Four Dropped Goals In 10th Shield Victory

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30557, 28 September 1964, Page 16

Four Dropped Goals In 10th Shield Victory

(New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, September 27. In the hardest, fastest and most entertaining Ranfurly Shield game of the season, Taranaki, the holder, staved off a strong North Auckland challenge by 12-8, with the aid of four dropped goals at Rugby Park, New Plymouth, on Saturday.

It was Taranaki’s tenth defence of the shield, the last this season, and by far the most memorable. The match also marked a return to form by the Taranaki team. North Auckland’s penalty and a converted try were just not good enough. In more ways than one. however, it was a game tc remember. The Taranaki captain, R. H. Brown, for the third time this season in shield matches, kicked three dropped goals and took his personal tally to 10 for nine matches. The other dropped goal was kicked by T. P. O’Sullivan. Pack Was Superb North Auckland appeared to have a slight edge on the Taranaki forwards and in the backs during moments in the first spell, but the Taranaki pack could not be subdued and was magnificent. North Auckland led, 5-3, at half-time. The score was a fair indication of the game. V. Yates was prominent throughout for North Auckland and his try by the posts was a grand one which finished off a movement by backs and forwards covering the length of the field. ■E. J. Thompson converted and kicked a penalty goal

and in the last minutes of play it looked as though North Auckland would score again, but the tiring Taranaki defence held as it has never done before. Inspiring Leader Brown was again at his brilliant best and his allround play has seldom been better. Taranaki owed a lot to him, but the remainder, when the odds were against them, rose to the occasion through his leadership, and that of J. R. Carroll in the forwards. The full-back, B. O’Dowda, returned to form, and his punts spiralling 50 yards and more downfield were a joy to watch. Carroll, T. D. Jenkins, J. Major, who won three tight heads, and A. Smith played magnificently and the remaining forwards—P. B, Mac, R. Coles, G. Hayes and I. MacDonald—were always in the fray. Not once did they let up, and Carroll and Major, in particular, were outstanding with the ball at their feet But if the forwards were great then it was K. C. Briscoe who made it possible for them to be so. His judgement when kicking was superb and the pattern of play was woven around him and Brown. O'Sullivan dropped a beautiful and unexpected goal and his play was the best this season. T. N. Wolfe chased,

tackled and chased in an effort to score points, and the crowd loved his darting runs. Backs Ware Dangerous The wings, K. P. Hurley and E. J. Keith, were slightly overshadowed in speed on the day. but never in general piay. North Auckland unleashed attack after attack during the match, with its massive pack spearheading them. But the backs also were dangerous and fast, and V. Yates joined them many times after he left the scrum. They gave Taranaki some anxious moments in the last two minutes of play but could not break through. K. T. Going, at full-back, was solid and tricky and the wings, R. Yates and D. R. Panther, broke clear with sheer pace several times. The five-eighths, M. J. Houlihan and B. M. Troy, were forever attacking and making Taranaki turn round, while the half-back. P. E. Marshall, finished the match not far behind Briscoe in standard. „ The locks, E. Dean and M. Hull, gained plenty of ball from the line-outs, in the first half particularly, and used their weight intelligently. The siderow men, W. Rogers and D. Hewitt, were fast and a constant menace. The hooker and captain, D. Webb, also took three tight heads and his leadership was worth watching. W. Marinkovic and T. Marinkovic battled it out solidly in the tight and were surprisingly fast in the loose. Lower Grades Under 20. —Petone 27, Linwood 6. Under 18. —Kaierau (Wanganui) 22, Sydenham A 12.