RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1939, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

RANFURLY SHIELD SOUTHLAND DEFEAT CANTERBURY HARD FOUGHT GAME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 2. Southland beat Canterbury 10-8 in a hard fought match at Lancaster Park this afternoon. Canterbury crossed Southland’s line twice and was the first team this season to score a try against the Ranfurly Shield holders. Southland’s renowned pack was held throughout by the Canterbury forwards, who showed great dash, and the; southerners’ back line was bottled up by the consistent tackling of the Canterbury men. Southland’s backs were dangerous and Saxton and Grace were a constant menace to Canterbury. Early in the game Mahoney got away for Southland, but Roberts stopped him with a magnificent flying tackle. Southland’s first try came soon after, however, when Saxton shot a’ long pass to Grace, who beat two defenders before passing to Mahoney,, who scored. The scores were evened when Hunter snapped up a rolling ball and made a brilliant burst down the centre of the field, drew the Southland full-back and passed to Roberts, for the winger to score. Before long Grace potted a goal from 30 yards out. Then McAuliffe from a scrum near the Southland line dashed round the blind side and scored. Ballantyne converted, making the half-time score Canterbury 8, Southland 7. In the second spell Southland attacked strongly and for a long time Canterbury were bottled up and had to defend strenuously. Canterbury were penalised and Wesney put over a good goal. First Canterbury and then Southland came within an ace of scoring, but the game ended with the score still Southland 10, Canterbury 8. WIN FOR FIJIANS. AUCKLAND BEATEN. AUCKLAND, September 3. The Fijian touring Rugby team scored another win in the fourth game of the New Zealand tour against Auckland on Saturday, and thus ‘preserved its unbeaten record on the' Dominion tour. The score was 17-11. The visitors delighted 1500 spectators with theirability to handle and their hard, straight running, while their swift tackling prevented movements by the Auckland backs from getting very far. Tries for the Fijians were scored by Voreqe (2), and Gavuilati, Korovulavula converting one. Korovulavula and Cakobau kicked penalty goals. Schubert scored two tries for Auckland, and Hare kicked a penalty goal. IN OTHER CENTRES REPRESENTATIVE RESULTS. Wellington 6, Hawke’s Bay 6. Taranaki 8, Otago 4. South Canterbury 14, Ashburton 8. LEAGUE CODE NEW ZEALAND TEAM’S TOUR. ST HELENS BEATEN. LONDON, September 2. The New Zealand Rugby League team defeated St Helens 19-3.