WAIKATO BEATS KING COUNTRY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26824, 1 September 1952, Page 9

WAIKATO BEATS KING COUNTRY

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH (New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, August 31. Waikato retained the Ranfurly Shield in its match against King Country on Saturday by 18 points to 3. ‘ Conditions were ideal and there was a crowd of 1400. The Waikato team played excellent football in the first spell, and for the first quarter of an hour In the second spell, but King Country lasted the better and made mbst of the play in the closing stages, though it never appeared likely to score sufficient points to- win the shield. Waikato scored four fine tries. The backs showed more speed, .penetration, and polish than for many games. O'Hearn, who was marked by T. Katene, outclassed the King Country man. Besides scoring three tries, O'Hearn never failed to bring Katene down. King Country played vigorous, bustling football, and tackled solidly. Carrington, on Waikato’s wing, made an impressive entry into shield Rugby. Waikato dominated the scrums by 24. to 14, but lost the line-outs by 28 to 19. The referee (Mr G, Sullivan, of Taranaki ) awarded 15 free-kicks against Waikato and six against King Country. Waikato has given away many penalties in recent matches, and although it has proved a most difficult team to score against, the increasing pumber of penalties could one day cost it the shield, as they nearly lost it in the match against Auckland. For Waikatq O'Hearn scored three tries under the posts. Adam converted all three. Maclaren scored in a corner. Harris scored for King Country. Coffin converted the try and kicked a penalty.