RANFURLY SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 13

RANFURLY SHIELD.

* . RETAINED BY HAWKE'S BAY. 24 POINTS TO 18. EXCITING SECOND SPELL. CBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Wednesday. Hawke's Bay successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield to-day against Canterbury before 10,000 spectators, winning by 24 points to 18. The weather was fine, but the ground was rather slippery. Hawke's Bay dominated the first spell, but the visitors had a full share of the honours in an exciting second spell. The teams were:— Canterbury.—D. Nixon, W. Elvey, C. Oliver, A. Robilliard, N. P. McGregor, D. Hay, Ford, A. McCormick, F. Clark, R. R. Masters, D. Dennehy, A. Montgomery, L. Waghorn, Baird, G. Scrimshaw. . Hawke's Bay.—G. Napia, Grenside, J. Blake, A. Falwasser, T. Corkill, L. Paewai, J. Mill, S. Gemmell, J. Ormond, Mahoney, M. Brownlie, C. Brownlie, W. Irvine, A. Kirkpatrick, J. Walker. Almost immediately after the game commenced Nepia started a passing rush, in which backs and forwards par-, ticipated. M. Brownlie finished off the movement by Bcoring. The shot at goal was disallowed on account of the ball being handled twice. after this the visitors were awarded a penalty in a fair position, but Nixon missed with his kick at goal. Canterbury continued to attack and from a scrum the backs got going, but bad handling and crooked running merely took play across the field. Loose forward work took Canterbury into Hawke's Bay territory, where the movement was broken up. Blake got away and although he lost the ball on the line when tackled, Grenside touched down. Irvine converted. Hawke's Bay 8, Canterbury 0. McGregor 6et the Canterbury hacks going, but Nepia, after fumbling, smartly recovered and cleared. Play hung in mid-field until a free kick took the home side on to the visitors' line, where a free kick was given in the corner and Irvine landed a beautiful goal. The visiting forwards essayed a loose attack and bad fumbling by Falwasser, Nepia and Gemmell let Baird over. Nixon failed with the kick. Hawke's Bay 11, Canterbury ,3. Nepia made a brilliant solo run, his effort failing only on account of McGregor proving a little faster. Elvey left the field owing to an injured ankle and Doreen went on. Mill set Corkill going and lie made a great Tun before passing to Blake, %vho scored well out. Irvine missed with the kick; Hawke's Bay 14, Canterbury 3. The visitors were now getting more of the ball from the scrum, but the defence was sound. Mishandling also militated against the visitors' success. In a scramble on the line Mill dived over, but was help up. Then the Canterbury backs gave a very pretty display, A. Robilliard finishing the movement by running from nearly half-way and scoring. Nixon converted, and the score at half-time was:— Hawke's Bay ........ A . ~.• 14 C.i n tjrbii ry 8 Canterbury attacked on resuming, and Nepia was called on several clear. From a line-out the Canterbury forwards broke through and Hawke-s Pay had to force. A combined handling bout by the home side took play to Canterbury's line, Mill got the ball from A scrum and went right through the opposition on the open side. Irvine converted. Hard Exciting Play. The jrame continued hard and exciting, with fortune fluctuating. From a scramble on the Hawke's Bay line Oliver picked up the ball and dived over, Nixon converting: Hawke's Bay 19, Canterbnrv 13. Up to this stage the challengers' attack had been very determined, but t>e Hawke's Bay tackling was deadly. The defenders now opened out and the backs put in some great work. Eventually Corkill sent out a long pass to Falwasser. who accepted' it at top .speed and scored in the corner. Irvine lande(J a crreat soal. Hawke's Bay 24, Canterbury 13.

A vigorous onslaught was made by the home team, but the visitors stood the test. Corkill retired owing to an injured shoulder, and was replaced by Barclay. Canterbury attacked hotly, and after a handling bout started from e> line-out, Ford scored. Nixon converted. The game ended with the score: v Hawke's Bay 24 Canterbury ♦ 18