JUNIOR GRADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 249, 2 August 1937, Page 2

JUNIOR GRADE.

Old Boys, having withdrawn from the competitions, did not play their match against Alethven. RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH. SOUTHLAND BEATS OTAGO. (Per Press Association. i DUNEDIN, August 1. In a stirring game at Carisbrook, 'Southland defeated Otago in the first Ranfurly Shield match of the 1937 season, and on the play of the day well deserved their victory by 12 points to 7. The winners’ points comprised a converted try, a penalty goal and a field goal, while Otago’s total was made up of a try and a field goal. It was a dourly-contested game, between two fine packs of forwards who battled hard all day to gain supremacy. While there was little between the packs, more concerted work in their efforts really paved the way for Southland’s victory. The maroon backs were sound, and made full use of occasional lapses by the Otago backs, often turning defence into attack. At half-time the score was 3-all, and at that stage of the game it looked as if either side might win, but for £he greater part of the second spell Southland’s forwards predominated, coming through,together in sweeping rushes which thoroughly tested the Otago defence. For the winnere Wesney kicked a penalty goal and scored a try between the posts, which he converted, and Sutherland potted a goal. For the losers Vorrath scored an unconverted try and Trevatlian potted a goal, but the latter missed two sitters in front of the posts and his play lacked thrust. Mitchell went off injured after 20 minutes’ play. The Southland team was undoubtedly superior to Otago on the day. The weather conditions were perfect, the sun for the most part being obscured. There was an entire absence of wind and the ground was in first-class order. The game for the most part was fought out between two fine packs of forwards and honours were equally shared. In the back divisions Southland was undoubtedly the better. Simon, the Otago half, played a fine game, but Trevatlian’s lack of thrust at first fiveeighths crippled the remainder of the backs, and in addition his kicking with the exception of a spectacular field gofll was feeble. Had advantage been taken of two sitters Otago would have emerged victorious. Most of the play went to Black’s wing, hut he was constantly upended before making much headway. Taylor played a fine game at full-back. The attendance at the match was approximately 35,000, and the takings were slightly more than £2OOO. When Otago played Southland in the Shield game last year, at Carisbrook, when the ground had to be swept clear of snow, the attendance was given at 28,000, and the gate receipts totalled £1560. The attendance and receipts at the 1936 game represented a record for any Shield match in the Dominion. It is claimed that the attendance is a record for any interprovincial match in New Zealand. THE SOUTH CANTERBURY TEAM, PLAYERS FOR ASHBURTON AIATCH. The following team has been selected to represent South Canterbury against Ashburton in the representative Rugby match at Timaru on Saturday:— Full-back: C. Rollinson (Old Boys). Three-quarters: iD. Hopkinson (Temuka), A. Gaffney (Temuka), E. Ryan (Old Boys). Five-eighths: B. Alorrison (Old Boys), C. Cartwright (Star). Half-back: C. Saxton (Old Boys), captain. Front row: AI. Cameron (Temuka), T. Gunn (Star), P. Hanson (Waimate). Middle row: J. Strang (Old Boys), W. Dennison (Waimate), F. S. R. Thomson (Old Boys), G. Vueetich (Star). Back row: G. Adkins (Star). CANTERBURY BEAT WANGANUI. WANGANUI, July 31. The Canterbury Rugby team opened a short North Island tour to-day, defeating Wanganui by 12 to 3 in a match which lacked sparkle in the first spell, but livened in the second. The Canterbury backs were too fast for the home side, and made use of a hard-working pack of forwards. Wanganui, on the other hand, had a territorial advantage but lacked the thrust in the rearguard to win. The forwards played a hard game, particularly in the second spell, but the undoing of all this vim was

weak tackling by the home backs, who let the visitors away in surprise movements. IN OTHER CENTRES. Christchurch—Christchurch 14, Sydenham 6; Merivale 15, Sunnyside 11; Athletic 9, Linwood 7; Old Boys 8, Techhnical 0.8. 3; University 11, Albion 8. With one round to be played Old Boys and University are level. Timaru—Beri Cup Final: Old Boys 19, Temuka 12. Harris Cup: Star 36, Zingari 3; Geraldine 7, Celtic 3. Auckland—Otahuhu 15, Ponsonby 6; Marist 20, College Rifles 12; Varsity 16, Technical 0.8. 6. Wellington—Athletic 9, Petone 0; Old Boys 20, Johnsonville 10; ■ Eastbourne 12, Hutt 6; Poneke 14, University 13; Wellington 8, Marist 3.