The Ranfurly Shield

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 78, 21 August 1914, Page 7

The Ranfurly Shield

RKTADIKO BY TARAXAKI. A CL:>>K SH.WE. CAN'TKRIJUIIY ;/SK ON TIIK CALL 01' TIM 10. Tjr.maki t>ir.ju>n< r.s got the fright of . ih-Ar ;.vi-.s ~ istci'day, when the ehal-l-.-nue aau'li with Canterbury was being played for tlio Ranfurly Shield. Right up to the last five minutes Canterbury were in the lead, after having the better of the game almost throughout, and it looked practically certain that they would annex the Shield, when, righlt at the deatn, Taranaki came with a grand i Bpitrt and, their backs passing 'brilliancy, Whittington Bcored a try and sored tine shield for at least another week. The game was intensely excitin~ at times, and wa9 very fast. There was Borne brilliant play, 'but Taranaiki played vory TOJwjedlv early in the first spell, when the visitors played a fine •open game and threw the ball about well, scoring their only try- Taranaki in this spell had rather the worse of the luck, though, Canterbury had the better of the play. In the secoad spell the local team played with more cohesion, but tihe visitors were defending well and kept them out, and as time went on and Taranaki could only score 'but a penalty goal, the challenger*' prospects looked good. But the holders kept up the pressure, and' thteir persistence was rewarded by scoring the winning try. Taranaki's team was weakened by the defection of several players who volunteered for tho front, notably Dewor, Young and Bertrand: Fortunately bv •dint of motoring all night, Gain'ami Roberts, who landed at Wellington late on Wednesday night by the vSvdncy boat, were able to arrive on the "scene just 15 minutes before the match started, and it is just as well for Taranaki that they dsd, as bheir services proved invaluable. Abbott, who filled the vacancy on the -wing, waa unable to come back to form. The teams were as follow: CANTERBURY (Red and Black). Henry McLeod Boas Guthrie Crawshaw (cantain) and Grey Amodeo Carnegie Cunmungs Maxwell W. Cummings Fanning Syme HaseH Hegarty. TARANAKI (Amber and Black). Stohr Wkittingtan- Cameron Abbott Colman Roberts Brown Taylor Patterson Paul Sld Lv Youns Robertson Whittington Cain. THE PLAY. Hassell kicked off for the Reds against ! the sun, and Brown returned to centra A rousing rush by Carnegie found Brown smothered with the ball. He was pen- ; aiised for holding on, and Hassell had a snot _ at goal, which fell short. Stohr i put ma great dash downfield, and then centred The local forwards came down i with a dash, but were checked by Grev McLeod broke away, but was well taken ', by Cameron. Pfey continued very fast : A long kick from Guthrie .bounced and beat Stohr, and Canterbury attacked. Abbott saved neatly. Cain, Paul and . again Abbott gained a lot of groui*f 0 .- the Yellows. Brown, Colman and Roberts handling nicely, passed to Wbittiii". ton. who ran strongly, and was well collared by McLeod. Infringement by ' the local forwards let Hassell find touch dovvn at the corner. Stohr attempted to beat too many men, and wa3 rushed down. Amodeo secured and centred, and in the scramble Carnegie was nearly over, but a force resulted. The local backs essayed passing, but Amodeo secured and centred. Colman passed to Roberts, who could not get into his stride, and threw the ball forward, a scrum resulting. The Red backs were passing prettily, until McLeod missed a long pass from Crawshaw. Whittington cut in, but just missed the ball. B?fk and forward the Reds were working nard, and play was hot under the locals' goal. Boag, at centre three-quarter, on two occasions spoilt almost certain tries by hanging on when well supported. A free kick to the locals, and Stohr found touch with a beauty at midfield. Tarlor gained a little ground, but Colman passed forward, and from the free kick Hassell landed the ball close to the bellows' line. Stohr here secured, and, beating several with dodgy runs, lined at midfield. A well-judged kick by Crawshaw put the Reds on the attack again, but Colman brought relief by marking. Amodeo next attempted to pot, the ball [going wide. Syme then broke awav, | but a rebound let Robertson and Patterson through. Henry secured and ran straight through, faulty tackling enabling him to gain much ground until Roberts chocked with a smart mark. Off-aide play by Paul brought a promising rush to a close. McLeod took a smart mark right from 'Paul's feet. The visiting forwards, Hassell, Fanning and Syme in the van, were now very troublesome, but Btowii. Colman and Roberts were defending well, and kept danger away until Amodeo linod at the corner. From the line-out the s ame player took a mark, Kisskk knocking-on. Crawshaw just failed to kick a goal, the ball fceing forced. Abbott failed to gather up the ball and put his team in a tight corner, but Stohr came to the rescue, and, with a long line kick, reached touch past mid-war. Here Taylor took a mark, and from live yards over halfway Stohr had a magnificent attempt to goal, the ball being forced. Almost immediately after. Brown marked, and from practically the same position Stohr had another shot, the ball falling short, and McLeod lined. Cain and Hrown started a rush, but Kissick got off-side. Canterbury's kkk was charged down. Abbott intercepted a pa>s, and got his backs moving, but the visitors could tackle, and the bout soon ended. Interchange of kicks saw Amodeo line near the corner. Infringement by tin* locals gave Crawshaw another siiot, which fell s&ort, and Stohr lined at half-way. Hefty local rushes spoilt by long kicks enabled Boag and Henry to line at the corner, and from the last line-out Maxwell broke away and passed to Hegarty who got over amidst applause, and Oraw.ihaw goaled. Canterbury 5 Taranaki 0 This roused Taranaki, and Abbott, who had played poorly, essayed a rush, but was collared by Carnegie. From the scrum Brown broke away and passed to Taylor, who was unsupported, and a stnra fallowed. The visiting forwards, led by Cummings, came through in an almost irresistible rush right to .Stohr, who picked up and lined at mldflcld. Amodeo next centred, the ball going to • touch in goal, Amodeo himself being l slightly hurt. However, a moment later he was in place again to check a powerful forward rush. Taranaki backs opened out. Whittington dashed away, until ha came to McLeod, who collared him beautifully. A great line kick by Whittington found touch at x J&iJSgSjH™. Off-side play by the

