RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1939, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SOUTHLAND BEATEN. A TORRID GAME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, September 13. Subduing the fiery Southland pack in the last stages of a torrid game, Taranaki inflicted the first defeat on the Ranfurly Shield holders in a thrilling Rugby game at Stratford today. Taranaki won by three points (a try) to nil, but deserved a bigger margin, for they had marked superiority in the last 20 minutes. Greater pace in the backs and more aggressiveness in the forwards contributed to Taranaki’s win, the best performance of a Taranaki team for many years. Southland was something below full strength, but against that the visitors won the toss and had the advantage of playing with a strong southerly wind. It was a magnificent performance on the part of Taranaki to prevent so strong a team from scoring with that in its favour. An additional factor which enhanced the home team’s performance, was that the ground was heavy after rain. The match was exciting, not for brilliant movements, which were few, but because of the terrific struggle for supremacy between teams evenly matched and able to last out the full duration of a gruelling struggle, in which the pace never slackened till the last minute. ANOTHER WIN. FIJIANS WIN AT ASHBURTON. ASHBURTON, September 13. Playing in heavy rain and a cold southerly, the Fijian Rugby team maintained its unbroken record in New Zealand, beating Ashburton 10-4. Play was ragged at ’ the outset, the Fijian's apparently not being able to find their feet in the mud. Ashburton also had difficulty in handling the ball. Passing was erratic for a time. The visiting forwards excelled in quick, sharp rushes, while the backs combin-

ed in enterprising movements. Had the ground been dry, the visitors would probably have given a better display. As in other matches of the tour, the forwards did not gain the ball from the scrum as much as the opposing side, but quick breaking movements and solid defence counteracted this advantage. All points were scored in the first half, when the visitors were definitely on top. In the second spell Ashburton improved considerably, and were within an ace of scoring several times. Play in this half was mostly in the Fijian territory, but the home team were unable to pierce the defence. DEFEAT OF WELLINGTON. NORTH AUCKLAND FORWARDS SUPERIOR. WHANGAREI, September 13. North Auckland beat Wellington Rugby representatives this afternoon by 11 points to 3. The superiority of the northern forwards in the loose was the deciding factor. Wellington hooked from ,the majority of scrums but the combination of the youthful backline often failed. An outstanding performance was given by 18-year-old Dance, Wellington full-back. , For North Auckland Masters kicked a penalty ’and converted a try scored by Callanan. Cunningham also scored a try. Thomas scored for Wellington.