FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1931, Page 2

FOOTBALL

AVALLABIES WIN

BY 27 TO 11

TOO GOOD FOR HAWKES BAY

( By Telegraph — l‘er Brest A ssociatn>n)

NAPIER, September IG. The open back play of the visiting

Au.'.tralian team proved too much tor the Hawkes B.iy Rugby representatives ini the match on McLean Park to-day, the visitors winning comfortably by 27 points to 11, The weather was overcast, and several times during the progress of the match heavy showers of rain fell, which, however, did not have any effect on the ground, which was very hard. In the first spell, when Hawkes Bay had the wind in Their favour, the game was fairly even, the score at half time being eight points to' six m favour of the home side.

Ju the second spell, with the wind with them, the Australians threw the hall about with great abandon, but with remarkable accuracy, with the result that the Hawkes Bay defence was often hopelessly at sea. The visitors received more than their share of the ball from both the scrums and the line otits, enabling Malcolm to feed Ills bucks, which lie did with astonish' ing accuracy and lie was the best hack on the field, although ill the first spell Cooke was Ids equal. Oowper had a field day, scoring no less than four of the Australian tries out of a total of seven, all of them being the result of combined back movements.

The first score of the day came after ten minutes’ play. Australia were attacking, when Gillespie picked up from the loose, kicking downficld. Sctford and Cooke followed the hall up, hustling Ross in lps attempt to field the rolling ball which finally was snapped up by S tford, who was just able to score by the posts. Yates converted.

The visitors took up the offensive vigorously. First Malcolm and then Ross essayed unsuccessful field goals from hard forward play; but Yates finally relieved for Hawkes Bay. Soon after Steggall had to leave the field with an injured leg, his place being taken by Primrose. Open play by Australia sow Hawkes Bay defending, Malcolm finally securing from the ruck and passing to Primrose, Towers and Cpwper. The latter grounded the ball over the line as he was tackled to finish a good movement. Ross failed to convert.

Hawkes Bay were not long in replying with another score. Cooke, intercepting a. pass in midfield, side stepped Ross beautifully to score by the posts. Yates failed to convert.

The boll had just been kicked off, when Malcolm opened up play, Hemingway scoring another good try after Primrose and Towers had handled. Ross missed a difficult kick. The end of the spell came with the score: Hawkes Bay 8; Australia 6. Five minutes after the opening of the second spell, the home forwards swept the field in a splendid rush, which was capped by Gemmell scoring. Yates missed the kick. Stung by this, the Australians threw the ball about* in great style, all t-lie backs handling. Oowper then scored his second try, which Ross could not convert.

Immediately after the kick-off, Cerrutti broke away, passing to Whvatt, who allowed Hemingway a clear run in for his second try. Ross was unable to convert the try.

E'ven play followed for a time. Australia added further to their total when Malcolm secured from a scrum, passing to Primrose, who transferred to Cowper, and the latter cut in to heat Tates and score under the posts. Ross converted.

Another back movement let the Australians in again, the whole line handling to allow Cow per to add his fourth try to his total. Ross converted with a good kick. Hie visitors were not finished yet, the last try of the day coming when the forwards broke away, and, passing out to the backs, Reville found the defence wanting and went over to score well out from the posts. Ross again converted, Time was called soon after with the scores: AUSTRALIA 27 HAWKES BAY lx

AUSTRALIAN TEAM’S LOSSES. REASONS GIVEN. SYDNEY, September 16. Lavish entertainment, overmuch travelling, and the wet New Zealand grounds were ascribed as reason* why the Australian Rugby players had made a poor showing in New Zealand by the manager, Mr Davis, who returned to-day by the Maunganui. He added that it was difficult to work up combination in these circumstances, particularly as half of the players came from other States than New South Wales. The Australians, he said, were confident of winning the test match, but, although they failed, they scored one try more than New Zealand did. TARANAKI V. MANAWHENUA. PALMERSTON N.. September 16. Taranaki defeated Manawhenua by 13 to 9, after a good open game.