RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH.

Shannon News, 7 August 1925, Page 3

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH.

HAWKES BAY (24) v. CANTERUBURY (18). NAPIER, Last Night. Canterbury gave the Hawke’s Bay defenders their hardest struggle for the Ranfurly Shield since the memorable struggle between the two provinces at Hastings two seasons ago. One of the longest crowds ever seen on a football ground in Napier, numbering 11,000, witnessed the match, which was quite the finest played in this district for many a day. It was a game of thrilling incidents with two great sides covering themselves with glory. Pretty, /Combined back movements, clever individual work, exciting forward rushes, and stubborn and keen struggles for possession, all kept up the excitement. Hawke’s Bay struck form right from the kick-off and gave Canterbury trouble right through the spell. In faqt ,1:1 io honours of the spell could quite safely be said to be Hawke’s Bay’s. The backs struck a bright patch, combining beautifully and penetrating the djefencie repeatedly. The forwards, too, with their advan tage in weight, had the better of matters in the tight, but they found the Canterbury pack great fighters in the loose. For the greater part of the •>r»ell, there seemed a lack of understanding in the Canterbury rearguard, passes frequently going astray, or being dropped. They had the- opportunities. for the Canterbury hookers secured really more than their share of the ball. The form of the first spell and the fo.'i: that Hawke’s Bay are great fin r i«hors led many to that the P'hield-lioldnrs would run out com-

fortablc winners. It was; soon evident. however, that the men from the Soufh were going to make their fight all iho way, and so they did. The customary flesh of the Bay forwards seemed lost, due in a large measure, no doubt .to the great fight put _np by the visiting vanguard. Continuing to get the ball in the scrums, Canterbury' hookers their backs some great- opportunities. This time they played up to their true form. To sum the game up, the six points difference at the close is hardly a fair criterion of the intents of the two teams on the day as the Bays always appeared to have a bit in hand. Mill also scored a try under the posts-'when. Bay led 14—3, the decision of it 5-yards* scrum saving the game from being 9. debacle. Oliver’s try for the Canterburyians (their second Jast score) was doubtful. He certainly ( fell short and lifted the ball towards the line (this is permitted by the rules ifLlone at-once) but ’did not get it across. On Sorting out the sacks-on-the-piill a try was, perhaps, an equitable decision in view of the state of the score at that stage, 14 —3. > Sensational Opening. Play'' opened almost sensationally and within two minutes of kickoff, Hawke’s Bay had a lead of three points. Ford set the ball in motion ant'd immediately . Mill broke, with Grepside in sitpport, setting the home side on the attack, which McGregor momentarily stopped, kicking through ,to Nepia. The All Black full-back rati round, sending to Blake, Corkhill and Falwasser. In-field came the ball again and M. Brownlie, accepting a long pass, dived over. Irvine’s kick at goal was disallowed. Haiwlte’s Bay, 3—o. The first scrum followed the kickoff, but when the ball was going to Canterbury, Walker, Hawke’s Bay’s wing-forward, came round too soon

and was penalised, a fate that befel the Bays lialf-a-dozen times before they'got a free-kick. Nixon had a shot at goal but the ball wtent wide and Nepia found the line near half-way. Opportunities came for the visitors' backs, but they repeatedly nils-, bandied, the Bay forwards bustling' them. From an infringement, a free trick gave the Bays a breather. Nepia getting the line at* half-way. From ,th'e bne-out, C. Brownlie sent the ball to his backs, but they gained little. A second rush, however, met with more success and -Falwasser. after a good run, reached the twenty-five fla". Fumbling by Ford from a centre kick by Falwasser very nearly let Grenside over, but Ford' made a goo, ( ] recovery aind got the ball to the sideline. A free kick was awarded Canterbury, but gave them but short rciief Walker, Ormond, and M. Brownlie leading the Bay forwards to the attack again. From a scrum, Mill secured possession and sent rouor] on the blind side. Paewai made the openingl for Falwasser, but he attempted to hurdle Nixon and came down heavilv. The. Canterbury forwards .rallied round and turned defence into attack, kicking through to Nepia. Brilliant Blake Baulked. Opportunity soon came for the Bay backs and they mafde good use of it Blake, on receiving from Corkhill, cut in beautifully, completely beating the opposition, but he took things too easily when he had a clear run in under the posts and he very near lost the try. Nixon came up from behind and knocked the ball out of his hands, but Grensidc was in support and fell on. the leather to score. Irvine converted—-Hawke’s Bay, S —o. The Hawke’s Bay men at this stage were playing fine football, their backs especially combining Well the same could not be said of the Canterbury rearguard whose handling was still uncertain. A good kick by Robilliary] ■and McCormick carried the attack on. Paewai stopped them, however, by sending a long pass back to Nepia, who found the line. Off-side play by Waghorn gave the Bays further relief ancf then the home side’s forwards took a hand. Irvine and the two Brownlies took the ball to within ten yards of Canterbury’s line. In the scrum that followed, the visitors were penalised and Irvine landed a fine goal—Hawke’s Bay, 11—0. Rods See Red.

