FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

RANPURLY SHIELD.

TROPHY CHANGES HANDS. WELLINGTON BEAT SOUTHLAND 12—3. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, September 3. Southland lost ' the Ranf urly Shield to-day to Wellington, who defeated the holders by 12 points (four tries) to three (one try). The weather was overcast, but rain kept off during the game. Showers during the morning and before the match commenced left the ground on the heavy side. An exceptionally large crowd was present. It was the general opinion that if the Wellington backs were able to get a fair share of the ball they would make things lively for the Southlanders, and this proved to be the case. Wellington held the ascendancy in the scrums, and the ball was sent back to Kilby fairly consistently, with a result that the halfback was able to send his supports away in a number of well executed movements. In spite of the unfavourable conditions, the Wellington backs handled with certainty, and three of the tries came as a result of their clean work, although on two • occasions the scorer should have been tackled. The home backs did not get many opportunities to show their mettle, but when they did they failed to turn them to. account, showing poor combined work. Cooke was always a thorn in the side of the home team when they weie attacking. The two heavy packs of forwards had a Teat battle, honours renting with the visitors.

In the Wellington team Ball replaced Page, Cooke playing five-eighths.

The Play.

Wellington kicked off. The first- incident was a great rush by tho Southland pack from the twenty-five to the other side of half-way. Southland heeled from a scrum, and the backs opened up play, the ball travelling out to Webb, who was well tackled. ' The Maroons kept up the pressure, and Wellington r were compelled to force. The visitors gained Southland's twenty-five, and efforts weje made to give tho ball to the backs, but they were being effectively smothered. At last Kilby sent Nicholls and Cooke away. Cooke Was tackled, and his pass went astray. Wellington scored almost immediately as a result of a kick from Norris being charged down, Barry gaining a soft try. Heazlewood failed to goal. Wellington 3, Southland 0.

From a line-out near half-way tho ball was knocked back to Kilby, who sent it on to Nicholls, the latter preferring to gain ground with a touchfinder. From tight play on Southland's side of the half-way the ball was sent out to Olliver, who made a run down the touch-line, > evaded several, opponand scored in a handy position. Heazlewood's kick missed.

Wellington 6, Southland 0. The Wellington backs were seen in action following a heel from a scrum, and the whole chain handled, McKay being safely tackled as soon as he received the ball. Again the visiting, rearguard launched attacks, first on ihe right wing and then on the left, a judicious kick by.Ball finding touch a few yards from the Southland line. From here'Metcalfe broke away in a great iftplo which gained 40 •yards. Wellington. came , . bacfe,, and Kilby sent his supports-away in a fine bout of passing, which was capped by McKay . scoring i- the corner after warding" off Geddes. Heazlewood's kick went just,outside the posts., Wellington 9, Southland 0,

Southland followed- this with, a vigorous offensive, which terminated ~in Webb crossing at tho corner.- Diack's kick fell under the bar. - ■; t,

Wellington 9, Southland 3. Just before half-time Southland were twice penalised in their own ground, but neither Heazlewood nor Nicholls could goal. Shortly after the resumption the Southland backs were given the ball, but. the -passing-broke down early, and Cooke kicked through. The Maroons returned to, the attack, but failed to press home the advantage. An attempt to speculate by Norrisjjiroved disastrous, for it enabled Wellington to sweep upfield right to the Maroons' goal. A scrum 'was ordered in front of the posts, but it was cleverly screwed by the hoine pack, who came away in a great rush to half-way. Further ground was gained by the backs, Wellington getting relief from an awkward situation when a pass from Porter to .Webb went astray. Holden and Diack were prominent in a passing movement which carried play to the visitors' goalline, where a defending player : was thrown into touch-in-goal. Wellington were getting the ball from the scrums and were gaining ground with short line kicks; The visiting pack broke away from a line-out and kicked across the line, but were beat6n in the. race : for the ball: Welllngton's next .try came, when the ball -was heeled from a scrum ifi Southland territory and sent along the chain of backs to .Olliver, who slipped over at the corner- . Heazlewood's kick went wide. ■Wellington 12, Southland 3."

After .a spell on ■. defence Southland had a turn on attack, but were repulsed by the opposition rearguard, who combined effectively in a fast bout of passing. Southland quickly gained the lost ground; however, and the ,defends ers'were penalised on their twenty-five, but Diack failed to goal. . 1 Passing between the Wellington backs and forwards transferred opera: tions to Southland's ground, where a dangerous-looking movement was initiated by the visiting backs. _ Fortunately for Southland, Ball attempted to go through on his own und was completely blocked. The Maroons eventually forced. Hazlett and Bell gained ground for tlje home team from a lineout; and Holden later set his backs in motion, but Diack was tackled in possession. The.game ended with play on the Wellington side of half-way. The .referee was Mr A. Fleury, of Dunedin.,

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. The junior representative team to play at Watkarl on Saturday wil -leave 119 Worcester 'street, per motor-bus, at noon. The president!® representative team to plas* at Woodend on Saturday next wil! leave from"'the-same place at 1 p.m. per motorbus. ■ —■L-;' : . The following replacements have been made in 'the junior representative ' team:- —Sharp ('Varalty) replaceß Weir (Christchurch), B. Olive (Sydenham) replaces Anderson (Christ's College), Candy (High School Old Boys) replaces Stevens (High gchool'Old Boys). Broad goes to Waikari -with" junior 11. team. Training ■ for both' • teams at night training* ground this evening. , SYDENHAM CLUB. Following are the teams for Saturday:— Under 17 v. Technical, at Opawa Park, at 1.30 pjn.—W. Grenfell, L. Wehner, D. Lynn, T. Calder, L. Gavin, J. Hogarth, R. Ross, E. Seelen, A. Boyd, T. Kerr, J. White,-J. Raistrick. J. Burrows. E. McFarlane, J. Simpson, B. Mitchell, R. Brown, L. Scott, H. Robertson. . , _ ~ . Schoolboys under. 7st v. Merivale, at Sydenham Park, 1 at 1.30 p.m.-—J. Mowbray, J. Harris, L. "Walsh, >J. Duke, J. Carmine, A, Britten. S., Connor, L. Johnstone, K. Gabb, C.' Campbell, R. Antman, J. Toombs, C. Ward, R. Btackmore, R. Jacobsen, M. Nicholls, W. Harvey, A. Goiney. "'■■■