Hawke’s Bay Will Stick to Union Rugby

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 1

Hawke’s Bay Will Stick to Union Rugby

Napier Authorities Scout Reports of League Activities

NAPIER, To-day. Recent reports that there was a possibility of the League code recommencing active playing operations in Hawke’s Bay were confidently scouted at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union last night. Mr. A. Kirkpatrick, manage e of the Bay team which visited Auckland last Saturday, stated that he had heard there was much talk in the Auckland League on the subject of starting the 13-a-side game in Hawke’s Bay as an off-shot to the recent Rugby troubles concerning the Shield. He expressed the conviction that the chances of such ft pass were very remote. Mr. J. W. Norrie, chairman of the Management Committee, said he had had knowledge that a movement was afoot, but he was perfectly certain that members of the Union had nothing to do with it. “I think the chances of the movement being successful are smalll indeed,” he continued, “for whatever our differences with the New Zealand Union or anyone else, that is not going to make us forsake the Rugby code. We all have too much love for the good old game.” Members of the Union enthusiastically supported the denial of the report.

In reporting on the Auckland game, Mr. Kirkpatrick warmly praised the brilliance of the Auckland backs, paying a tribute to their dash and opportunism in the loose. He spoke in terms of warm thanks for the kindly treatment Hawke’s Bay players had been accorded by the Auckland Rugby Union.