Canterbury retaliated and within a minute, scored its first try. „ Led by Clark, Montgomery and Masters, their forwards hustled the home side. Gemmed attempted to pass back to his backs, but was smothered by Baird. The ball wont on to Falwasser and Nepia and although they held the visitors for a moment or two, Bon'gomery picked up in the loose to score well out. Nixon failed to convert. Canterbury. 3—ll. Nepia the. Marvel. Nepia brought the crowd to its feet shortly after resuming. "Taking a ball ■ kicked to him. he ran round and then short-punted into an open space. Following through, he kicked the leather over the Canterbury line, but. was outpaced by Oliver in a groat race. The fortunately did Nepia and McGregor, corning up fast, fell on it to boat Kirkpatrick for a try. Canterbury at this stage lost the services of Elvy, whose ankle gave way, and Doreen took his place. From Canterbury man lost the ball, so una scrum near half-way, Mill put in a fine run. but his pass to Falwasser, which would have sent the winger in, was neatly intercepted by Doreen. Beauty By Blake.

From a scrum, Mill sent his backs away, Corkill cutting right through the opposition and running up to Nixon, passed to Blake, enabling him to finish off a beautiful piece of work by scoring. Irvine’s kick went Wide. —Hawke’s Bay, 14 —3. A miskick by Ormond enabled Waghorn to break away, supported by McGregor and Hay. The pass to the latter, however, was taken by Gemmell. A scrum followed, from which Mill an'u Grenside went down the blind side. Then Bay backs went away, Falwasser putting in a great run on the wing, only to find Nixon again the stumbling block. A scrum followed and Mill dived in under the posts, the referee ruling ’’held ball,” Canterbury being lucky. Mishandling by Paewai enabled Canterbury to clear to the twenty-five line. Mill, Falwasser and M. Brownlie attemped to break through, but Nixon cleared well, the ball going to Nepia. The rot That Failed. “Have a pot,” came from the crowd on all sides and Nepia did, with disastrous results for Hawke’s Bay. He caught the ball on the side of his foot, sending it among the waiting Canter . bury men. Scrimshaw secured and away he went. When he was tackled, ITord took up the running and finally Robilliaha, who raced fully 50 yards to score under the posts. Nixon converted. Canterbury, B—l 4.8 —14. The crowd gave the New Zealand representative a hearty reception. Il was a fine try alright.

Half-time came with Hawke’s Bay pressing. Their forwards took the bait down to Canterbury’s twenty-five line, where Falwasser secured anti kickeid to the centre. He followed through fast, but Nixon just beat him for the ball under the posts and found the line. Play for the most part during Hie half had been in the shield defenders’ favour. TheyVe of? Again.

