BRITAIN v. HAWKE’S BAY.

Waipukurau Press, 2 July 1908, Page 5

BRITAIN v. HAWKE’S BAY.

EASY WIN FOR VISITORS. On account of the Anglo-Welsh team making a draw with New Zealand on Saturday, fresh interest |in their doings was aroused, and yesterday on the Recreation Ground at Napier, a crowd, which may be safely estimated at 10,000, turned up to witness the above match. The ladies were greatly in evidence and most of them wore rosettes of either red, white, and blue, or black and white. Punctually at 2.45 the teams took the field and were greeted with a haka from members of the Wairoa team (mostly composed of Maoris) who had played a curtain-raiser earlier in the day with Napier. Both teams were heartily cheered by the spectators. The play up till half way in the first spell was very even, and it looked as if Hawke’s Bay were going to hold their own, but from this up till no side the Britishers were fairly into their stride and the home boys were kept busy checking the British passing rushes-.' The visitors handled the ball with precision and at times nearly every member of the team took a hand in passing bouts. The forwards seemed quite as much at home in the passing rushes as the backs and as soon as one man was collared another was ready to take the ball. They parted with the leather at the right moment, and it was not an uncommon thing to see a passing rush initiated in the visitor’s 25 end up in a try or right on the homers’ line. Their line-kicking was excellent, and they also used the cross-kick to great advantage. A lot has been heard about the New Zealanders playing roughly against the Britishers, and the latter have been made to appear as martyrs, but yesterday the Britishers assumed the aggressive and employed tactics which were by no means gentle. Britishers were far heavier than the locals and they used their weight in no uncertain manner and undoubtedly many of the Hawke’s Bay boys are feeling the effects of it to-day. The local backs did not have much chance to display the art of passing as their front rankers only secured the ball from the scrum about four times during the match. All the British backs played a splendid game, but the bright particular star was Tuan Jones, who cut in and feinted in such a manner as to fairly paralyse the opposition. Ponty Jones was also in great form and proved his versatility time and again. J. F. Williams and Chapman on the wing three-cjuar-

ters, proved themselves dashing players and never lost an opportunity. Dyke at full did not have a great deal to do, but he showed that he was full of resource and kicked with great judgment. Ritsdn stood out on his own in the forwards, He got away from the line-out time and again, and he initiated a lot of passing rushes from forwaid play. Morgan and Harding also played great games, the latter being able to adapt himself to any position on the field. The Hawke’s Bay team did not play badly, but they were overshodowed by |the company they were playing against. The tactics employed' by the Britishers at times left each man about three men to collar and when the Britishers came into line like a regiment of soldiers, with the ball going from man to man, they had no chance of coping with them. One bad fault with the local men was that most of them collared too high, generally grasping an opponent by the neck. Symes at full, was the best back, and his play was quite on a par with that of Dyke. He took and kicked the ball splendidly, and found the line with unerring accuracy. The only mistake he made was -when he failed to take J. L. Williams when the latter scored a ' try. Kenyon, at fiveeighths played a good game and got in some good work, as also did Mclntyre on wing threequarter. Bailey was easily the best-forward for the homers, and wherever the fight was thickest he was there. He followed up in great style and at times had the opposition fairly nonplussed.

He was at the head of nearly every rush, and just missed scoring on two or three occasions.' Walshe, wing forward, played a sort of roving game, and got in some dashing bits of play. THE TEAMS. Britain: J. C. M. Dyke, J. L. Williams, J. Ponty Jones, J. Tuan Jones, F. E. Chapman, H. Laxon, G. L. Williams, A. F. Harding (captain), B. Morgan, W. L. Oldham, r I». W. Smith, J. A. S. Ritson, L. S. Thomas, J. F. Williams, R. K. Green. Hawke’s Bay : O. Symes, T. Mclntyre, J. Baker, A. Wall, H. Smith, W. Kenyon, H. Payne, T. P. Walshe (captain), A. Joll, R. White, D. Evans, J. J. Bailey, J. Hughes, D. Nicholson, R. Hackett.

