REFRESHING

NZ Truth, Issue 1190, 20 September 1928, Page 14

REFRESHING

Hawkes Biay Rugby Improves (From "N.Z. Truth's" Nkpier Rep.) In a game which was, refreshingly good, Hawkes Bay defeated Auckland at Napier on Saturday by 21 points to 8. VVith a weakened team, Auckland wfis little inferior to the home'side on the day. DOTH back, and fbrward" play was of . .the best, passing rushes at times seeing as many as nine and ten participating. It was /the superiority of Sam Gemmell and his pack that won the game.for the home aide. , From bell to bell each side kept the game open, with'the result: that the fans fenjoyed a treat. \ Thfe Bay's first try was reminiscent of the 1926. team's, scores. • Anstls gathered m the ball, and Iset the team m action by beating. his ; man to pass to Pearson to Campbell to Smith, then to McDonald to Huxtable, who ran around' behind the posts. '- Auokland's only try was also one out of the box.. The Bay were hammering on the northerners' line when Cammick initiated a passing rush for all the backs to handle. ; Goodwin', on the wing, at the;critical moment passed infield to Jeffreys, who ran m behind the posts. ■ , At this period the game was." anyone's, the; score board reading 8 all — a penalty' and converted, try each. Yates put the Bay m front with a. penalty, quickly followed by a dandy pot. -Two further unconverted tries brought the home side's, score to 21. ;Sam Gemmell, was, > responsible for one 1 of the.tries: ;- Playing' on the wing, he secured from a serum, and, like a flash of lightning, he skipped: around oh the blind side, beat two men/ajid passed to O'Dowd to score. It. was a brilliant ■ individual movement. ■ ■ N Yates was sounder, m defence than his vis-a-vis, Bush, and, being fast, he was often able to put his backs m motion. ' Goodwin\ and Hook, wingers for Auckland, were quite sound. The former should develop into a top-notcher. Jeffreys, at centre, was quite up to the best form and outshone Mo- / Donald, the Bay centre. Jeffreys unluckily collided with. a team-mate when tackling Smith and had to be helped from the field. dammick" and "Berridge combined very well at five-eighths, both being quick to grasp opportunities and often turhing defence Into' attack.. Berridge was the best back on the ground. There is a possibility he will be playing m Napier next season. Mason, at half, like Anstis, was fair, and both can be described as good club halves, though neither is likely to win higher honors. : Keene, the wing-forward, was up against a hard proposition In' Sam Gemmell, but his knowledge of the game was a great help to his mates. The c forwards were a good average lot and likely to improve. Fletcher ana Hindm'arsh were the pick. Kahu held his scrum together well, and when he- pushed something always.went. Huxtable and McDonald were only fair, m fact, the former played his worst game of the season. He missed two certain tries through failing to accept, easy passes. Smith, on the .wing, was another Bayite who played above form. . „ Setford did, his work neatly, but on account of possessing no pace to speak of will never develop into a tip-topper. Botherway, m defence or attack, was. never found, wanting, but overdid the, kicking business. The best , forward :on the paddock was :Sam Gemmell. As a captain, he proved the right man for the Job. Young Pearson played a rattling good; game, his tackling being very sound.' Of the forwards, he. ran Gemmell ;a good second! -