THE RUGBY GAME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1938, Page 2

THE RUGBY GAME

RANFURLY SHIELD. REGAINED BY SOUTHLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, September 10. Southland regained the Ranfurly Shield from Otago in a Rugby match played at Carisbrook this afternoon in perfect weather. The score was 10-5. A north-east breeze blew practically across the ground with little advantage to either side. It is worthy of note that today’s game is the first time in the history of the shield that the same provinces have met twice in one season in a shield match. The attendance was 30,000. The Otago team was weakened by the absence of Simon and Gillies through injuries, and Trevathan because of a family bereavement. Mitchell took the field for the first time for Otago. The Otago forwards attacked hotly from the kick off and narrowly missed scoring twice in succession. Black failed in an attempt to pot. Perriam then crosed beside the posts from a passing rush by Otago, but lost the ball and Southland forced. Southland lost a chance when Ballantyne missed with a penalty kick from a fairly good position. Offside play by Otago presented Ballantyne with an easy opportunity, but he again failed. Southland attacked vigorously and from a scrum on the Otago line Graham dived through to touch down close to the posts, Ballantyne converting. Otago rallied and for a scrum infringement Southland were penalised, Taylor missing an easy chance to open Otago’s score. Playing with great dash and determination the Southland forwards had the Otago line constantly in danger, only slow handling by the backs and sound tackling by Otago preventing a score on more than one occasion. The spell ended Southland 5, Otago nil. Southland opened the second spell at a fast pace, and following a forward rush the ball was ’* kicked over the Otago line. Grace dashed through to touch down close to the posts, Ballantyne converting. Otago secured from a scrum at midfield, and passing among the backs saw Black run strongly down the touchline from the 25 to score a fine try at the corner. Taylor converted with a great kick. Southland 10, Otago 5.

Otago were now playing much better and Southland were given a hard time defending until Purdue found touch at half-way with a long clearing kick. Maintaining the pressure, Otago just missed scoring on two occasions, but the Southland defence held and the game ended: Southland 10, Otago 5. WIN FOB WELLINGTON. AUCKLAND TEAM BEATEN. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Wellington evened its account with Auckland in representative Rugby football matches with a win 12-6, at Athletic Park on Saturday. Each union has now won 27 of the annual matches, and two have been drawn. Saturday’s match, which was attended by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, was played in overcast weather on a ground that was soggy in every part. But despite the lack of a sure foothold, both teams showed a desire to keep the play open and entertaining, and the 9000 spectators watched as attractive a game as the conditions could have allowed. H. R. Pollock, making a come-back to the representative team, kicked three penalty goals for Wellington, and W. J. Fultop scored a try. Auckland’s points came from a try by H. Bond and a penalty goal by N. Pearman.

CANTERBURY BEATEN. UNINSPIRING GAME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 10. The Taranaki team beat Canterbury 13-6 in an uninspiring game at Lancaster Park this afternoon. The most spectacular movement of the day was Hadlee’s try in the second half when he outstripped the opposition in a 40-yard race for the line. ” For Taranaki Neilson scored a try which Meuli converted. Meuli also kicked a penalty, making the half-time score Taranaki 8, Canterbury 0. In the second spell Hadlee scored for Canterbury and Nolan kicked a penalty. For Taranaki Richards scored and Meuli converted, leaving the final score Taranaki 13, Canterbury 6.

A FORWARD STRUGGLE. WANGANUI OUTCLASSED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, September 10. Although the state of the ground at Nelson Park, Hastings, was against good football, the representative match between Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui was by no means as uninteresting as the margin of points—29-3 in Hawke’s Bay’s favour—might seem to indicate. The game resolved itself into a forward struggle which undoubtedly went in Hawke’s Bay’s favour, but Wanganui on more than one occasion set up a rush that spelt danger. The Hawke’s Bay full-back, M. Dyer, however, was playing at the top of his form, and he was responsible for getting his side out of several dangerous situations. For Hawke’s Bay Ward scored three tries, Bowman, Fox, Hannigan, and Wilson one each; Bradley converted two tries, and Fox and Dyer one each. Wanganui’s points came from a try by Barton.

