SHIELD RUGBY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 288, 30 August 1920, Page 6

SHIELD RUGBY

WANGANUI'S GREAT FIGHT

FORWARDS RUN ALL OVER

WELLINGTON

HOME TEAM'S LUCKY WIN

Wellington again successfully dofendcd their liitlc to tho Ranfurly Shield on Saturday Blternoon, when they di-lcnlcd tho Wanganui reprcsentut.vo team by 20 points to It. Tlio match took placu on the Athletic Pork in Uio pixwenco of between. -1000 and oWIO spectators, and, contrary to expectations, it proved to be ETio beet conti-wi for the premier Rugby honours of New Zealand staged in Wellington this season. Tho ground was very_ lienvy and muddy, but nevertheless piny was fairly fast and open. Tho. visitors seemed out of their element in tho iirsil half, und Wellington had no great difficulty in eMablitihing a lead of eight points. There was' iln fact nothing to indicate that Wanganui were not a second-rate team wiio wero duo for a sound drubbing. After tho change of ends, however, the visitors took on a new lease of life, and before very long the spectators wero all sitting up nnd taking notice. Ilcoded by Bellis tho visiting forwards _ commenced to run all over Wellington, whose backs showed it decided disinclination to stand up against their formidable onslaught. Tima and again tho Wanganui vanguard swept down on tho homo team, carrying all before them and thev added eleven points to their tally, while that of tho favourites remained stationary. Other tries were missed by Wanganui through sheer hard luck and a tendency to over-eager-ness and offsido tactics, Wellington appeared to bo a beaten team, but tho challengers, instead of playing safe onco they obtained tho lead, eschcwed all caution and continued to mako tho game open. This gavo chance openings ito the defenders, who rallied tneir forces and made tho best of a bad job. The result was that they several times penetrated tho defence, securing a converted try nnd a lucky potted goal by Ryan, This put them in lilie lead, nnd the afternoon was too far spent for Wnnganut to recover themselves. The visiting forwards wore a great pack, Bellis, W. Uoss and Lockctt being particularly brilliaiiii. Their backs lacked combination, but Cowie, Swenson and Sullivan got in sorao high-clasa work at times. Of tho Wellington backs M._ Nicholls pleased most, and llyan and Aitken also struck form. The forwards worked hard enough, but they were generally outclassed on the afternoon's play. The teams were:—

Wellington: Malm, Aitken, E. Ryan, Barker, Tilyard, M. Nicholls, H. Nicholls, Ajshton, Calcinni, J. Shearer, Price, Wilson, Ilnrkness, S. Shearer, Hughes. Wanganuil; Macaulitt'o, Scott, Cowie, Paranini, Swenson, Sullivan, Grogan, Bellis, Batley, Joblin, Lockett, Murphy, W. Ross, Leahy, Dillon. 5 Wangntmi faced tho sun in the first spell and after a period of tame play a spectacular piece of work was pulled off V the home team. It camo when 11. N'icholls picked up in neutral territory and tho ball travelled to M. Nicli--0119 to Tilyaril to Barker. Tho latter put iln a 'sprint along the line with characteristic dash, nnd finished up by running right round and scoring between the uprights. M. Nicholls added the major points. Wellington, 5; Wanganui, 0. This reverse galyanised tho visitors into brief activity, but Wellington renewed the pressure and presently they completely nonplussed tho visitors wifh a nico piece of concerted play. H. Nicholls picked up on the run, and tho ball travelled in rapid Bucccssion to M. Nicholls to Ryan to Aitkon to Ti'lyard. The All Black fivecigluih cut in with pretty effect nnd touched down- about', midway. M. Nicholls failed to convert, the ball glancing off tho uprlights. Wellington, 8; Wanganui, 0. The Wanganui forwards now took a hand in the game and were very successful in the loose. They gradually bore down all resistance, and a heady kick by Cowio made a nico opening. Scott mulled the rebound and a "speculator" drove the leaiQier into the arms of Sullivan, who touched down near the corner after a good, straight run. Paranihi mndo a good but unsuccessful attempt to convert, Wellington, 8; Wanganui, 3. The homo team now returned to the attack, and the defenders were treated to a severe gruelling. Onco Malin snap-shotted a shot at goal—a very good attempt—and then come something classical. H. Nicholls obtained possession i»i tho loose und gave a pass to M, Nicholls, who, 6idc-s;epping and cutting-in, worked his passago through a swami of defenders anil scored half-way between tho uprights nml the corner flag. He essayed to convert his own try, and for the second time during the afternoon the Iwll struck the inside of tho post! and rebounded bac'lc. Wellington, 11; Wanganui-, 3. Wellington were now running all over tho bluesand-blackf, but no further scoro eventuated before half-time.

On resuming the Wanganui forwards turned tho tables on t!he homo team. Their captain (Ron Cowic), ivho is an old Petone boy, kicked n good penalty goal, and hard on this came «. try tho result of a Tush started by Bellis. Scott did the trick in the corner from a pass bv Cowie. The try was not converted. Tlie visilting forwards kept Wellington penned up, and well on in tho spell Swenson took a difficult pass from Cowie, and, beating Malin, ran round and scored under tho posts. Cowie made no inistako with Hhe kick. Wellington, 11; Wanganui, 14. Wellington now underwent a recovery. From a line-out the ball went to Aitken, who. being unmarked, streaked in and scored in the corner. M. Nicliolls converted —a mngnificent kick. With only a very few minutes to go the home team continued to press and 10. Ryan electrified the crowd by deftly potting a goal after a zig-zag. inn. This made tho score 2ft—l4 in Wellington's fnvonr, and soon after canio the call of time. Mr. L. Simpson was referee.