SHIELD LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22221, 23 September 1935, Page 13

SHIELD LOST

CANTERBURY BEATEN

OTAGO'S FIRST SUCCESS

MARGIN OF NINE POINTS \ r 1 " 11 -■ [by TELEGRAPH —PItESS ASSOCIATION'! CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday Otago now holds the Ranfurly Shield for the first time, as it beat Canterbury yesterday at Lancaster Park by 15 points to 6 in a game that was full of thrilling incidents. Seldom, however, was there any high-class back play. The tackling by both sides was too deadly. Otago led by 7 points to G at half-time. Play in first, half was fairly even, although for one period of 20 minutes on end the fiery Otago forwards pave ft real taste of their quality. The second spell was remarkable for the fact that, after a torrid rttriiffsle, Canterbury dominated l>lay for 20 minutes on end. just missing tries by fractions. Then gaps unexpectedly developed in the home defence, and Otago grasped every chance of pressing home its advantage. Canterbury was beaten in the last 15 minutes of the match, mainly because of the mistakes of somo oE its backs, The biggest factors in Otago's favour wero the Bplendid footwork of the forwards and the accurate kicking by tho inside backs. The first score came when Otngo was penalised for a breach in the line-out, and Deavoll sent over a fine goal. After a great kick by Mortlock had saved Canterbury from a desperato eituntion there was ft sonsational incident, when Trevathnn potted a field goal for Otago. Ho was collared by one man, wrenched himself free, and then another man swung at him, but yet, when half off his balance, he got in this amazing kick. Almost immediately afterwards Otago burst through again. (Jtiaid threw off three opponents and took tho ball to within . 10yds of the Canterbury line. The backs joined in and Watt scored at the corner. Trevathan's kick failed. Otago was penaliaed in its own twenty-five, and from right, against the touchline Deavoll kicked a beautiful penalty goal. In the second half Otago got much more of the ball than in the first, and the backs made better use of their opportunities. Canterbury pressed steadily, but at length brilliant play, first by Smith rind then by McFarland, gave Otago relief. Then Gaskin received the ball behind the scrum in* his own twenty-five, he attempted to cut in, but was thrown heavily, and ill a second tho Otago forwards had taken the ball from him. They rushed straight ahead and. with nearly all tho Canterbury side out of position. Green scored an easy try. Trevathan gor.led. Otago kept up the pressure, and when tho defence weakened McFarland, without trouble, brushed past four men and passed to Quaid, who scored. Trevathan's kick was a poster. Otago dominated the remainder of the game, which ended with the score: —Otago, 15; Canterbury, 6.