THE PLAY. Britain kicked off and Mclntyre kicked in-field. Jones got possession and kicked out at the local twenty-five. From the line-out Bailey headed a forward rush, which Laxon stopped. A passing rush by England was stopped in grand style by Symes, and he put in a good kick to half-way. Bailey was again prominent and rushed play to Britain’s twentyfive, where T. Jones turned defence into attack and Walshe saved the homers from an uncomfortable situation by a timely kick to the line. Passing between Payne, Kenyon and Baker took place here but the ball was mulled. Exciting loose forward play followed, and the ball travelled about at a great rate. Walshe made a pretty dash through the visitors’ backs and was collared near the line. An interchange of kicks between the backs saw Bailey follow up fast and he. just failed to reach Dyke, who kicked out in his own twenty-five. A series of lineouts and scrums followed in neutral territory, neither side gaining any advantage. Kenyon was responsible for some good play here, and saved cleverly. Baker kicked up field and Mclntyre following fast collared Dyke on the line and it looked as if the locals were going to score, but in the ensuing scramble the ball went out. Ponty Jones broke away and kicked hard and followed up fast he had Symes hard pressed, but the latter neatly side-stepped and kicked out. Good work by Bailey saw the ball go across the British line and Dyke was forced to kick to the dead-ball line to avert a score. . Hawke’s Bay continued to attack and Walshe, Bailey and Hackett were doing splendid work in the forwards, ably assisted by good line-kicking by Symes and Kenyon in the backs. Passin *by Payne, Baker and Kenyon saw the ball go righty across the. field, but the Englishmen tackled solidly and no score resulted. From a free kick to Hawke's Bay, Bailey spoilt Williams’s return, and from the rebound Tuan Jones

kicked out. The English forwards galloped towards the homers’ line, but Kenyon picket up and with a clever kick sent the leather out. Loose play of an interesting nature followed. Hawke’s Bay rushed play to British territory, and a pretty piece of passing by the local backs was witnessed, the ball going through nearly all the backs’ hands, when Mclntyre kicked to Williams, who kicked well down the field. A scrum followed the line-out and Laxon passed out to Tuan Jones, who ran and feinted cleverly, then passed to Ponty Jones, who went over the line. Harding failed to convert. Almost immediately after the kick off the visitors started an irresistible forward rush which ended in Ritson scoring at the corner. Harding kicked a beautiful goal. The Englishman were not long in getting their third try, as from a passing rush the versatile Ponty Jones cut in, beat half the team and passed to Chapmarq who scored. Hawke’s Bay livened up and once more they invaded British territory. Smith took the ball past the opposition, but failed to pick it up at the right moment and just scoring. Half time then sounded,The black and’ whites set the leather in motion again. The Englishmen attacked and from passing rushes, J. E. and T. W. Smith were both on different occasions, thrown’ 1 out at the corner flags. Hawke’s Bay returned to the attack scrum was formed under Tuan Jones got

as if he would - overran the ball, and England recovered. Walshe made a pretty burst through the English ranks,but received no support. Hawke’s Bay were awarded a freekick at half way, and Symes made a beautiful attempt to convert, the ball going just outside the posts. Shortly after this’ Walshe attempted to pot a goal, but the ball went wide and Chapman failing to pick up cleanly Wall came with a great rush, and snapped the leather up and got across at the corner. Symes’ attempt to ’convert was g ood but fruitless. The Englishmen now assumed complete control of the game, and indulged in beautiful passing rushes, taking the ball right up the field without letting it touch the ground. Morgan, Smith, Chapman and Williams scored tries, all from pretty passing rushes, Dyke converting one, and the game ended in a victory for the Anglo-Welsh team by 25 to 3. Mr Manning, Palmerston, was referee, but some of his decisions were not well received. The Engglish line umpire also did well for his side, and the try that Chapman scored should never have been allowed, as he received a pass from T.. Jones, who was about a yard out of bounds.