SHIELD GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 13

SHIELD GAME.

WIN FOR OTAGO. ■ CANTERBURY DEFEATED. RAIN AND HEAVY GROUND. <By Telegraph.—Cwr. Correspondent.* DUNEDIX, Saturday. For the Ranfurly Shield match between Otago and Canterbury rain continued to fall heavily and the ground was sodden, having been cut up by the curtain-raiser. Despite these handicaps, play opened in a fast and exciting fashion to the roar of a crowd of 17,000. Trevathan's kick-off was taken cleanly by McAuliffe and returned to half way. A scrum followed and a lineout and Otago were penalised v for feet. Manchester's punt gained further ground for Canterbury, who then threw in a swift back attack. Brooks ran strongly, but Mortlock was tackled by Gillies. Millikin bootfed the ball on. only to see Taylor, the Otago full-back, pick up well and clear. Immediately afterwards there were ringing cheers for Nolan. He fielded a high kick under pressure and bounced it out at the Otago twenty-five. Then Mortlock and Rouild were also associated in a dashing piece of play. Round beat one opponent and Watt had to race over from Otago's left wing to up-end him fifteen yards from the line.

So far Canterbury were doing nearly all the attacking. From another penalty against Otago, McAulifle's kick just fell short. After this Otago woke up, Hore, Green and Quaid smashing, a path down the line. In a dribbling rush Black joined in to make a thrilling fifty-yard run, evading both Round and Nolan. He was grassed two yards from the line by Rankin after the brilliant effort, but a minute later the big Otago forward, Vorrath, dived over near a scrummage. Trevathan's kick missed. Otago kept it up with vigour and zest. Short passing by forwards burst the defence wide open, and Simon and Hore got over near the corner almost unmarked. Simon scored and Trevat Ir.i n converted with a wonderful kick. A clever passing bout by Trevathan, McSkimming and Black provided the next thrill, but Canterbury's defence hardened and Mortloek sent a long touch-finder past half-way. Manchester grabbed the ball in a line-out and tore on, followed by Malioney, Burke and I-'ablecheque. They were checked superbly by Taylor, and in a flash Otago's hunting packmen were again worrying Canterbury. Watt came up fast at the finish to catch Nolan in possession ten yards from the line. After two scrums Canterbury were penalised and Trevathan's kick went over amid cheering. Otago were thus eleven to nil after 30 minutes' play. This free tick had been given against Canterbury near the centre for standing off-side.

Another desperate Otago rush saw Simon, Niven and Hore menacing Canterbury. McAuliffe sent them back with a grubber kick, and then Round evaded an opponent cleverly, only to slip as lie cut in. Brooks and McPhail carried on, and from a great piece of passing Round almost scored as the ball came back to him near the corner. Then on the other wing Hart made a spectacular dash. Canterbury were battling hard as the whistle went for half time : — Otago Canterbury 0 The second spell began with Otago gaining ground bv hard rucking. Laney showed up prominently and Canterbury had to detend grimlv for ten minutes on end. Seandrett. Hattersley and Manchester dribbled through to half-way, where more vigorous scrummaging followed. A slight wind had now sprung up from the south and was aiding Otago. whose loose rushes soon had (Canterbury in trouble again. A kick by i Xolan was charged down, but McAuliffe came round to save under his own posts. The relief was only temporary/ The Otago men surged up to the line time and again, just missing a try by inches. Round and McAuliffe were hurt in these melees and Laney also received a knock, but all stayed on. The ball was now so slippery that back play was impossible and the forwards dominated the game, mostly the Otago pack, who had better combination and ball control. In checking another rush Mortlock was injured and Hooper came on to play second five-eighth. Play switched to the grandstand side on Watts' wing and only Hart's speed averted a try. Canterbury forced twice in succession. Then Canterbury suffered another casualty, Pablecheque going off and Sweeney replacing him. The Otago attacks continued in driving rain, with the players covered from head to foot in mud. The game became over-keen at this stage and two forwards were warned by the referee. McPhail and Brooks showed up for good defence when Otago bore down again, but a minute later McPhail miskicked. Hart just got back in time to cut off McSkinnning's bid for a try. Then when Taylor came down fast on the right wing Sweeney hurled him out. So far Canterbury had hardly been out of their own quarter for thirty successive minutes. At length Sweeney, with good dribbling, led them to half-way and past it. Rankin, Scandrett, Milliken and Burke booted the leather on and the challengers made a determined effort to score. Nolan raced up to send the backs away, but slipped at Otago's twenty-five, and the rush was over. Green led the holders back to the other end again. Vorrath and Laney backed up with speed, handling like backs. Laney scored easily and Trcvathan converted. The end came with the score: Otago 1C Canterbury 0 NEW QUARTERS. I *• TAKAPUNA RUGBY CLUB. It was n red-letter day in the record of Takapuna Rugby Football Club on Saturday, when the first senior A match . (Grafton Technical) was played in tile district in conjunction with the opening of the club's line new training and dressing quarters, erected at a cost of £700. Before a large gathering of enthusiasts Mr. Harry Frost, president of the Auckland Rugby Union, officially opened the doors of the new building. Mr. Frost spoke words of encouragement and congratulation to the club. The club president, Mr. F. E. Sutherland, welcomed the gathering, and, mentioning that the club was not yet three years old, thanked the Borough Council and citizens for their support. He added that, apart from money raised by art unions and social functions, a sum of £ 300 had resulted from a "donnybrook fair" held in March. ■ There was a debt of £350 on the building. The Mayor of Takapuna. Mr. ,T. Guiniven. and the chairman, Mr. A. A. Baker, added their congratulations. B. A. Killeen, All Black and captain of Grafton, was given ; a great ovation, and spoke a' few words to the gathering.