WAIKATO BEATS TARANAKI

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26528, 17 September 1951, Page 8

WAIKATO BEATS TARANAKI

RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGE

SCORE 21-12 AFTER HARD MATCH

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, September 16. The Waikato Rugby representatives yesterday beat Taranaki, 21-12, in a Ranfurly Shield challenge match. The game was played before about 14,000 spectators on a dry, dusty ground, and in brilliant sunshine.

Except for a period in the first spell, when Waikato scored 13 points in 12 minutes, and a few isolated back movements by both teams, the game, was almost entirely a forward struggle until the closing stages, when Taranaki opened up the pay. Waikato won) chiefly because of its better team work and- better polish, but the win was not as comfortable as the margin would indicate.

The Taranaki forwards gave the holders of the shield possibly the hardest game they have yet had. Not only did Taranaki dominate the line-outs, but Waikato was not as clearly superior in the scrums as usual. It was a particularly hard forward game, but under the conditions the spectators wanted bright, open back play, and saw too little of it.

Taranaki had been making most of the play, and was three points up as the result of a grand drop-kick by Bowden, when Waikato made a remarkable effort. Reid sent his backs away with a swift, long pass, and all the backs handled for Roberts to beat his man on the half-way mark and run for the line. When blocked by Cotterill, Roberts in-passed to Kurtovich, to McLaren, and in again to Brunskill, who scored a grand try, which Clarke converted.

A few minutes later, Nola broke clear in mid-field, dummied beautifully, and after a run, tossed the ball infield .to Clarke, to McLaren, who scored another fine try. Clarke again converted. Soon afterwards, Bullick cut through brilliantly near the half-way line in the centre of the field. He beat Cockerill and ran 40 yards to score. Clarke missed an easy kick. Waikato was all over Taranaki at this stage. McLaren scored a try, and Clarke kicked a magnificent goal. After half-time, Taranaki kept the game very tight. With the forwards giving a grand display and refusing to be beaten, it was anybody’s game after Bowden had kicked a penalty and Hall had scored Taranaki's first try from Waikato's line. However, Waikato rallied, and when Nola scored, the issue was beyond doubt. Just before the final whistle, Carlson scored a well-deserved try for Taranaki.