Shield Match #72
Hawke’s Bay 22 – 03 Wairarapa | 3 June 1925
The first challenge in 1925 was again the King’s Birthday annual encounter with Wairarapa at McLean Park, Napier, on Wednesday 3 June.
Both sides were without a number of leading players, the New Zealand team selected exclusive of the 1924 tourists–was playing Wellington prior to its tour of Australia, J.M. Blake, T.G. Corkill, J. A. McNab and A. Kirkpatrick of Hawke’s Bay and J. G. Donald (Wairarapa) as captain, being members of this side.
In addition Morrie Brownlie had been injured by a horse the previous day, Bill Irvine had been injured in a match four days earlier, J. Ormond was unable to play, whilst Wairarapa was also without Quentin Donald, in hospital with pneumonia, and Ian Harvey ill, all five being New Zealand representatives.
The day was fine and 8,000 were in attendance. The Wairarapa forwards played a great loose game, but the Bay backs dominated the game, and retained the shield.
22-3.
Grenside (2), Mill, C.J. Brownlie and Mahoney scored tries, Nepia and Miller converting one each, and Wylie goaling from a mark for the Bay.
F. Booth kicked a penalty goal for Wairarapa.
Hawke’s Bay: G. Yates; B.A. Grenside, N.L. Kivell (capt.), A.C. Falwasser: H.G. Nepia, L. Paewai, J.J. Mill: J. Walker, S.W. Gemmell, L. Miller, C.J . Brownlie, M. Mahoney, E.S. Craven, H.H.Wylie, J.P. Swain.
Wairarapa: E.B. Booth; J. Clark, C. Stringfellow, R. Booth; R. Jury, R.T. Cundy; F. Booth; J. Wyber, Stan “M” W1llougl1by, J. 0‘Dowd, Seymour Willoughby, R. Gray, K. Fairbrother, A. Desmond (capt.),K.H. Reid.
The referee was Mr F. C. Atkinson of Wanganui.
Swain had represented Wellington in 1923.
At Masterton on 18 July Hawke’s Bay again defeated Wairarapa by 29-0. On 29 July, Hawke’s Bay defeated Waikato at the A. & P. Showground, Dannevirke, by 64-8, but at the last minute Waikato withdrew their challenge, so that the game was a non-shield one. The interisland match on 25 July at Invercargill gave representation to Nepia, Blake,Falwasser, Mill, Merrie and Cyril Brownlie, Kirkpatrick and Irvine over half the team from Hawke’s Bay.
Riki Jury represented New Zealand Maoris in August.