Abbott failed to take the ball, hut recovered himself and centred. McLeod secured and attempted to run round, and when pressed, lie forced. A Cium was ordered right alongside the po3t, as McLeod had carried the ball behind. [ A slight period of battling saw the Reds [clear just as half-time sounded. Canterbury 5 Taranaki 0 1 In the second half, Taranaki were expected to do much better. Henry returned the Jdck-off to near midway, where Cameron was prominent, but McLeod checked him and linod. Amodeo centred and then marked Cameron's weak return, giving Crawshaw a shot at goal, which failed. Roberts and Cameron started an attack, and Robertson carried it on, ball at toe, but Amodeo snapped it up and shot the ball out to Grey, who lined near the twenty-five. A speculator by Brown then found touch past midfield. Brown 'ater made a great opening, and passed to Abbott, but the Clifton man spoilt the effort by hanging on. Again, Abbott failed to accept a pass, and a chance went. The locals, playing with great vim, attacked hotly; and Patterson was nearly over, being collared on the line. Brown smothered Guthrie on the corner, but Maxwell cleared from the line-out. Brown made a great opening, and passed to Colman, -who handed on to Abbott, who passed infield, and from the scramble a Red man just forced 1« time. Play now remained in Canterbury's territory, where the Yellows attacked hotly, but the Reds cleared, only to be driven back by line kicks 'by Stohr. Amodeo was a host in himself, marking, kicking or passing at the right timi. and a long kick by him found Taranaki's twentyfive, but Stohr ran and kicked to touch. The game was very fast, and, Henry being smothered with the ball, Taranalvi's chances looked bright. Ahbott here centred, but Boag secured and lined. A hot Taranaki rush was then ended by Whittington kicking high over the goal line, and Canterbury forced. One of the Canterbury players was cautioned. After the kick-off, there .was a slight interval, owing to Brown being injured. He was applauded on resuming. Taranaki 'kept up the pressure, but the Reds, playing for safety, were marking and finding the line. A free Idek by Stohr saw Henry fail to taka the ball, but Boag came round and forced. Maxwell and Carnegie carried the ball to midfield, where the Yellows were awarded a free-kick, and lined at the twenty-five. Clever play by Amodeo and McLeod carried it back, but Stohr was playing a fine game and found the line with powerful kicks. Young and 00. roused the local supporters' hopes by a frantic rush, and,Amodeo mis-kicking, the ball was out at the corner, where Taranaki were awarded a free-kick, Stohr*s kick at goal going wide and being forced. The Yellows gained ground by using the line, and the excitement was intensified as the local forwards set up a rush, which Amodeo stemmed with a mark, and lined at midfield. the. bounce beating Whittington. 0. Young snapped up a great mark, and Roberts had a shot, but Taranaki's luck was out, as the ball struck the bar. Taranaki forwards were at it again strongly, their backs kicking high, but the visitoro, particularly Amodeo. were marking well, and gradually worked play to midfield. Patterson and Cain headed another rush, and smothered Henry, who forced his way to touch. The locals kept up the pressure, and a force followed. -Stohr l'.cre went to wing three-quarter, Abbott playing full-back. A passing rush hy the locals saw Rtohr e'lt in and line neatly, and fr'om a penalty on the lineout. Stohr landed a beautiful goal, amidst applause. Canterbury 5 Taranaki 3 With fifteen minutes to go, the pace became hot, with a vengeance. Canterbury pressed, but Brown secured and beat several opponents. He failed to kick and the Reds charged down, but Roberts broke through and ccjitrcd. The locals essayed a passing rush, but a low pass by Colman was intercepted by Carnegie. There was another slight interval, owing to Syme being injured. Cummings and Maxwell broke away, but Roberts marked. A great passing bout between Stohr and Roberts saw the latter unsupported, and play went to touch. The Yellows were straining eveTy effort to score, but the Reds were holding their own until Taylor and Cain set up a great movement, which beat Henry. Whittington was unable to pickup, and Maxwell, breaking away, opened up the play, and matters looked bad ior the locals, until a free-kick gave relief. A mark stemmed another visiting forward rush, but Crawshaw kicked the return to touch in .goal. The visitors now took another spell at playing for safety, until Amodeo secured and cut in on the blind. He was collared, and the Yellow forwards set up a sterling rush that carried the leather right on to the Reds' line, where a free-kick brought relief. Taranaki were making great efforts to score, none more so than Stohr, who was playing with great dash. The ball came across to Whittington, who gathered it up and, with a feinting run, sailed for the lice, but was taken low by McLeod. Roberts had the locals moving, and found touch at midfield. From the line-out, tie forwards, headed hy Cain, set up an almost irresistible rush, and Taranaki's hopes rose high, but were dashed again as Canterbury forced. There was very little time left, and it looked as though the Shield would leave for the South Island. From' the kick-off Taranaki again pressed. Whittington failed fo

