THE RANFURLY SHIELD.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1920, Page 3

THE RANFURLY SHIELD.

RETAINED BY WELLINGTON. TARANAKI'S CHALLENGE FAILS. WELLINGTON 20 v. TARANAKM. Wellington had no difficulty in retail fog the Eanfurly Shield against th challenge put in by Taranaki, whoi they beat at Hawera yesterday some what comfortably by 20 pbints to ! There was no question that on the da the better team won. The weather was perfect for footbal and the match was witnessed by a ver large crowd. Early in the game it looke as though the Taranaki team woul have no difficulty in securing the Shielc as they did most of the attacking an ran up nine points in the first twent minutes, but after this, the Wellingto: team had the better of the play. The giame was very fast, and thong it was mostly confined to the forward* there were some good flashes of bac! play. This came mostly from the visi tors, who were securing the ball fron the scrum, and proved a very smar and active combination, testing the de fence of the local backs, which stooi the strain well in only allowing foil tries to be notched. There were some alterations in eacl team. Wellington was without the ser vices of E. Roberts.(five-eighths), Jack son (centre three-quarter), and Pric (forward), their places being filled re spectively by M. Nicholls, A. Jacksoi find S. Shearer. In the Taranaki team Robertson (centre three-quarter), am M. Cain (hooker) were absent. In th former case, Sykes went in to centr three-quarter, and Penniall (emergency played on the wing, whilst the pack wa considerably altered. Birchall came fror the rear of the scrum to the front row Fogarty taking his place, whilst Kin] went in as support. The teams tool the field as follows: WELLINGTON. (Black and Gold. Full-back: ' F. Malin. Three-quarters: N. Barker, A. Jackson, G, Aitken. Five-eighths: M. Corner, M. Nicholls, Half: H. Nicholls. Wing Forward: Fitzgerald. Forwards: E. Hughes, Staaden. J. Moffitt. Wilson (Capt.) Harkne3s. J. Sheaxer, S. Shearer. TARANAKI. (Red, White and Blue.) Full-back: S. George. Three-quarters: Hickey, Sykes, fenniall. Five-eighths: McKenna, -Cameron. Half: Brown (Capt.)" Wing Forward: Colman. Forwards: Birchall, Kivell. Masters. [West, King. Malone, Fogarty. FIRST SPELL. Taranaki won the toss and opene (vith the advantage of a slight breezi but against the sun, which, howevei died down early. Wellington's kiek-oi was well returned. * Then Come secured and beat a couple of men, bu his kick was smothered by Cameroi and the Taranaki pack rushed the hj& across the line, Wilson just dropping o the leather in front of Birchall. Taranak came back to the fray again, and righ in front of the goal Brown set hi backs moving. Cameron and MclCenn handled, and Penniall was nearly ove: A moment later, George- had a shot a goal from a penalty, the ball fallin short. Sykes fielded the return an kicked a beautiful goal from the field. Taranaki 4 Wellington . 0 ; George lined the kick-off beautifully but Moffitt and Wilson led the Blac forwards along until cheeked by Browi Wellington forwards again gained th upper hand, and from an infringemen on the line out Malin had a shot, whic fell short, and Sykes, with a fine kicl found touch at half-way. Camero i then centred, and Barker Secured an . got away, but he was collared. Mali , failed to take cleanly, and Sykes, Kivel . and Birchall charged down, Wellingto ■ being again forced. Wellington foi wards now shook things up, and cai ried play to Taranakis 25, until Jlicke saved. Then the ball came across t the other wing, where Aitken line( West, Fogarty, King and Masters wei responsible for Taranaki again attack ing. Penniall marked, and George es . sayed a shot, but a free kick was award r ed for Colman throwing the ball whe the opposing forwards charged. Som line kicks by Aitken let Wellington bac again, and from a scrum Colman wa eaught off-side, giving Malin anothe - phot at goal, which fell short, and Syke found touch past half-way. Weliinf ton forwards set up a rush, but , Shearer got off-side. M. Nichotts flelde the ball well and set his backs movin; Jackson, Corner and Aitken handle well, the latter being collared by Per piall when dangerous. King headed rush that cleared, and a return b Nicholls being charged down, the locs " team were again in a handy positioi Brown then shot the leather out. but weak pass by McKenna enabled .Taekso I* to cut in and transfer to Barker, wh '» sailed for the line, but was well grasse " by Sykes. Penniall marked, and Georp J had another shot from just on half-wai just failing to goal. Here Colman rc tired injured, and Paterson wont int the pack, Fogarty going out as rovoi a Cameron marked the kick-off, and S.vke had a drop at goal, which Jac'kso forced. Almost from the resumptio * .Taranaki attacked. Brown set th 3" backs moving, and Cameron, MeKenns and Penniall handled beautifully, th 0 latter lining at the corner. From th e ecrum Brown again secured and passe P to Cameron, who passed wildly, but M< Kenna was able to reach the ball, an -* kicking over the line, beat the oppositio a and scored. George added the majc points. [' Taranaki 9 j Wellington 0 Taranaki looked like scoring agaii Penniall being just collared on the~co ner at the close of a passing bout. Late Barker intercepted, hut was upendf by Hickey before he got going, ai: h. Taranftki were again attacking. LU

