RANFURLY SHIELD,

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 5

RANFURLY SHIELD,

AUCKLAND'S CLOSE CALL. TARANAKI BEATEN. (By Teleeraph— Press Association.) Auckland, August 17. ' The Rugby representative match, far the Ranfurly Shield, played this afternoon between Auckland and Taranaki, after a keenly-contested match, interspersed with frequent flashes-of brilliant play, was won by Auckland by 6 points to 5. The teams wore:— . Taranaki: Pull-back, Colman; threequarters, D. Cameron, B.- Roberts, J. Stohr; five-eighths, M'Leod, S. Cameron; half-back, Brown; forwards, Taylor (wing), -Bewar, Cain, Smith, Kissick, Young, Hawkins,.and Whittington. / "Auckland: : Full-back, O'Leary; threequarters, '•M'Gregor, Stewart, Mackay; five-eighths, Ifwerson, Weston; half-back, Webb; forwards, Hall (wing), Tresize, Sellars, Wilson, Cunningham, Bruce, Carroll, and Barrett.

Taranaki won the to??, and played with I the wind against them. The Auckland 1 forwards at onco rushed play into Tara-. naki's twenty-five. Taranaki came back, but O'Leary stopped the rush with a fine line-kick. Auckland continued to press. A scrum was formed just in front of the Taranaki goal. The ball came out to 'Webb, who sent it to Stewart, to Jlackay, who scored. Ifwerson failed to convert. (Auckland, 3; Taranaki, nil.) On resuming, the Auckland backs again set out in a- line passing rush, which took play to Taronaki's twenty-five. Here Roberts broke'away, but h© was stopped in Auckland's territory by O'Leary. Auckland wero soon attacking again, and from u free-kick Ifwerson placed a good goal. (Auckland, G; Taranaki, nil.) Tho homo team was having all the best qf the play, and Taranaki were kept at home for long spells at a time. Ifwerson failed twice with penalty shots at goal. Play then centred.at inirt-iicid, but presently tho Taranaki vanguard broke away in a fine loose rush, but O'Leary saved onco again. Taranaki became aggressive, but O'Leary was 'too safe. Then Auckland returned to the attack, and Weston cut in nicely, and was within, a yard or two of the line when, he lost the ball. Auckland continued to have the better of the play, for, although Taranaki were better in tho loose, Auckland showed general superior? ity. Presently- the Taranaki forwurds changed defence into attack, and this success was followed by a pretty run down the lino by Don Cameron. Then Carroll, Wilson, and Tresize changed the eceno of play with a sweeping rush into Taranalti's twenty-five. Just before halftime, Colman was injured, and had to leave the field. His place was filled by Franklin.

The teams took tho field for the second spell'with Auckland leading by 6 to nil, and from the outset a change caino over the play. Taranaki went straight into Auckland's half. The Taranaki forwards completely beat tho Auckland vanguard, and play became keen and hard. Stohr mado fruitless efforts to goal from penalty kicks. Once or twice Auckland rushed play into .Taranaki's territory, but for a long period Taranaki maintained tlio upper hand., It was a great struggle, but whilst the Taranaki forwards played a fine game, tho backs took a long time to get under wnj\ Presently Taranaki made a determined invasion, and tho line was found a few yards from Auckland's goal. A scrum was taken; the ball "came to Brown, who sent it out smartly to Franklin, who transferred .to Jl'Leod, who cut in and scored a. ftno try in a handy position. Franklin converted. (Auckland, G; Taranaki, 5.) Now the game developed into a strenuous contest. Taranaki's brilliancy waned for a time, and Auckland put plenty of dash into • their play and • 'attacked keenly for a while. Then Stohr led tho Taranaki backs, but before long Auckland were again in Taranaki's half. And so play progressed, first one side attackins, and then the other side. But presently. Taranaki forged ahead again, and the. ball went out a couple of yards from Auckland's line. It was Taranaki's chance, but the bell Tang, and th 9 teams left the field with Auckland victorious by C points to 5. : About 12,000 people were present. Mr. B. M'Kenzio (Wairarapa) was referee. OTAGO-WEST COAST. THE COASTERS DIE HARD. | (By Teleifraph.-Press Association.) • Dunedin, August 1". Otago met West. Coast here to-day in the presence of 1000 spectators. The game was played in two twenty-fives and two twenties. The visitors, playing the first twenty-five with the wind at their.backs had Otago in difficulties from tho start, liigh centreing kicks allowing the Coast forwards to got down on Otngo's defence. Church had an ineffectual shot at goal. Casey marked, but again Church allowed too much for the wind. A few minutes later, Casey marked again, and Nelson was successful with a well-judged kick. West Coast, 3; Otago, 0. Otago attacked, and from a scrum Eekhold sent the ball to his backs, but fumbling, nearly spoilt the effort. However, M'Dougall picked up smartlv and dived over. Child? failed with the kick. West Const, 3; OtagO, 3. Otago now had (he wind with them, but the Coast forwards- were keeping well on the ball., Morrison and M'lutosh were foremost in the ru=hes of the visitors. Smart passing between Oockroffc and Alexander took play to West Coast's line, where, from a scrum, Childs swerved through (lis ruck in gnat stvle and scored. CockrolTs kick fell short. Otago, 0; West Const. :!. ITall Vns prominent in spirited uns-shi? by the vi.-itors which passing transferred plnv from one end of the field tn the nthsr: but Otaco returned to Hie attack. The Otago back?, indulged in some lively pn.sfins. which lot A]?xnuder away nn the wing, but Church overhauled'him just on the line, thus averting a certain jore, .'list o« half- . time Graham narrowly mi:«d sewing

from a penalty, which was given against the visitors for oft'-sido play. On resumption of play, West Coast had another turn with tho wind, and very soon had the Blues on the defensive. The latter's fielding was faulty. Nelson had a pot at goal and missed by a bare foot, led by Graham, tho Otago forwards dribbled up to tho visitors' twenty-five, but hard kicking resulted in a force down. Jl'lntosh broke' away from a serum with tho bait at his toes, but Scott (full-back) elfeeted a good save at a critical, moment. At tho commencement of the last quarter, the Otago vanguard attacked, .but XoLsmi broke cleverly away ou the wing and went to the Otago twenty-five. Otago retaliated with a spirited forward movement, which culminated in a bout of passing, but the tackling of the visitors was too sure. The Coast forwards were sticking well to their work, but Olagn continued to hammer away till Eckhold nassed smartly to Alexander and tho latter dashed ove.' at tho corner. Co'ckroft failed to convert. Otago, 9; West Coast, 3. With five minutes to go, Eckhold, Cockroft, and Alexander indulged in crisp passing. Alexander repeated his previous performance, and scored at the corner, despite a stout tackle bv Hall. Cockroft failed to convert. (Otago, 12; West Coast, 3.) Otago continued to hold the upper hand till the close of the game, notwithstanding that a feature of _ the play was fine tackling by the visiting forwards. The final score, therefore, was: Otago, 12; AVcst Coast, 3.