The Ranfurly Shield

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 90, 11 September 1914, Page 7

The Ranfurly Shield

ANNEXED BY WELLINGTON. A GKKAT GAME. WELLINGTON \i, TARANAKI 6. After staving off successive challenges by Wanganui, Horowbemia, Wairarapa, Canterbury and Southland, the Taranaki team was compelled to yield the Ranfurly Shield yesterday to Wcllingtc-n al Stratford, after a gaMo which was strenuously contested and was brimful of interest. Undoubtedly Wellington deserved their win as the better team. In the first spell, and during part of the second spell, the play was very spectacular, both teams playing an open game. Forward, the teanw were verv even, but in the bucks, though possibly individually Taranaki were the better, yet collectively the visitors were much "superior, showing much better combination, Keeping their pla-ees better and being more "nippy.' it" one wan failed, there was another to take his place. Their passing was a treat, clean and ' smart. Their forwards, toe, showed more contb'nation than the locals, whilst their condition'also was belter. They came down the field in solid rushes five or six at time, whereas the Taranaki team's rushes were generally of the lone-handed order. Towards the cHd of tne game the pace told its talc. Taranaki avos new having t-nc better of toe mix-up, and were making des- • perate efforts to score, but Well- ] ington played for safety, and ,

gava no chances. Certainly Taranaki -had the woist of the luck, -losing Dick Roberts in She first spell, and 0. Young (luck) in the second. Wellington would probably have won iu any case, and they a.~ e to be congratulated on winning the shield for tho second time. The game opened very sensationally, Stohr landing a beautiful goal after three niinuteV play. Twelve minutes later Wellington had gained, a point lead by a potted goal," and ?oni\ side scored a try in the- first spell. In the Becond spell Wel'ington had the better, of the argument, but could only penetrate the local defence onre, scoring a try, which was converted. .. Taranaki shook themselves up at the finish, but were unable to seore. though they were I within an ace of it on several occasions and had 10 acknowledge defeat by 12 I points to C. Tarinaki played we»l, but Wellington play better. The day wn s an ideal on?, dull, with very little wind. The ground was in good order. The attendance was disappointing, .only about 2000 lVdng present. At the of the'match, the Wellington team carried the shield, which had been on view in front of the stand, ehouhler hi,>h off Lie j ground, amidst applause, the crowd having been fairly impartial throughout. | The team*; were as follows:-- I

WELLhWiUV. Cciors: Bltu'k. Full-back: Twomcv Three-quarters: Fiihcr, Algar, }•'. Ryan. • Five-eijjlitbs: Tilyard, Evei)i,f.n. Half-back: E. Roberts. Wing-forward: kliearer. Korwurvls: Brown, Franvis, Wil»on (Capt.), Moffat. Bell, Dent, W. Ryan. TAHAN.Ua. Co.ore: Amber and Blaik. Fnll-bae.v: J. btohr. 'Kirw<]iiartfrs: Don. Cameron, It. Roberts, ('. Wliittiniittii. Five-eighths: iS. (Umeio;i, -T. Colman. Half-Hsu*: C. Brown. Wing-forward: R- Ttivlor. Forwards: M. Cain, If. Di>war, .J. Kissick, 0. Younu'. J. Robertson. It. Tattenson, If. fWliittingron. THE J'LAV.

Taranaki sot the ball moving, ami Dent marked the kk-k-ofT. Evenson placing the ball well down field. A rebound from Bell gave Wellington the advantage, luit a handy kick by Cameron, well followed up, led Taranaki to the attack, and Koberts compelled the visiting fullback to hurriedly line. Taranaki hooked the ball from a scrum. Kangi Wilson got offside, and from <ive yards off the side-line Stohr landed a beautiful goal within three minutes of the start.

