HAWKE'S BAY BEATEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 13, 7 September 1931, Page 4

HAWKE'S BAY BEATEN

SHEETS GF WATER ON GROUND HAMPER BOTH SIDES TARANAKI DOMINATES FINAL NAPIER, Saturday. Shocking weather prevailed for the Taranaki-Hawke's Bay match, played at McLean Park. Play was started in a steady downpour of rain. The teams were: — Taranaki: Collins, Jones, Watson, Hunter, Peterson, Tui Robinson, G. Brown, Guy, Drader, Wills, Baldwin, Clarke, Walter (captaih) , Gargan, Fowler, . Hawke's Bay: — Evans, Smith, Grenside, M. Howell, Botherway, Gillespie, Setford, Rolls, Peason, Fitzgibhon, Campbell, Steere, Wills, Wanoa, Tucker. Despite the greasy ground, Taranaki backs moved weli, and an early try looked likely nntil Watson sent a high pass to Hunter. (i Collins had an unsuecessful shot at goal from an easy position a minute later. The visitors were determined to open the scoring, and the first points came from a fine try by Drader, who took in a pass from Jones when the latter was brought down after a fine run down the touch-line, Collins converted. Taranaki 5. Hawke's Bay 0. • Bay assumed the offensive with attractive bursts of individual play, and Taranaki sought refuge in forcing twice in a few minutes. The visitors turned the tables, however, and Bay was compelled to force twice in quick succession. They returned to the attack, and from a f orward melee Pearson struggled over between the posts. Setford converted. There was no f urther score when half-time came. Hawke's Bay 5 Taranaki . — 5 Conditions did not improve at any period during the second spell, sheets of water, through which the ball could not be dribbled, covering the ground, and the backs joined w'ith the forwards in preferring to kiek rather than attempt to handle the ball. Taranaki dominated the attack and Collins repeatedly frustrated sorties by the Bay.' The visitors' efforts were rewarded by a try hy Jones near the corner. Collins' kick just missed. Taranaki 8, Bay 5, * Taranaki continued to dominate the game territorially and their score was

✓ mcreased when Robinson crossed between the pists after a set scrum. Collins converted. Taranaki 13, Bay 5. Robinson had to retire a few minutes'" later, being replaeed by Crawford. The Taranaki forwards crossed the Bay line again just on time, Collins' kick failed. Taranaki 16 Hawke's Bay 5

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