RANFURLY SHIELD

Evening Star, Issue 22453, 25 September 1936, Page 9

RANFURLY SHIELD

LAST GAME OF THE SEASON WEST COAST THE CHALLENGING SIDE Otago will play its eighth Ranfurly Shield match of the season at Carisbrook to-morrow afternoon, the challenging team on this occasion being West Coast. After the Otago team’s splendid showing this year local followers are very confident that the trophy will be retained for the season. No challenging side, however, can be taken cheaply, and, like other visiting teams, West Coast will probably put their best feet forward, so to speak, in an effort to become possessed of the coveted trophy. Despite the defeat of West Coast by Marlborough last week, it has to be remembered that the visitors twice this year were successful in matches against Canterbury. The Otago team to play to-morrow is exactly the same as that which defeated Wellington so well last week, when the home players showed that they were at the top of _ their form. Forwards and backs combined in that game to give a great exhibition of team work, which has really been the secret of the successes this year. Again to-morrow the Otago pack will concede weight to the opposing forwards, but on this occasion the margin will not be nearly so great as in previous games, there being a difference of about a stone and a-ha!f in favour of the Coast. In other games the dash and cohesion of the Otago forwards have more than counterbalanced th© handicap _in weight. The Coast pack, however, is a competent one, and may be found to play a game very like Otago’s. _ They are reported to be good players in the tight, and to have gained a good share of the ball in all their matches. Provided that the Otago forwards do as well as in , previous games—and there are many who say that no Otago pack of any period has shown better concerted play—the local backs, with plenty of thrust, initiative, and speed, may be relied on to make a good showing. , . , Only on on© previous occasion has a West Coast team played in Dunedin, and for that reason they will be accorded a warm welcome. Hundreds of their supporters are coming a long way to see them in action against the shield holders, and, as local people will no doubt be turning out in large numbers for th© last match of the season, there will probably be a very large attendance again. 'The public will have the opportunity of seeing in action. G. Gilbert, who was the full-back of the All Black team in Great Britain last year. In recent games he has not displayed the good form which won him a place in that side, but perhaps a shield match may inspire him. Another fine player who will be seen in action will bo R. R. King, who was one of the best forwards of th© All Blade team last year, and who performed well at Carisbrook a fortnight ago in th© first test match against the Australians. Another prominent player ia Scandrett-, n good forward, who hag represented the Coast for som© years. Mr L. M. Wright, of Dunedin, has been chosen as referee for the game. The kick off will take place at 3 o’clock, and the 4eams will take the field as follow: WEST COAST. Full-back. —G. Gilbert 13.0. Three-quarters.—F. Pfahlert 12.3, F. W. Wyatt 12.7, A. King 11.2 Five-eighths.—R. Roberts 12.0. E. Collins 11.8. Half-back. —M. Davidson 10.13. . Forwards. —R. Kirkwood 13.1, A. Whits 12.3, A. Scandrett 13.10, R. R. King 14.4, J. Walker 13.9, P. Pascoe 13.8, R, Birchfield 13.6, and J. Cox 12.12. T „ Reserves.—Backs: J. Agnew 11.2, Pedroddi 11.5. Forwards: G. Berry 12.7 and B. Kelly 13.2. OTAGO. Full-back.—J. M. Taylor 12.1. Three-quarters.—J. M. Watt 12.4, H. Fookes 12.2, W. A. Black 13.0. Five-eighths.—C. C. Gillies 11.7, D. Trevathau 12.9. Half-back.—H. Simon 10.9. Forwards. —C. Quaid 13.7, W, Dancy 11.12, J. Hore (captain) 12.9, W. Parkhill 13.10, F. Vorrath 14 0, I'. Green 13.2, L. Niven 13.0, and H. M. Forman 13.7. _ , -_ rt Reserves. —Backs: C. Saxton 10.0, R. M'Skimming 10.12, R. G. Mahony 10.10. Forwards: J. Campbell 11.6, E. Murphy 13.8, and R. Neiper 11.0. An interesting point in the game tomorrow will be whether D, Trevatban, the Otago five-eighth, will reach his double century of points for the season. So far, he is short only by four points, and, as his average score in previous games has been greater than that number there is every chance that he will do , x No doubt there will be a great ovation for the Otago side if it wins tomorrow and holds the shield for the season. Equally sincere will be the ovation accorded the visitors if they prove to be Otago’s stumbling block. The presentation of hte shield to the captain of the winning team will be made in front of the grand stand immediately after the game. Otago and West Coast have met on only two previous occasions. At Dunedin in 1912 Otago won by 12 to 3, and at Greyraouth in 1924 Otago won by 15 to nil. . A curtain-raiser, starting at l.ou p.m., will be played between a team from the Referees’ Association and a side from the Hillside Ambulance Division. , , The box plan for reserved grand stand seats will close at Messrs C. Begg and Co. at 11 a.m. to-morrow. _ A special souvenir programme is being issued for the final match, contaming photographs of all the members of the Otago team, Otago selectors, coaches, trainer, etc., and interesting notes. This should prove a very valuable souvenir for those who have followed the performances of the Otago team during the past season.