Shield to Manawatu

Press, 23 August 1976, Page 28

Shield to Manawatu

PA Auckland Manawatu ended the Auckland tenure of the Ranfurly Shield with a splendid 12-10 win at Eden Park on Saturday. It is the first time Manawatu has held the shield in its own right. But if it must be said that the win was the best yet tor Manawatu, so too must it be said that rugby was the winner. From the first whistle, the play flowed. It was intense Ranfurly Shield rugby, reaching a climax 33 minutes into the second spell when Doug Rollerson dropped the goal to put Manawatu ahead. Manawatu won because its forwards exerted the pressure in the first half. Playing with the aid of a useful breeze, Auckland spent most of the half back in its own half on defence.

Had Manawatu had more luck with its goal-kicking — only one of six first-half attempts went over — the Shield could have been in safe-keeping long before half-time. While the Manawatu lineout specialists, John Callesen and John Loveday, more than had their hands full matching Auckland’s Andy Haden, Chris Kennings and Stu Conn — Auckland won the lineouts 15-14 — the Manawatu No 8, Geoff Old, and flankers Terry Sole and Mark Wright .were in a class of their own in the loose. Behind the Manawatu pack, Mark Donaldson gave Brian Morris, at first fiveeighths, a long, swift service. For his part, Morris, until he left tne field midway through the second spelt employed the kicking game. It was however, accurate

kicking that kept Auckland back-pedalling on defence. With Haden in such out. standing form, the Auckland backs had every chance of playing attacking rugby. At first five-eighths Mike Richards, criticised for his kicking against Southland on Wednesday, fed Perry Parlane at every opportunity. At times the Auckland attack looked very good but scoring chances all too often went begging through Colin Farrell, coming into the line froih full-back, losing contact with his wings or Tua Saseve, who replaced the injured Tim Twigden at centre, trying to play Manawatu on his own.

For Manawatu, Rollersbn scored a try, kicked a penalty goal and dropped a goal. Hales kicked a conversion.

For Auckland, tries to Haden and Morrison; Watt a conversion.