HAWKE'S BAY BEATEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 21, 17 September 1931, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY BEATEN

Press Association—

-"Post" Special Service.

AUSTRALIAN VICTORY VISITORS RATTLE OH POINTS IN SECOND SP-ELL OF GAME COWPER SCORES FOUR TRIES

-Copyrisrht.

By Telephone—

NAPIER, Wednesday. The open back play of the visiting Australian team provecl too much for the Hawke's Bay representatives in the match which took place here to-day, and the visitors won out comfortably by 27 points to 11. The weather wa.s overcast and several times duxing the progiress of the match heavy showers fell, although these had very little effect on the ground which was very hard. In the first spell, when the Bay had the wind in their favour, the game was fairly even, the score at half time being 8 points to 6 in favour of the home side. In the second spell, however, with the wind behind them, the Australian s threw the ball about with great abandon and remarkable accuracy; the Bay defence was found hopelessly at sea. The visitors received more than their share of the ball from bot.h the scrums and line outs, enabling Malcolm to feed his backs which he did with astonishing accuracy. He was the best back on the field, although in the first spell Cooke was his equal. Cowper 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 Try The first score of the day came after 10 minutes play. Australia were atacking when Gillespie picked up from the loose, and kicked down-field. Setford and Cooke followed the ball up, bustling Ross' attempt to field the rolling ball. It was finally snapped up by Setford, who was just able to score by the post. Yates converted. Hawke's Bay 5, Australia nil. The visitors took up the offensive vigorously, first Malcolm and then Ross essaying unsuccessful field goals from hard forward play, but Yates finally relieved the Bay. Soon after Steggall had to leave the field with an injured leg, his place being' taken by Primrose. A Good Movement Open play by Australia saw the Bay defending until Malcolm finally secured from the ruck, passing to Primrose, Towers, and Cowper. The last named grounded the ball over the line as he was taekled. It finished a good movement. Ross failed tc eonvert. Hawke's Bay 5, Australia 3. The Bay were not long in replying with another score, when Cooke intercepted a pass in mid-field, sidestcpped Ross beautifuily, and scored by the posts. Yates failed to eonvert. Hawke's Bay 8, Australia 3. The ball had just been kicked over but Malcolm opened up play, Hemingway scoring another good try after Primrose and Towers had handled. Ross missed a difficult kick. Hawke's Bay 8, Australia 6. The spell ended with the score, Bay 8, Australia 6. Second Spell Five minutes after the opening of the second spell the home forwards swept the field in a splendid rush which was capped by Gemmell scor;ng. Yates missed the kick. Hawke's Bay 11, Australia 6. Stung by this the Australians threw the ball about in great style, all the backs, ineluding Penlee handling for Cowper to score his second try. Ross could not eonvert. Hawke's Bay 11, Australia 9. Immediately after the kick off, Ccrutti bx'oke away, passing to Whyatt who allowed Hemingway a clear run in for his second try. Ross was unable to eonvert. Australia 12, Hawke's Bay 11. Even play 'followed for a lime, but Australia added further to their total when Malcolm secured from a scrum and passed to Primrose, who transferred to Cowper. The latter cut in to beat Yates and scored under the posts. Ross converted. Australia 17, Hawke's Bay 11. Fast Scoring Another back movement set the Austi-alians in action the whole-line handling to allow Cowper to add his fourth try to his total. Ross converted with a good kick. Australia 22, Bay 11. The visitors had not finished yet. The last try of the day came when tho 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 score Australia 27, Hawke's Bajr 11.