i a flash, however, the visitors changed the scene, Hurkness setting his forwards going. Wilson anil J. Shearer assisted in carrying play to the 25, where Barker kicked across, and Fitzgerald taking up nicely, handed the ball to Aitken, who streaked across. Nieholls added the major points. Taranaki 9 Wellington :. 5 Wellington were now playing with great vigor, and a mark by M. Nieholls lined at the 25, put them in a handy position, and from a serum H. Nieholls secured, and cutting in nicely, shot across to J. Shearer, who had no difficulty in scoring. M. Nieholls failed to , goal. 1 Taranaki " Wellington 8 Exciting play now followed. Wellington backs were throwing the ball about well, until S. Cameroiy intercepted, and Taranaki following up, charged down. Malin, however, was able to clear, and the Wellington backs gave another taste of their quality,, the ball passing through half-a-dozen pairs of hands, until Svkes intercepted and lined near the 25. Fogarty next gained considerable ground, the ball going out at the corner, but Wellington were able to clear. Half-time was called with the visitors in a handy position, the score reading:— l Taranaki < 9 Wellington 8 THE SECOND SPELL. Nieholls, marking soon after the kickoff, enabled Aitken to line near the 25, and from the line out, H. Nieholls got his men going again, but Corner was well taken by Cameron. Fogarty broke away for Taranaki, Moffitt retaliating by heading a dangerous rush which was not checked until near the line. From the scrum, Nieholls was penalised for holding, enabling Taranaki to clear. Wellington kept moving and compelled Taranaki to force. Standen, by fast ] following up, nearly got over. Good line kicking by Aitken drove Taranaki back to the corner, but J. Shearer obstructing, Taranaki had a free kick and ! Fogarty and Kivell following up fast, shot the ball across to Penniall, who streaked and passed infield, but no one was handy.. Aitken again lined beautifully at the and from the line out H. Nieholls secured and dived over. M. Nieholls made a nice, but resultless shot. Wellington 11 Taranaki . ...v. .■.-■n.-.**, 9 This roused Taranaki, and Fogarty was responsible for the ball coming to Hickey, who gained considerable ground and kicked high. Harkness getting offside, George had a shot, which fell short. Fast play was the order of the game, the ball being up and down field. Then Jackson shot across to Barker, who was well taken by Eickey. . M. Nieholls then essayed to pot, the ball reaching the dead ball line. A moment later Fitzgerald marked, Nieholls had another resultless shot, George forcing. Another nice line kick had Taranaki again defending, and off-side play in the scrum gave Wellington another free kick, from which M. Nieholls knded a beautiful goal, the ball keeping low and just sailing over the bar. Wellington 14 Taranaki 9 Fast following up 'by Barker nearly let Wellington over again, but Hickey was able to secure and line at the corner flag. Wellington were beating Taranaki in the scrum, but Cameron gamely checked and Brown lined. Wellington, both forwards and backs, were now having much the better of the game, and a brilliant Black move was spoilt by Corner dropping at the critical moment, and Taranaki were able to force. Another strong Wellington rush was checked by Brown lining, and after a fine bout of passing by the visitors, Taranaki .backs broke away. But Barker picked up smartly, kicked across; to Aitken on the other wing, and the latter, when blocked, kicked across again, and J. Shearer, heading the Wellington pack, scored. Nieholls' shot hit the post and rebounded. Wellington 17 Taranaki 9 After a spell of defensive work, Sykes secured and passed to Hickey, who gained valuable ground, and when blocked, kicked across, but Wellington had no trouble in clearing. J. Shearer collaring George with the ball, a score looked imminent. Hickey, however, came round and saved. The Nieholls Bros., Corner, Jackson, and Aitken put up a brilliant bout of passing, the latter cutting in and beating several men before passing. After the ball passed through several hands, Barker got across, but the ball had been thrown forward. In quick succession, Malin and M. Nieholls essayed pots, the ball narrowly missing, the latter being forced. Almost from the kick-off, Aitken marked and M. Nioholls landed another nice goal. Wellington 20 Taranaki 9 Kivell, Fogarty, Birchall, and King were responsible for Taranaki getting ihto Wellington's half for the second time in the spell, but Corner checked them. Good play by Penniall carried Taranaki to the 25, where Hickey gathered up the leather, but Sykes was in front of him, and the Wellington pack transferred play to Taranaki's line, where a pass forward spoilt a chance. Penniall failed to take a high ball, but a lucky speculator saved. Taranaki supporters were roused to enthusiasm by a fine run by Hickey, with S. Cameron in support. HoweVer, the latter got in front. Taranaki were now shaping better. Malin's kick rebounding from Kivell, the local team looked like scoring, but Corner came rpund and forced. West was prominent in another Taranaki rush that Malin cheeked, and then Moffitt and Wilson headed a Wellington rush to past midfield, a clever cheelt and line kick by 8. Cameron taking play back to midfleld. Here Brown, Cameron, McKenna and Sykes took part in a passing move, the latter being upended, and time was called soon after with the score:— Wellington • 20 Taranaki 9 Mr. Atkinson (Wanganui) was referee.