WAIRARAPA WINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 745, 19 August 1929, Page 6

WAIRARAPA WINS

RANFURLY SHIELD DEFENDED MANAWHENUA DEFEATED Press Association MASTERTON, Saturday. The Wairarapa Rugby representatives today successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield for the third occasion this season, this time against Manawhenua, which was defeated by 37 points to 16. The weather conditions were unfavourable to good football, the ground being softened by rain in the morning, and a strong westerly wind prevailed throughout the afternoon. The game consisted mostly of forward play, with occasional bright openings by the back division. Wairarapa was definitely superior, although the visitors’ forwards dominated play in the first spell with the help of the wind, the half-time score being:—Manawhenua, 13; Wairarapa, 8. In the second spell Wairarapa rattled on the scores in quick succession. Play in the first spell was mostly confined to Wairarapa territory, and the shieldholders did well to keep Manawhenua’s score down under the conditions. The visitors’ big bustling forwards frequently broke away from the line-outs and loose melees, but superb defence —mostly by Cooke and Corkill—kept the score down. Within three minutes of the start.

Manawhenua opened its account from a free kick by Fletcher. FAILED AT GOAL Following a good forward rush by Wairarapa, Mill snapped up near the line, and dived across. Fuller failed at goal. Manawhenua replied, Parsons crossing the line, and Fletcher converting. Shortly afterwards Cooke broke away, and scored in his characteristic style, Fuller converting, making the scores & all. Just before halftime Miles crossed for Manawhenua,

from a loose forward rush, Fletcher again converting. Half-time sounded with the .scores:—Manawhenua, 13; Wairarapa, S. IN QUICK SUCCESSION With the aid of the wind and sun, Wairarapa penned Manawhenua in the second spell in its own territory except for very occasional sorties. Toward the second half of the spell, especially, Wairarapa scored in quick succession, and soon left no doubt about the shield remaining in its keeping. Play was considerably brighter in the concluding stages, when the Wairarapa forwards played splendidly, and fed the backs well. The Mill-Corkill-Cooko combination worked splendidly. Cundy was first to score for Wairarapa in this spell, following good play by Reid, Fuller failed to convert. Manawhenua replied with a great rush, which saw Parata dive across for a good try, but Fletcher found the wind too great to convert. All the backs handled in turn in the next scoring movement, Mill sending the ball away for Fuller to cross, but he failed again with the kick. Immediately Mill secured again, fooled the opposition, and put in a good run to send J. Donald across. Fuller converted. From now on Wairarapa completely dominated the play, and rattled on an additional 18 points per medium of tries by Corkill, Cooke, and Stringfellow, all of which Cundy converted with beautiful kicks. Cundy also landed a great penalty goal from near halfway. The final scores were:—Wairarapa, 37; Manawhenua, IC. Mr. T. Fletcher, Wellington, was referee.