Otago Retain Ranfurly Shield

Chronicle (Levin), 23 August 1948, Page 3

Otago Retain Ranfurly Shield

Press Association )

(Per

DUNEDIN, August 21. Wanganui 's bid to bring the Ranfurly Shield back td the North Island failed today when they were beateij by the holders, Otago, by 20 points to three. Wanganui 's points from a try by forward Don Beard, represented the first try scored against Otago in this Ranfurly Shield series. • A erowd of almost 30,000 saw tlie match. Wanganui put up a game , fi ght but found the Otago for\vards®too solid. Wanganui attacked from tlve kiok-off and maintained pressure for 15 minutes with bustling loose rushes. With Wanganui on the attaek, Sherloek, the fullbaek, attempted a field, goal and Otago had some relief. It was only br(ief be-c-au.se' the visitors surged baek, to make Otago fight hard. Otago wero failing to find touc'li with kicks and were sent back many timesby Sherloek, who was using a long and accurat'e boot. Any break down in the Otago passing was quiekly turned to advantage by Wanganui. The visiting forwards wero holding their own with the Otago pack. Closely marked by MeOarthy, Elvidge was heavily tackled but Botting on the wing gaincd valuablc ground with detcrmined runs. In the last 20 minutes of the half Otago kept Wanganui on the defensive. When Haig attempted to eut in and was stopped, Woodltousc started another movemeut. I.Ie sent a long pass to Elvidge, who had ATeatos outside him. The winger made no mistake in erossing the line wide out. In the fuial live minutes the Otago -backs got going nicely from a serum in Wanganui territory. It was Meates again who i>ut in a brilliant run. Ile fended ofi; Henderson to score in the corner. Meates brought the erowd to its feet again just before half time with another doteriuined burst. Ilalf time sounded with Otago on' the Wanganui iine. There was more sting in the Otago forwards after the interval and Wanganui wero pinned in their own territory for some time., The visitors, however, smothered the Otago backs sueeessfully in many passing movements whieh were Hometimes marred by faulty liandling. From a set serum just outside the 25 in Wanganui terriLory . Woodhouse shot round tlie open side. Ile beat two men and dived over the line handy to the post.s. Haig converted, to make the score: Otago 11, Wanganui 0. Not many minutes later Meates scored his third try. N. Wilson brokp away from a line-out with the ba.ll at toe, with Meates in support. . Meates kept the ball at his feet and fell on it just short of the dead-ball area. Wanganui threatened the Otago* line

and from a forward scramble Beard got over for the first try scored against the shield holders. , Otago were back to the Wanganui line and Haig jinked over for the next try. • ' Right oh time Ivearney kicked a field goal for Otago, to make the final score: Otago 20 Wanganui . . .... . . 3