RANFURLY SHIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 20

RANFURLY SHIELD.

RETAINED BY OTAGO.

AUCKLAND CHALLENGE FAILS,

TREY AT RAX KICKS THREE GOALS

(By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.")

DUNEDIX, Wednesday. Profiting from Auckland's mistakes and infringements and showing, particularly in the second spell, all-round superiority, Otago won their second Ranfurly Shield defence match by 14 points to 5.

Otago's score came from two tries (one of which was converted) and two penalty goals to a converted try.

scol 'ei's were:—Otago, Valentine and Gillies, tries; Trevathan converted one and two penalty goals.

Auckland, try by Brown, converted by Bush.

There was no score at the interval. Shield fever has made a virulent attack on Dunedin, and between 15,000 and 16,000, probably a record attendance _ in New Zealand for a mid-week interprovincial match, saw a strenuously and at times willingly eontested game, made memorable by Auckland's superb try. With three minutes to go, an immediate reply was made by Otago, Gillies (second five-eighth) dashing up to gather when A. Beyer, Auckland's full-back, was negligent and nonchalant in fielding three yards from his own goal line.

Expectations that the Ranfurly Shield holders would have one of their two hardest matches of the season (the other being against Wellington on September 19) were fully realised in the first spell, when Auckland had the advantage territorially, through failure of the Qtago ioiwards to settle down. The challengers threw away royal chances by continual scrum infringements and offside play. The latter breaches were glaring and were committed not onl/ in scrums but in lineouts.

Bush Unlucky. Luck was not with them, either, as a brilliant penalty kick by Bush from the 45 yards mark hit an upright high and bounced into play. A score at this stage, when Auckland was in the ascendancy, might well have altered the whole complexion of the game. Just when they were threatening danger Auckland were repeatedly sent back for palpable infringements. They were penalised eleven times, against Otago's four, in the first spell and on ten occasions against six in the second spell. Frank Solomon was playing offside continually, while Lockington and Anderson were also culprits. With Hadley, who playod a grand game, being penalised "also for "lifting" in the scrum, there was a certain amount of feeling among the forwards, and during the second spell the referee was compelled to protest to the captains. The hooking of Auckland's forwards gave the visitors many chances to get going in the first spell, but deadly tackling kept the challengers in check. After their hard game on Saturday against the Southlanders the Otago pack was lifeless and was beaten for possession throughout the first spell. On resuming they put more vim into their I work and their cleverness shaded Auck-' land in both loose and tight, while they got a big share of the ball in the scrums and line-outs. A Great Vanguard Attack. However, in the only vanguard passing rush of the day the Auckland forwards showed great speed and certainty in handling. It came in the dying stages of the game, Pepper breaking away and the ball going on to Brown, who made a sensational 35 yards run to score between i the posts. Hadley, Brown, Pepper and Anderson were always in the thick of the fray, but Solomon was disinclined to do any heavy work. The Otago pack were their masters when they settled down late in the game. For the last half hour the dark blue forwards played with tigerish spirit and it was clear that they were a better pack.

Had 'Dave Trevathan, Otago's goalKicker, been' really in form, Auckland would have been nine points down at half-time, when there was no score. Usually a certain kick, he missed three easy penalties. He was off his game generally and the breakdown of the Otago back line was due to his lapse of form. Otago's rearguard has great penetration and speed, but it was well on in the second spell that J. M. Watt, undoubtedly the finest three-quarter the province has had for many years, had a run, when Beyer caught him by coming across. Watt made a brilliant sprint to overhaul Dick, when a try was imminent on one of the few occasions when Auckland indulged in chain - passing.

Otago's backs were much more dangerous, but Auckland were thrilling with the tenacity and sureness of-their defence.

Simon, Otago's scrum half, overshadowed Frankham, not in getting the ball away, but by his tactics and variety of attack. Lack of Combination. Dave Solomon was one af the most brilliant players on the field, but Killeen and Bush were not a good combination, the latter being too slow at centre. Bush was cut -out on the occasion that Dick was given his fine run, the ball being passed out brilliantly to the winger, who made a spectacular dash until Watt overhauled him.

Fletcher was given no chances on attack, but his defence was very solid, while Taylor was at the height of his form as full-back for Otago, not making one mistake. Beyer was not inspiring, and the try which gave Otago indisputable victory was due to his slowness and over-confidence. After Brown had scored a most spectacular'try Auckland still had time in which to win, the state of the game then being 9—5. In a very willing forward struggle Cooper held on to the ball, but Tre'vathan's kick from 35 yards out missed. Then Gillies punted for the line. Beyer had plenty of time in which, to field and clear, but he was lackadaisical, and, when he failed to gather, Gillies, who had followed up with flashing speed, snapped up and dived three yards into the corner for the decisive try.