Taranaki 3 I Wellington 0 This pet the visitors going with great dash, and in a flash Wellington wore attacking, their forwards pressing hotly on Taranaki's line, but a throw forward spoilt them. Wellington got the ball from the serum, but Oilman intercepted Roberts' pass to Evenson and lined. A great rush by Taylor and Patterson, followed by a useful kick, found touch past midficld. iTlay now became very fast. From a Bcrum K. Koberts got his backs moving. Tilyard, Kvenson, Hyan and Algnr handled nicely. The latter made a, smart run, rind when collared .'hot in to Shearer, whose pass to a forward in front of the goal was missed, and Whittington cleared by lining. Don Cameron next beat'two men. and lined at crntre, but the visitors, securing the ball from the scrum, Koberts had bis backs on the move. The locals, however, tackled well, and after four or five had been grassed a throw forward would spoil the bout. Taylor then broke away, and a free kick allowed the locals to pass halfway. Twomey at full-hack was tackling and kicking well, and drove them back. I The Wellington men kept up the pros- J sure, backs and forwards assisting. The ' local defence stood, however, until Algar, picking up in the ruck, smartly potted a goal, after 15 minutes' play. Wellington 4 Taranaki ... 3 Tile Taranaki forwards now attacked, but Koberts shot the ball out to Hyan, who lined. Brown set his backs in motion, but the passing was too high and slow, and the ball wa j intercepted bi-fr.rc it got to the three-quarters. Brown. aud 'JV.yUir brok» away, but the latter was called ba/'k for offside play. The referee called the game up after a rousing local rush, and the "sports"' in the stand set up a howl, which ceased whin Taranaki were awarded the free kick. Siohr just failed to line. A great piece of play by S. Cameron was stopped by Twomey, wli; set his backs going, but Hyan was well taken by Don Cameron. Cain and Duncan earned play back past lull'way, where Tilyard picked up smart!? and lined at the twentv-five. Here, from a free kick, Ryan failed to take the ball. which 0. Young overran. Stohr kicked hard and followed up, bustling Twomey, who passed to Fisher. The latter, when checked, passed back to Twomey, who lined. The local forwards came with a great dash, and Brown passed to (Adman, who cut down field and passed to Taylor. The latter shot across to Patterson, but Taylor again gathered it up. and dived across amidst great applause. Taranaki , fi Wellington 4 The locals kept up the piessure. Don . Cameron essayed a dash, but was crowded on the line and collared. Roberts al«o put in a dodgy run. Francis and Co. cleared their line, and some hot forward play ensued. Ultimately K. Hyan lined down field. The visiting backs were showing great combination, Bobects I .in Tiiirnrimifi

defence for the lucals resulted in the firs.t."force" after 32 minutes' play. The visitors NMild not be denied, anil from about inidfield K. Roberts picked up an.l passed to Tilyard. who handed on to Algar, and the latter, cutting in beautifully, shot across to Fisher at the right tinw, Fisher just got over at the corner as Roberts collared him. Kvenson's attempt to goal just failed. After 35 minutes, the score read: Wellington 7 Taranaki 0 Then; was a temporary cessation, owing to Roberts having hurt his shoulder in the effort to save the try. ])rs. Walker and Stevens, who were on the ground, attended him. lie had to retire, S. George- going on as full-back an.l Stohr coming to centre-threequarler. From a free-kick Stohr attempted a goal from half-way, but the ball fell short. Wellington forwards returned with a rush, but Drown checked them and lined. Half-time was called with play in neutral territory. On resuming, after an interchange of kicks, Robertson broke away and cen-

tred, but Cameron just failed to get there. A great movement by the Wed- i lington backs was terminated by Stour ' .intercepting just inside ' Taranaki's , twenty-live. The Tukapa man streaked ! right into the opponents' twenty-fire, ' and passed to Cameron, but he was l pushed out near the goal line. From the I line-out the visiting pack came in a | body, and were not checked until near slightly hurt in checking the rush, bat j was able to resume. Tilyard, by-lining, ',' stemmed a heavy ru.-h, and the Wellins- .. ton men got moving. Drown intercept-

