BEATEN BY CENTRAL, BUT FOUR TAUPO PLAYERS IN FINAL TRIAL FOR H. B. SIDE

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 38, 18 May 1965, Page 2

BEATEN BY CENTRAL, BUT FOUR TAUPO PLAYERS IN FINAL TRIAL FOR H. B. SIDE

Four Taupo players have been named for the final Hawke's Bay Rugby trial at Nelson Park, Hastings, on Wednesday. In its sub-Union day match at McLean Park, Napier, on Saturday, Taupo was beaten 21 — 6 by Central Hawke's Bay. With the exception of the four players named in the trial teams, P. Hobdell, T. Ruru, T. Nixon and L. Draper, Taupo players appeared raw and inexperienced and were not able to do anything constructive with the ball.

The lack of constructive play was a general fault of five of the six teams participating in the sub-Union day fixtures. Although Hobdell and Ruru have been named in the teams, it is difficult to see how they could force their way into the Hawke's Bay team in front of players from the strong Napier combination. Hobdell is faced with the prospect of ousting the All Black winger, W. L. Davis and the former Transvaal wing three-quarter, Florus Duvenage. Strong Runner However, what Hobdell lacks in pace and experience in comparison with these two players, he makes up for with his strong, determined running. It was Hobdell's determination more than anything else which earned him a try in the match against Central Hawke's Bay. Ruru will be tried out in 1 the centre position in to- , morrow's trial. The selectors were impressed by Ruru's running and his ability to cut through from the second five-eighth position, but they may have their eyes on him for the centre berth in the Province's B team which will play five representative matches. Ruru is not in the class of the All Black, I. R. MacRae, but there is no centre with Ruru's potential for the B team. The hard-playing Nixon was selected in the pack, but is not available for Wednesday's trial. Nixon led the Taupo pack and scored a superb try after leading a forward rush. Draper has been included in the trial teams as an emergency and one of the selectors, Mr J. Buxton, said today he was sure to play at least the second half of the trial match. Draper, a hooker, swept the ball cleanly from scrums on Saturday and in doing so helped his side dominate second half play. Central Hawke's Bay rattled up 18

of their 21 points in the first half and in the second half, Taupo scored two tri-es to one after dominating the spell. HobdelTs Try Hobdell's try came after 10 minutes in the second half and was an exampie of his determined running. He snatched a short pass from out of C. Williams' hand and, in a darting, weaving run, he beat his opposing winger, B. Sharp, and the fulltaack, J. Hamilton. P. Harrison's conversion attempt hit the upright and bounced away from the goal posts. Taupo's second try came after a forward rush. Draper took the ball on the toe from a ruck and, immediately, he was joined by A. Wall, of Taupo forwards. G. Blake, K. Palmer and T. Nixon all featured in the rush and when only a few yards short of the line, Nixon gathered the ball and i erossed for a try. The conversion attempt wrent astray. Dominated After the forward drive, Taupo dominated the play and kept Central Hawke's Bay pinned down in theitl own 25 yard area for most of the half. However, the Taupo baeks were unable to give the forwards the support required while so close to the line. With minutes to go, Taupo looked as if they were going to score again. Hobdell took a bad pass from Williams and made 25 yards before he centrekieked to Nixon. Nixon dribbled the ball on to Williams, who passed to M. Gordine, who had a clear run ahead of him. However, the movement was stopped because Williams had knocked the ball forward when gathering it. Unfortunately for Taupo, the side lacked a reliable kicker and they missed at least 16 points from penalties and conversions. Results of other matches piayed were: Napier 37, Dannevirke 11; Hastings 14, Wairoa 11. — Our Oerrespondent, Napier.