Wellington Beaten, 22-6, In Ranfurly Shield Challenge

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28981, 24 August 1959, Page 14

Wellington Beaten, 22-6, In Ranfurly Shield Challenge

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH. August 23. Taranaki recaptured its best form of last season at New Plymouth on Saturday and decisively defeated Wellington by 22 points to 6 in a Ranfurly Shield challenge game. Taranaki scored five tries, two of which were converted, and a penalty goal and Wellington's points came from two penalty goals. A crowd of 24,000 saw Taranaki play its best Rugby of the season. The ground was firm and conditions were perfect. At half-time the score was 6-6. but in the last 30 minutes of the second half, Taranaki piled on the pressqre and was clearly the better team. With R. J. Urbahn, J. McCullough. R. H. Brown and D. J Mathieson Taranaki fielded a near-international backline and it was in this department that Wellington had to bow to a superior force. Urbahn gave a sound service and made some beautiful breaks from the scrum. McCullough was the McCullough of the second test, and he staged one slashing

diagonal run to score a try Brown recovered his best form and Mathieson gave the backline thrust and. real pace. His tackling and cover defence were excellent. As a spectacle the game was magnificent. Wellington tried as best it could all the time, but on the day it was just not good enough. B. A. O’Neill. J. Lees and D. Bradburn, Wellington’s inside back combination, were outpaced and because of this the more experienced members of the rearguard, J. R. Watt, W. S. Fleming and R. W. Caulton, were no more than a paper threat. In the forwards the game was more even, but Taranaki had the edge in the second half. The Wellington pack was heavier and taller, but it was given a lesson in mobile forward play. Taranaki’s tries were scored by Mathieson, J. R. Carroll, B. j. O’Neill, McCullough and Flavell. I. B. Darney converted one and J. L. Bayly kicked a penalty goal and converted a try. M. Williment kicked Wellingtons penalty goals.