Ed a pas 6 and kicked, Slohr smothering Twomey, and after some forward play, Roberts passed to Tilyard, who handed to Algar. Tho latter cut in when welt supported, and with only George to pass, he passed in, when eoliared, to Moll'nt. A hot attack kept the local supporters on tenterhooks, but Taranaki 'tackled well, and free kicks, caused by over eagerness, on two occasions allowed (\>l- - to line just pa,t niidhVd. E. Roberts narrowly escaped goaling from a free kick in a handy position, and Column forced. The kick off was returned to the corner by Evcnson, but from the throw in the local forwards, headed by De-war, Robertson, Young and Taylor, | carried play in a rousing rush past mid- j way. Twomey failed to stem the this, [ but Tilyard backed him up well, ana j lined at mid-way. Young was here in- ! jured, and had to retire, Paul taking his | [dace. Wellington kept up the pressure. ' Taranaki now were playing strenuously, ' 'and, passing in front of Wellington goal,. a likely chance was spoilt by a throw ' forward, and Ryan a little later lined ' brilliantly at half-way. Wellington ■ backs were again passing well, and Al- i gar shot across to Fisher, who was l eoliared. Like a streak the ball came ' to the other side of the field, ami Til- I yard was oil', but ,Stohr threw him lo . touch, and from a free kick Column i again lined at halt-way. The b'acka j came again, and George bad to force. ' Hack came the visitors, and Mofl'at made a great opening for Roberts, who shot the ball across to Tilyard. The latter cut in and transferred to Algar, who beat the opposition and ran round behind the posts. E. Roberts goaled, after ii minutes play.

Wellington 12 Taranaki' 0 From the kick-off Oilman linei at the i twenty-live, but llangi Wilson headed la. great rush, his forwards sweeping i down the field. F'vciison picked U'p aid :. set Algar going again, but Whitting- : ton eoilared him. lirown lined for the! locals, but Dent and Co. came again. ' T.lvard kicked too hard, and C.corge| was itble to force. Algar again attempt-1 ed to pot, but the ball did not rise, j E. Roberts was playing well, and again! and again had his backs in motion. Cam- i eroit mved niee-l|v after UJeorgo had j, mulled, and Kissick coming away, ball; a', toe, play was removed to the visit-' ors' twenty-five, but a nice line kick sent it back. Wellington were now hav-! in-» the better of the game, both back j and forward though fome individual , members of the locals, notably Kissisk. were doing good work. Dent markedj. cleverlv and Evenson had a shot which went wide. Oilman ran out with the I ball but failed to line. Taul marked I the return. Taranaki were now strain-J in<T ever- nerve to score, but the visit-1 ors were lining well and warded off j the attack, Drown set his backs moving, and (,'oliiian rarricd plav post mid-! field, where, Sto-hr had a shot, at «oal j from a nenally. but the ball fell short. ■Robertson centred the return, and a '■scrum ensued. Wellington forwards, t headed bv Bent and Ryan, .smothered • Whitlington. w?io. was' penalised for', holding.' but Kvenson's shot went wide. Another free kick found touch at the ; corner. Aty interchange of kicks gave', Taranaki the advantage. Don Cameron ' fiow roused local sunporfers by streak-1 in2 for the at the end of a nassin? 1 bout, but he was collared bv Roberts and Twomev, when very dangerous. ! Dent marked from the line-out, and as an outcome the ball went to toucb-in-goal. Tatana.ki forward* made a final simrt. but the visiting backs played a solid defensive, game. Tn front of their goal lliev threw forward, and iStohr had a shot, which went low, and lie was alloTed another kick for "no chnrcje," and this just missed. The. locals kept moving and Don Cameron was, away, ball at (lie. but a black man held him,' and though penalised, Woilirsrton gained the advantage by the obstruc-i tion, as the Stratford flier would almost.' centainlv have scored. The go.me end-! Ed soon aftev with Taranali; attackui-r.; Mr. Heo. Xieholson was referee, and 1 Messrs Madden and Spnrdfe umpires. 1 Tn the evenin? lioth teams were en'tertained at dinner at. the Stratford j Hotel by the Taranaki Rugby Kmjrby T T nion.