A CLOSE CALL. KING COUNTRY DEFEATED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TAUMARUNUI. September 10. Manawatu had a close call at the hands of a strong King Country team at Taumarunui this afternoon, the visitors winning an evenly contested match by eight points to six after the home team had thrown away a probable win by bad goal-kicking. SEDDON SHIELD. BULLER BEATS WEST COAST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WESTPORT, September 10. Before a very large attendance and in beautiful weather with the ground in perfect order, Buller won their final match of the season for the Seddon Shield, beating West Coast 7-6.

RAGGED EXHIBITION. | WIN FOR WELLINGTON B. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, September 10. After a rather ragged exhibition of Rugby the Wellington B team beat Marlborough by 17 points to 12. GLADSTONE WIN REDMOND CUP. HOLDERS BEATEN ON SATURDAY. After a scoreless first half, Gladstone came to light with a converted try to defeat Greytown s—o5 —0 and take possession of the Redmond Cup, The Greytown ground was a quagmire and steady rain fell throughout the match. As a result of the conditions, bright play was out of the question and the game early resolved itself into a stern struggle between the opposing packs. It was almost impossible to play good football in the conditions but even so the game had its interesting moments. Gladstone won because of the superior weight of their forwards and because, generally speaking, they adapted themselves better to the heavy going than did Greytown. Right from the start, Gladstone kept the ball at their feet and booted hard and often. Greytown, on the other hand, tried to hook the ball and give possession to their backs, a policy which would probably have given them a win on a dry ground. As it was, mistakes in handling (were natural and the Gladstone forwards were quick to turn these to account. Towards the end of the second spell it was almost impossible to distinguish one player from another. Gladstone held command practically throughout the first spell and when Greytown did break through J. Henderson or J. Henson, who both played splendid games, usually sent them back again. Greytown were dangerous early in the second spell but Gladstone soon broke clear and went within an ace of scoring. Fortunes fluctuated until a hot Gladstone forward rush resulted in O’Brien scoring for McKay to convert. The forwards slogged away in the middle for the remainder of the spell which closed without further score. Mr J. Blake was the referee.

WAIRARAPA v AUCKLAND. LOCAL TEAM SELECTED. The following is the Wairarapa team to play Auckland at Memorial Park on Wednesday next: — Full back: O’Callaghan (Old Boys); three-quarters: J. Henderson (Gladstone), J. Henson (Gladstone), W. Peterson (Red Star); five-eighths: O. Hatton (Old Boys), G. Brown (Carterton); half-back: T. Denbee (Old Boys); forwards: N. Harding (Red Star), T. Hood (Greytown), W. Crawley (Carterton), I. Percy (Masterton), Mathieson (Carterton), Stringfellow (Greytown), W. Dyer (Old Boys), D. Smith (Carterton). Reserves: Back, L. Reiri (Masterton), Johnson (Red Star); forwards, C. Welch (Masterton), D. O’Connor (Red Star). Anyone not available is asked to notify the selector immediately. Players are to provide their own black shorts. The Auckland team will arrive in Masterton tomorrow about 4 o'clock by motor bus from Wellington. PEARSON CUP. In the Pearson Cup match at Carterton on Saturday Carterton beat Old Boys by 3 points to nil. Frank Wilson scored a try for the winners. WIN FOR CARTERTON 111. At Carterton on Saturday the Cartertop 111. grade team defeated Petone IV. by 6 points to 5. Spooner and Moorcock scored tries for Carterton. MATCH NOT PLAYED. Owing to the flood preventing Dalefield players from getting to Carterton the match between the Dalefield and Athletic (Wellington) third grade teams was not played on Saturday.