Rugby TARANAKI MATCH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 194, 2 September 1937, Page 15

Rugby TARANAKI MATCH

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Visitors' Foi-wards Too Good for Hawke's Bay GAME AT AUCKLAND

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The defeat of Hawke's Bay by Taranaki last Saturday caused general surprise to most followers of tho game, but to those who pay due attention to provincial Kugby throughout the Dominion there was no such great cause for wonderment. Two points that most overlooked were the performance of Taranaki against the Springboks and the fact that Taranaki has ever been the home of forwards. This was again proved last Saturday; Taranaki fo.rwards gave the bpringhoks a torrid time a few weeks back, arud the pack, with two exceptions, was the same against Hawke's Bay. Taranaki in the world of work it is said reverence the cow and on the itugby. field they place equal stoie on the power oi the boot. Not that the writer suggests that they indulge in indiscriminate kicking, but they kick the ball mighty iiai'd and it hau its effect. On Saturday both of tlie Bay nve-eighths became "gun shy' and the Taranaki pack were allowed to cureer about the field at times with almost unrestricted licence. it was au experience too tor tho home forwards. Ag'ainst Southianu and Utago they liad to contend with packs that heeled tontinuously from rucks and scrums. Taranaki did not woiry about the finer points of scrummaging and rucking; they wcnt straight aiieact and thfew. out a sci'cen ot spoilersi who pounced ou the Bay bacirs as soon as the ball came clear. Possibly the referee was a bit lenient in his interpretation of the off-mde rule, but seventy in this regai'd would not have preveiited a Taranaki victory. ln 1935 on McLean J'ark Manawata against Hawke's Bay adopted similar tactics and completely disorganised thc Bay backs and Went on to score a notable victory. For a pcriod Hawke's ..ay specialised lii spoiling tactics. and by these means gained a victory in 1933 over the previously undefeated Wellington side. This was the last occasion thab the Bay pursued this type of game and the present piayer^ are all at eea when this type of game is sprung upon them. Straggling Bunch. However^ apart from that aspect, tlie fact remams that the Hawke's Bay forwards were a straggling instead of a conipact bunch ior three parts of the game, and it came as a shock to see them pushed back afc times 10 yards by the vigorous Taranaki pack, Here indeed Was proof that the Bay forWaids were not pulling their full weight. lleverses on the ltugby field generally have a good effect on tbe defeatecl, and it is to be hoped that for the rerdainder of the representative programme the Bay fifteen will leave tbe winning of each match to actual playing and not bei'orehand. Auckland Match. On Saturday Hawke's Bay meet Auckland on Lden Park, Auckland, in the annual fixture^ and uniess the Bay tuni nn extraordinary lootball, the indications are fnat Auckland will win. ln the long iist of representative games botween tlio two unions, which s commonced away back in the nineties of tho last century. the surprising fcature is that Hawiie's Bay have never won at Auckland, ,0k tU'o occasions, 189-i and 1925, a draWn game was the i'esuit, but beyond this the iist shoWs att unbrokeil series of Auckland victories. After 1910 the two uhions did not meet again until 1923, and it will be recalled that in that particular year Auckland had a side that registered victory atter victory .of the smashing variety. It was the first year of Bert Gooko in big; football, to say nothing of Fred Lucas With the Wlly Katl Ifwersen (as captain — a great tlio. The game arouscd extraordinary interest throughout tlie Domiuion and Hawke's Bay recorded a sweeping 2U to 5 victory. A return match was pluyed irt Uctober of tlie same year clrt the Auckland Domain lo help in tlie appcal for f'Uhds ior the Auckland Wai* Momorial. Auckland won a great game by 17 to' 9 and the War Memorial benefited by over ibloi.U. li lieb result oi tlie lnaxihum sbilling) gate admission. ln 1931 Hawke's Bay was in liccd of funds in eonnection vith the earthquake disoster of that year onrl Auckland, eager to reciprocate for 1923, made a special tnp and played Hawke's Bay at Napier. Hawke's Bay won and the funds benefited bv £300. Despito the depressing record with Auckland in away games tllere is one bright spot. Hawke's Bay holds the record for the highest points tally, dofeatirtg Auckland at Napier in 1926 bv 41 to 11. That was the Bay's great year, cricket scores being recorded ' against Wairarapa, Wellington, Wanganui and Taranaki in addition. In all Hawke's Bay and Auckland have met on 25 occasions and Auckland have won 16, Hawke's Bay tWO matclies liave been drawn. A commencenH 'it will be made on Saturday with thc Ls:f" Cun knoekout conipelitioli niu! tbe following Saturday Wt'llifvrt will be met on McLeali Park, South Canterburv meet Hawke's Bay -at Hastings on Thursday, September 9.