Taranaki Draws With Hawke’s Bay

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 108, 28 July 1927, Page 8

Taranaki Draws With Hawke’s Bay

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY HARD FORWARD CONTEST HASTINGS, Wednesday. The Taranaki Rugby representatives drew with Hawke’s Bay at Nelson Park to-day before an attendance of about 4,000 spectators. The weather was fine, but the ground was very heavy after the recent rain, consequently the game was mainly a forward struggle. The visitors went early to the attack and kept Hawke’s Bay defending hard. O’Keefe carried play to the goal-line, and from a scrum the ball went to Lynsky, who sent it on to Burke, but the latter made an error and Yates cleared. The Hawke’s Bay forwards then took a turn at attacking. Brown stopped a determined rush, but a mark brought the home team back again, and Petty was compelled to force. Barely had the ball been kicked into play before the Taranaki forwards swept down the field. Brown received the ball and sent it on to Dinniss, who, though collared, struggled across the line. Brown converted from a difficult angle. From a line-out M. Brownlie broke away and started a bright passing bout, from which Gemmell scored. Grenside converted. Taranaki 5, Hawke’s Bay 5. The visiting forwards had the home team in difficulties when the spell ended. On resumption, Hawke’s Bay attacked and, from a line-out, M. Brownlie hurled himself across the line. Grenside’s kick failed. Play moved up and down the field for a period, but the defence on both sides was sound. A strenuous forward struggle took place in the closing stages. Led by Walter the Taranaki forwards were getting the upper hand. Burke fielded a kick from Yates and forced his way through the Hawke’s Bay forwards, and from a passing bout Brown scored in the corner. His kick failed, and the final whistle sounded with the scores 8 all. Mr. R. Patton, of Wellington, was referee. WELLINGTON’S WIN WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The first representative Rugby game of the season to be played at Wellington was decided to-day, when South Canterbury met Wellington. The visitors were soundly beaten by 22 points to 3. The good form displayed by the Wellington backs was a feature of the game. About 3,000 spectators witnessed the match. The weather was dull and cheerless, with a light southerly breeze, and the ground was somewhat greasy after recent rains. Nevertheless, the lccal team gave a creditable showing, the forwards securing the ball in the scrums and the backs handling well, to let the winners do most of the scoring. The visiting backs were weak, although Forrester gave a good display at wing-threequarter. The result about represented the respective merits of the contending teams. OTAGO DEFEATS SOUTHLAND Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. An inter-provincial Rugby match between Otago and Southland was played to-day, and resulted in a victory for the former team by 27 points to 6. The ground was heavy from the rain overnight. Southland had the better of the game in the first half, which was more solid than brilliant. The Otago pack wore down Southland in the second spell with the result that the home team was kept on the defence practically throughout. The Otago backs handled the ball well and had too much pace for their opponents. MAORI TEAM DEFEATED Press Association. MASTERTON, Wednesday. Before an attendance of over 2,000 people the Maori touring team was today beaten by Wairarapa by 49 points to 11. The weather was clear, but the ground had received a thorough soaking since Sunday, and quickly churned into mud. Considering the conditions, the game was exceptionally good, especially in the second spell, when the Maoris settled down. Wairarapa started at a great rate, rattling on 11 points in the first 10 minutes. Wairarapa played a splendid game and its line was crossed on only two occasions. The visitors, in the second spell especially, handled the ball perfectly, but their failure was caused through their own errors. A feature of the game was Cundy’s kicking. He converted eight of the ten tries scored by Wairarapa and kicked a penalty goal. MATCHES POSTPONED With a view to preserving the playing grounds which are in an unplayable state, the Junior Management Board has decided that no games will be played on the Inner Domain or Grey Lynn grounds next Saturday. Owing to the state of Eden Park the Auckland Rugby Union has decided that no games shall be played there on Saturday.