take the ball, and, due to over-anxiety, mis-kicked to touch. Young and Robertson carried the ball from the line-out to Canterburys' twenty-live, where 1 Taranaki's opportunity came and was: snapped up. From the ocrura the backs were lined out perfectly. Brown secured, passed- to Colman, to Roberts, to Cameron, who beat a couple of men and passed to Whittington, the Stratford flier. Amidst intense excitement he streaked down the touch-line,'and seor»d afine try. Stohr narrowly missed thi; kick at goal, and the score read: Taranaki 0 Canterbury 5 The locals snatched a victory right in the closing stages, for time waß called a moment or two later. Whittington was "chaired" off the field amidst a scene of tremendous excitement. Mr. Meredith, of Wellington, gave every satisfaction as referee. The tcama were entertained at dinner by the Taranaki Rugby Union at the Imperial Hotel last night. The Canterbury team leave for Wanganui this morning, and play the Wanganiu reps, to-morrow. TARANiAKI RUGBY UNION. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held at New Plymouth yeste/day when there .were present:—Messrs .t. McLcod (chairman), A. L. Humphries, 3?. A. Moore, and R. Masters (Treas.). It was resolved that the members of the Star Club, who left the field before the conclusion of the Star-Tukapa senior match, should be asked to apologise to the Referees' Association. I Whittaker, of the Tukapa team, and Bruce, of the High School team, were I cautioned for scragging in the jnnidr match between the teams on July 30, [ and it was also resolved in that connection that the Union regrets that the 1 Egh School masters called their boys oil' I the field, as being in the opinion of the ; Union unwarranted. The Union also I wishes to impress upon the masters that [ teams playing under T.R.KU. are, and must be, under the control, solely, of the ' referee. In no other way can discipline [ be maintained.