RANFURLY SHIELD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 September 1938, Page 11

RANFURLY SHIELD

OTAOO DEFEAT HAWKE’S BAY BATTLE BETWEEN FORWARDS. POTTED GOAL THE ONLY SCORE. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) DUNEDIN, August 31. Otago successfully met its fourth challenge for the Ranfurly Shield this afternoon when it beat Hawke’s Bay by 4 points to nil, a potted goal by Trevathan in the first half being the only score. The Carisbrook ground was very dry and hard after a prolonged dry spell and an entire absence of wind made conditions perfect. The game resolved itself into a battle between the forwards. Otago dominated the game in the scrums and loose, with Hawke’s Bay holding an advantage in the line-outs. The game was played at a fast pace from whistle to whistle.

A poor exhibition of goal kicking was given by each side, Fox failing in five attempts and Bradley in one from penalties for Hawke’s Bay. Trevathan was twice unsuccessful and Taylor once for Otago. No scoring movements resulted from back play, each set being apparently afraid to open out. The attendance totalled 22,000, a record for a Wednesday match. The game provided one of the hardest and most vigorous displays of forward work ever seen at Carisbrook. The greater part of play was confined to the forwards, and although the visiting pack had slightly the better of the exchanges in the first half, the home forwards stayed on and more than held their own in the second. The Otago forwards played an outstanding game, packing with great determination in close play and breaking through with some splendid dribbling rushes which gained stretches of ground. They indeed played as a team from beginning to end and it was their very fine work which brought victory to Otago. There were no gaps in their play. The Bay forwards invested their play with plenty of vigour and they showed up in line-out play. They could not, however, break clear and they were penalised more than once for offside play in line-outs.

There was not much spectacular play and on the run of the game the rearguards on both sides were given few opportunities. P. Reid, first five-eighth in the Hawke’s Bay team, received concussion five minutes after the challenge game began and was taken to hospital. TARANAKI BEATEN. SOUTHLAND WINS RAGGED GAME. INVERCARGILL, August 31. Southland beat the touring Taranaki Rugby team today, 9—6. The game was lively only in the last few minutes. Southland played far below their usual standard. The Taranaki forwards monopolised the ball in scrums and lineouts but the backs were unable to take advantage of the supply of the ball given them. Southland opened the score when Crawford touched down after Purdue had made a break. The kick missed. The Taranaki forwards making all . the play, went to the line where Wetton got a favourable bounce and went over. The kick missed. Pepperill was responsible for Taranaki’s next score, Benton touching down. Southland equalised with a penalty goal, and won with a score by Herron. It was a ragged exhibition, played on a hard and fast ground. Only the failure of Taranaki’s backs prevented the touring team from making a big score.