FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1926, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

HAWKE’S BAY EXTENDED. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASS.N., COPYRIGHT. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 18. By 17 points (five tries, one converted) to 15 points (two tries, one converted, and a penalty and a potted goal). Hawke’s Bay reps to-day' retained the Ranfurly S,!iield. Although a huge crowd, which was estimated at twenty thousand, streamed into Lancaster Park to see Canterbury meet Hawke’s Bay in the match for the Shield, hopes of Canterbury did not run high. With two of the local All Blacks, W. Elvy (winger )and N. P. McGregor (five-eights) missing, the prospects for the Canterbury side seemed depressing, great heights, and, largely through the but the Canterbury forwards rose to vanguard’s clfo its, the Red and Blacks were able to come within three points of boating the Shield holders, the final score being Hawke’s Bay 1/ ; Canterbury 15. Canterbury tore into the attack from the start, and right up to the time of Hawke’s Bay’s first try, the home team were the aggressors. After 25 minutes’ inspiring play, the game settled down for a. time, but, contrary to expectations, the Canterbury forwards did not fade away, and in the second spell, their great work in the loose held the Hawke’s Bay vanguard, and upset the brilliant machine-like combination of the Bay backs. Tbe Canterbury pack did not sliino in the scrums and in the line-outs with the same consistency as that shown by their opponents, but they were tigers for work in the open field. Lilburne gave a great display at fullback. He dropped a goal from the field in the early stages. It was a great kick, and lie raised wild enthusiasm when he all hut repeated the performance just on the call of time, when Canterbury were two points down. The first try came after 25 minutes’ play, Cooke passing to Gronsido, after a good run, for the latter to score under the posts and convert. C’orkhill got the next try at the corner, after a run along the line, but Craven missed the kick at- goal. Then Irvine bulloeked over for a third try from a. scrum sixteen yards out. M. Brownlie missed the goal kick. Canterbury’s first try was scored by Robilliard, who jumped high in front of the posts, and dived over. Lilburne missed the kick at goal. Tlio score m half-time thus was: Hawke’s Bay 11 Canterbury 3 Early in the second spell, Carleton goaled ior Canterbury from a penalty, and a few minutes later Lilburne potted a goal from the field. Following upon this, Cooke seized an opportunity, and gathered a bouncing ball which beat the Canterbury fullback. and dived over for a great score. M. Brownlie missed the kick. Hawke’s Bay 11, Canterbury JO. Hawke’s Bay now attacked hard (Mill then worked the blind side, and ■sent Grenside over to score. The latter failed to convert. The last try scored was by Canterbury, Doreen getting over in the corner, and Lilburne converted the try. COAST BEATEN. TTMARU. Sept. 19. Fast scoring liy both teams characterised the match between South Canterbury and West Coast represonttivos, which was played on Fraser Park oil Saturday. There was an attendance of between 2000 and 3000 people. The ground was exceptionally fast, and was very hard. A. strong north west wind blew down tlio field. The result of the match was a. win by 30 points to 21, but the scoring was alternating all tlio way during the game. Winning the toss, the visitors elected to take advantage of the wind in the first half, and they also played with tlio sun behind them. The play of the West Coasters ill the first half, ana, in fact, throughout the game, was bright, and considering tlio fact that they were much the lighter team, the visitors’ performance) was a splendid one. The Coatsers lacked finish, however, or they should have scored more than they did. The Coast forwards .kept ijp a. hot puce throughout, and they were particularly effective with their spoiling tactics. The home pack was seen to the better advantage in the loose, and in the second half, with the wind behind them, they severely tested the visitors’ defence. One particular feature of the play of the ANcst Coasters was their deadly tackling. They taught the home team a lesson in this respect, for at least two of the tries scored by the \\ cst Coast were tlio result of ineffectual tackling. There was little between tbe teams all the way through. First one side, and then the other scored. Ihe issue v.f.is in doubt right up till the finish, South Canterbury scoring right on time. For tlio winners, tries were scored by Gerard (two). Neutzo, Mcßride. A. Lawson, Pickering and W. Lawson, and a penalty goal was kicked by A. Lav* j son, who also converted three tries. For the West Coast, Thomas, Walls and Jamieson (three) scored tries, Walton converting three of the tries. OTAGO v. WELLINGTON. DUNEDIN, Sept. 18. Otago and Wellington met on the Carisbrook ground this afternoon in fine weather, but a strong wind blew diagonally across the ground. The attendance was about 8000. The ground was in capital order. Otago had the advantage of the wind and sun in the first spell, in which Otago put on -*2 points, tries being scored by Robinson and Heazelwood (full back), and two penalties by Heazelwood, one from lialf-way. In the second spell. Otago forwards largely dominated the game. Chaney' scored for Wellington, and Fieley converted, and Burt scored an unconverted try for Otago. The game ended with the scores: Otago 15, Wellington SEDDON SHIELD DISTRICT REPS. NAPIER. Sept. 19. The tour of the Seddon Shield Districts’ representatives team arranged by tht Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union was opened successfully yesterday when the viators defeated the Hawke’s Bay B. team by 19 —11. For the Seddon Shield districts. ■Washington. Mahony and Clark scored tries, Heed converting two tries whilst Snodgrass kicked two penalty goals. Glenn scored two tries for Hawke’s Bay. Yates converting one and also kicking a penalty goal.

MAORIS POPULAR IN FRANCE PARIS, Sept. 18. The newspapers devote columns to comment on the Dijon match, expressing the opinion that as the Burgundian team in the second half, almost held their own, there is a hope that a well-trained team will at least equal the visitors. The critics have emphasised that the Maoris excel in the open play but the Frenchmen proved superior in the scrums. The critics praise Short! and, but they argue that the fact that the forwards were responsible for /our of the tries shows a weakness on the part of the three-quarters. 'l’he Maoris are most popular. Their curiosity and delight at everything soon making them easy to entertain. They visited a famous vineyard at Clesveugeet, and sampled the celebrated vintage there, at which some of the team grimaced. Others however, immediately appreciated it. The Dijon spectators were delighted when, after the match the Maoris plunged into a river bordering on the ground and swam across, one Maori carrying overhead a sheaf of flowers with which the team was presented when they entered the field.