Off-side play by C. Brownlie at the outset gave Canterbury an advantage in the second spell'and early Hawke s Bay had to' force. Further off-sidc play let Canterbury in to the twentyfive, wjhere their backs had a chance. The t/all travelled out to Robilliard. who put in a good run, only to be ‘ topped- by Grenside. . It was a good piece of play and was a close call for Hawke’s Bay. Off-side by Robilliard within ten yards of the Bay fine brought relief. . Another attempt at open play by the Canterbury backs was smothered. Falwasser and Blake clearing to half way. Then M. Brownlie, Gemmell and Kirkpatrick became pronounced in a forward rush, but a timely mark by Doreen saved them, After a period of uninteresting lilay, in which Canterbury had slightly; the better of things, Falwasser crosskicked to Grenside. who, after a good run, passed in to Blake. He did not get the ball, however and the Canto: - lerbury forwards seized the oppor-tunity-to break away. They gave the Hay line a great hammering, but not get through, a force'down relievMill’S iluby-Daz/.ler. :ie magpies then took a hand at attack. From half-way the forwards and backs combined beautifulb, reaching Canterbury’s line. A scrum lo lowed (bet C. Brownlie should have been penalised for flagrant obstruction on the line-out) and Mill, receiving, shot clean through the defence on the open side to score under the posts. Irvine converted. —H.B. 19 —8. A miss by the Bay backs saw the bail kicked through to Nepia. Not foi the finst time was he caught in possession but managed to get clear, and after return kicks, Hawke’s Baj forced. A free-kick brought Canterbury back again and from a scrum McGregor dummied the Bay forwards beautifully. He kicked through, bui Grenside was handy, and cleared to the line. Doreen secured from a lineout. and after a great run down touch, was brought down by Ormond and Nepia in the corner. The tackle was responsible for Nepia receiving injury to a leg., He carried on for the rest of the game, but it could be seen that lie was far from feeling comfortable!

From a line-out C. Browillie and Ir'vine broke away, b,ut Ford intercepted a pass, putting in a great run before in-passing to Oliver who fell short, but reached forward and was awarded a try in a bandy position. Nixon converted —Canterbury 13—19. Good work by Gorki] 1 took Hawke’s Bay to the attack, but McGregor beat the forwards for the ball and kicked hiph, Nepia marking. His kick was returned by Nixon and Doreen coming up fast, was very , nearly away. Gemmell, however, took . Hawke’s Bay back with a tine piece ol’ foot work, gaining fully 30 yards, Blake and Grenside assisting him to carry it on. Corkill and Falwasser Shine. Then M. Brownlie, Blake, Grenside and Walker became prominent and gave the Canterbury defence a hot time. A line-out followed on the red’s line, from which Mill gave a long pass to Corkill who made a lovely opening . for Blake. The last-named sent a poor pass to Falwasser, who picked it up in marvellous fashion and scored at the corner. Irvine converted with a tine kick—Hawke’s Bay 24 —13.

Hawke’s Bay was soon on the move • again, but McGregor put in good defensive work. In defending, Corkill got a knock on his shoulder, necessitating his retirement Watty Barclay filled the vacancy. Doreen seized an opportunity when play resumed, making a good run down the line. He made an opening for a score, but Waghorn knocked on his pass.

Good work by Doreen and Hay saw Canterbury once again in Hawke’s Bay territory, Paewai and Nepia saving.

' Ford's Brilliant Try. Still the visitors pressed and their reward came at last, when from a line-out a long pass went out to Ford, \yho saw a good opening 'and went through like a rocket to score. Nixon added the extra points.—Canterbury 18—24.

Canterbury was very nearly through a moment or two later, McGregor showing up well, but a force down brought relief. Hawke’s Bay took a turn again and with M. Brownlie in the van, attacked solidly. In exciting play, Oliver received a knock on the leg’ and had to be replaced by J. Robilliard. After a great rush by the Canterbury forwards, with Dennehy and Masters at their head, Hawke’s Bay went to the Walker and Ormond showing out. Play reached the Canterbury line and from a line-out, C. Brownlie transferred to Falwasser, who made a great effort to score, hitting the corner flag. Time immediately sounded, and the Shield was safe: Hawke’s Bay ...... 24 Canterbury IS Mr H. J. McKenzie, of Carterton, a

brother of the New Zealand selectors, refereed with marked success, in the spirit of the game. It should be' stated that Canterbury started without Dailey (injured against Southland). His place behind the scrum was taken by McGregor, Oliver moving up to five-e'ighth and Ford coming into the team, F'ord did well and Dorden excelled himself. McGregor’s tackling was a revelation.

There was a heart-to-heart talk at one stage of the second spell between Masters and M. Brownlie. The latter had knocked Oliver over, and although the Hawke’s Bay man had the ball, it was something more than a fend. Masters “hit the roof” and said things.