CHALLENGE FOR SHIELD

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27132, 31 August 1953, Page 6

CHALLENGE FOR SHIELD

WELLINGTON BEATS TARANAKI, 263

V. D. BEVAN AND T. J. S. RILEY IMPRESSIVE

(New Zealand Press Association) 4 , WELLINGTON, August 30. In a challenge match for the Ranfurly Shield, the Wellington Rugby representatives beat Taranaki. 2fl-3, on Saturday. Wellington scored six tries, four of which were converted. Taranaki scored a field goal.

It was Wellington’s fourth match in defence of the Ranfurly Shield. Eleven of the side and also six from Taranaki had taken part in the All Black regional trial at Wanganui on Thursday. It was not surprising, therefore, that the pace slackened in. the second spell, bdt t he first hal£ was ver * exciting, with Wellington dominating the play, and winning the line-oats by 16 to 6 and the scrums by 11 to 5, m V V Bevan again played outstandingly. T. J. S. Riley also impressed. The Wellington backs made rush after rush, and the side led 18-0 at half-time. Taranaki had more success in the lineouts and scrums in the second half. Gate takings amounted to £3359, and the attendance was estimated at 37,000. The conditions were ideal, with the lightest of breezes and brilliant sunshine. Gross tbe four shield games are £11,22!. Saturday’s total was the highest for the series. In addition to Bevan and Riley, G. G. Mexted and D. G. Harker played outstandingly for Wellington. Though playing a much looser game than usual, L. Hohaia was Taranaki’s best forward. Three young backs, S. Bonner, P Dickson, and E. Skipper shaped well, though they had little chance of penetrating the excellent Wellington cover defence. T. J. Riley, R. A. Jarden, B. J. Fittpatrick, Bevan, I. Vodanovich, and B. W. Battell scored tries for Wellington. Jar°en converted three and O’Callaghan one. P. Dickson potted a goal for Taranaki. MANAWATU BEATS HOROWHENUA (New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH Aug. 30 In a representative Rugby match at Levin on Saturday, Manawatu beat Horowhenua, 19-18. It was an uninteresting game relieved only by the brilliant play of Manawatu’s half-back, W. Donaldson. Donaldson scored one try and paved the wa y the oth er four scored by Manawatu. Two were scored by J. Gleason, one by S. Freebairn, and one by C. Osten. Horowhenua’s points came from a try scored. by R- Robinson and converted by gogjAhipene, who also kicked a penalty AUSTRALIANS WIN IN AFRICA BOLAND BEATEN BY ONE POINT (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 r.m.) CAPE TOWN, August 29. The Australian touring Rugby team snatched a thrilling last-minute victory over Boland at Wellington today. 14-13. Boland, the runner-up in last year’s Currie Cup interprovincial tournament led 8-5 at half-time, and seemed certain of victory when they scored a converted try with minutes to spare. But in a furious assault, the Australians fought back and Jones dived over for an unconverted try. Although Boland held a big territorial advantage, even when the pack was reduced to seven men for all but five minutes of the second half, the Australians showed such speed and opportunism that they repeatedly beat the defence. The Australian pack was beaten in scrums and lineouts, but the forwards were tireless in the loose, and the backs showed all their best points in attack. Boland forsook their normal tight tactics, trying to play the Australians at their own game, and nearly succeeded in beating them. The scorers for Australia were: Jones (two tries), Phipps (one try), Solomon (a field goal). Colbert converted one try. The scorers for Boland were Lategan and Gibson (tries). Sauerman converted both tries and kicked a penalty goal. FIJIANS BEAT TEAM FROM AUSTRALIA (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) , SUVA, August 29. The Fijians beat an Australian touring Rugby team, 29-6, in the final match of the tour at Suva tdday. The Fijian star was Kalivate Thavuilate, who became well-known in New Zealand in 1951. He scored four tries and converted one. The Australians’ points came from a try by Tye and a penalty goal by Cooper. CHRISTCHURCH TEAMS WIN AT HOKITIKA In a fast, open match at Hoki-tika on Saturday Linwood beat Westland by 24 points to 16. R. Atkinson was one of the best Westland forwards, and R. Steel, half-back for Linwood, helped to send his backs away on many occasions with long, accurate passes. Tries were scored for Linwood by M. Stoop, N. Archer, Munnerly, McDonald, Royfee, and L. Winn. N. Aitken converted two tries and Royfee one. Westland’s points came from tries by E. Wells, K. Cowan, and B. Ross. Boyd converted two tries and kicked a penalty goal.

A Sydenham fourth grade team beat a Westland junior team by 19 points to 6. Tries were scored for Sydenham by. F. Whitta, B. Bowick, L. Withers, R. Brown (2), and Brown converted two tries. M. Wavey and L. Priest scored tries for Westland. Lyttelton beat a Westland team by 8 points to 5. Lyttelton’s points came from tries by T. Mitchell and R. Ross. D. Heeney converted one try. Westland’s points came from a try by Coulson which C. Gardyne converted. MARLBOROUGH MAORIS WIN RATANA CUP (New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, August 30. The Southland Maori Rugby team was outplayed on Saturday, when it lost the Arepa Ratana Cup to the. Marlborough Maori team by 11 points to 3. Both teams fielded fast sets of backs and solid forwards. The game was even territorially, but Southland lacked finish in their back movements.