Auckland scrambles, but keeps shield

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33942, 8 September 1975, Page 14

Auckland scrambles, but keeps shield

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. | Auckland was scramb-j |h g in the second half' to beat Wellington 19-14 j to retain the Ranfurly Shield at Eden Park on' Saturday. After a dour first half, with Auckland playing into a stiff breeze and trailing only 3-6, the shield looked in safe keeping. But there were anxious; nfcftnents in the second half! as gift tries to both sides brought the game alive. During the first half, Wellington’s advantage of the wind was nullified by power play by the Auckland forwards, splendid tackles by the backs, and the brilliance of Bryan Williams with some fine mid-field runs.

But Wellington fought back into the game with a typical Grant Batty try — his hundredth in first-class Rugby.

For Auckland, tries were scored by Barry Ashworth and Stuart Conn. Steve Watt kicked a conversion and two penalty goals and Richards dropped a goal.

Wellington’s points were scored from tries by Batty, and Mark Sayers, while Brian Cederwall kicked a penalty and dropped a goal, but he missed an easy conversion. The half-time score was "Wellington 6-3, and the attendance 28,000.

Other representative matches: Marlborough 29 (B. Ford 2, D. Neal, A. Sutherland, 1. McAlpine tries; G. Cocks 3 conversions and a penalty), Nelson-Bays 4 (W. McCallum a try).

Hawke's Bay 34 (P. Durham 2, J. Eddy, R. Hunter, Z. Marinkovich tries; J. Francis four conversions, two penalties), South Canterbury 6 (D. Nicol two penalties). Otago 17 (J. Colling, R. Roy

tries; L Mains three penalties!, North Auckland 13 (B. Going. L. Roberts tries: K. Going penalty and conversion!. Wanganui 17 (R Barrell. P Sharland tries; Barrell three penalties and a conversion!. Southland 9 (G. Valll. L. Booth tries; Valll a conversion and two penalties!. Bay of Plenty 28 (E. Stokes, i A Brown, M. Taj lor, J. Kami-; zona tries: G. Rowlands three! conversions, two penalties!. Wal-i kato 14 iP. Bennett a try. Q. Maisey three penalties, M. Taylor dropped goal!. Walrarapa-Bush 28 (R. Couch,, B. McConochie, R. Robertson, N. Kjestrup tries: Couch a penalty and a conversion; Kjestrup a[ penalty, two conversions!. King Country 17 (K. Pave 2. M. Kidd tries; J. Lang a conversion, and; a penalty). Horowhenua 23 iR. Puklowski 2, R. Brickland, J. Free tries;! J. Karam two conversions, drop- 1 ped goal). Thames Valley 13 (G.[ Bax. B. McCollum tries. McCol-[ lum a penalty and conversion).

Manawatu 37 (H. Blair 2, D. Hales, D. Rollerson. G. Tbelin

,| tries; K. Granger five conver- . sions. three penalties!, Combined J Services 7 ’A. Watt a try, R [Kerr a penaltj). [ Auckland XV » (P. Jackson. . IK. Howard. G. Hart tries; B . Rilej two conversions and a pen. -laltv. M. Flsan dropped goal), !l Poverty Bay 15 (P Tocker a try, A Swan conversion and two penI allies, G. Thompson a dropped ; I goal). .[ Rugby.—The South bland under 16 Rugby teain to play lithe North Island at Hastings on [September 20 is: G. Steel [(Otago!;' P. McSweeney Mia- '! Canterbury) R. Haugh (North ;'Otagoi. D. McDonald i Marlborough); S. Cadigan ’West Coast). V. Brown (Canterbury, [ captain’: K. Farrington (Southland); G. Scott (Nelson-Baysl: S. ’Blakely (Otago), T. Crawford (North Otago’. P Fisher (Southland! W. Parsons (Southland!; ’IM. Simpson (North Otago), K (Bennett (Nelson-Bays), B. [Thomas (Marlborough). Rei serves: D. Sharland (NelsonBays), N. McLeod (North Otago:, !p.‘McDonald (Marlborough), M ißelcher (Canterbury).