-back, Dyer. taking a ilying* leap, sboulder bigli, in an

efforfc to smotber his clearing kick. Taylor was bowled over like a ninepin. It was one of tbe xnost spectacular incidents of tbe game. As was tbe case against Southjand, the scoring came from tbe Bay backs, and Devine was tbe key-man. He bas definitely established bimself a place in the side. It did not take bim long to size up the weabness in the Otam) defence in Murpby. It was tbrougff this gap tbat three of tbe Bay tries were made possible, Devine being. tbe prime xnover. While Reeves, who subBtituted for Apsey owing to tbe latter sufl'en'ii.u from an injured knee, and Herber' botb figured iu tbe scoring, and sbowed plenty of pace, it was unfortunate for tbe Buy tliat Apsey was not available. Tbe ruu of play was such as would bave been ideally suited to A ps-> wbo. on bis, form against Soulbland. would have enjoyed a feast. Clothier and Bradley again performed efficiently, witliout brilliance. Only Robins failed' to inspire. He does not appear to be as enterprising as earlier in the season. Dyer was again very sound and safe. He most certainly is giving every satisfaction as last line of defenee, and his display compared very favourablv mdeed with tbat oi his All Black vis-a-vis. Tbe Bay representatives are new bali'-way through their programme foi tbe season and they bave yet ,to tast defeat. tbougb it is perbaps significa tbat gradually tbe margin of victorfalling. Nest Saturday they mee Taranaki, tben embark upon tbeir nortbern tour. It is expecting a good deal to anticipate success all tbe way tbougb certainly in tt.e games to dat> tbe Bay bave definitely deserved io l win, without exception.