RANFURLY SHIELD

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 253, 22 July 1929, Page 13

RANFURLY SHIELD

WAIRARAPA RESIST HAWKE’S BAY ASSAULT GAME BRIMFUL OF INTEREST CHALLENGER’S FORWARDS OUTSTANDING Dominion Special Service. Masterton, July 20. Wairarapa successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield this afternoon, when they defeated Hawke’s Bay 10—6 in an exciting game, full of incident, one that kept a crowd of some 13,000 people at top pitch till the final bell sounded. At all times play was hard and fast, and both sets of backs indulged in passing movements that frequently brought the crowd to its feet, and there was little difference between the two packs. The Hawkq’s Bay forwards had decidedly the better of it in the first spell, and were continuing to do so in the second till Wairarapa began to keep play tightand practically monopolised the ball. The Shield holders caused great excitement when they scored ten minutes from the start as the result of a movement set going by J. Donald and ending in Randall Booth diving over in the corner. Up to that stage the visitors had not been beyond half-way, and for most of the time had been penned to their twenty-five. But from the kick off there was a different tale to tell, and for practically the whole of the first half Wairarapa had to defend. This was due to the Bay forwards, who dominated most of the line-outs, breaking ,through well, and obtaining possession from most of the scrums. These opportunities were made the most of by their backs, a fast, heady lot, who threw the ball about surely, Ruru, Setford and South being par? ticularly dangerous. There was some magnificent tackling done by the Wairarapa backs, Mill and Cooke spoiling many a rush before it had fairly started, while Hart, at half-back, played one of the soundest games seen on Memorial Park for a long time. His tackling was sure, and on attack he shot the ball out before even the speedy wing-forward, McKay, could smother him. Hawke’s Bay’s try came as the result of a pretty piece of play, when the whole back line, from Beckett to South, handled. ' Territorially, Hawke’s Bay had it all their own way, with the exception of the first ton minutes, in the first spell, while thq defenders were equally dominant in the second spell. The teams lined out ns follow:— Hawke’s Bay (black and white) : Yates, Ruru, South. Rei, Setford, Botherway. Beckett, McKay, S- Gemmell (captain), Henley. Roach, Campbell. Wilson. J. Gemmell, Robinson. Wairarapa (green): L. Roach, Randall Booth, Fuller, Jury, Cooke (captain), Mill, Hart, J. Donald. Irvine, 01liver, Harvey, Fnirbrother, M. Willoughby, McGregor. S. Willoughby. A Surprise. Wairarapa won the toss, and the Bay kicked off facing the sun. Harvey returned the initial kick high, and the Wairarapa pack, ball at toe, went downfield to the Bay twenty-five, where a penalty relieved the position. J. Mill started a beautiful movement that resulted in Cooke cutting out two men and handing on to Jury, to Fuller, who was pulled out tight on the line. When scrummaging from the line-out the Bay were penalised, but Fuller’s kick fell short, and Setford cleared with a long line kick. This was the first time, so far, that Hawke’s Bay had got past the half-way line, and they were soon called on to defend again when J.. Donald broke away, well supported by his forwards. The ball was eventually given to Randall Booth, who got over in the corner. Fuller converted with a beautiful kick. Wairarapa 5, Hawke’s BayO. Soon after, Cooke, who was playing a brilliant game, electrified the spectators, by chasing a long kick and catching Ruru in possession. The latter, however, was given a chance to get in a fine run from a scrum, when Beckett handed to him on the blind side. Becked almost got over, following a corkscrew run, but Cooke- was able to clear with a hefty kick, and for a period the forwards settled down to scrumming, from whieh ’eventually the Bay backs were given the ball, Botherway kicking for touch. Roach fielded the ball, and essayed a field goal, which, however, went well ■ astray. Ruru put in another fine run, from twenty-five to twenty-five, where Harvey brought off a good flying tackle. From the line-out the ball went to Beckett, to Setford, to Botherway, to South, each of the first three putting in nice runs before passing, and South scored a well-earned try, well out. Yates missed with the kick. Wairarapa 5, Hawke’s Bay 3. Hawke’s Bay Lead. It was following this effort that the Bay forwards began to dominate play, and time after time they broke away from the line-outs, ball at toe. Cooke, Fuller and Roach were prominent in saving delicate situations. The Bay backs, receiving bv far the greater share of the ball, were proving particularly dangerous also, Setford and South frequently penetrating to within ten yards of the line. S. Gemmell and Campbell were prominent in a rush that took play to well in the Wairarapa twenty-five, where, in a lineout, J. Donald got offside, and Ruru kicked a good goal from the penalty, amid frenzied cheering from the Hawke’s Bay supporters. Hawke’s Bay 6, Wairarapa 5. Still dominating the play, the Bay forwards swept downfield in a great dribbling rush, which was stopped by Randall Booth going down to it. Ruru and South each essayed field goals, but missed badly, and the Wairarapa men, gained a needed respite. Solid scrumming by the Wairarapa pack saved another dangerous situation and the half-time bell cams with the scores unchanged. « Keeping the Ball Tight. After half-time Walker replaced Olliver in the Wairarapa scrum. A spectacular start to the spell .was given by S. Gemmell and McKay, who broke away from a scrum near Wairarapa’s twentyfive, and the latter was beautifully tackled by Roach, who thus saved what seemed a certain score. Twice in succession, Roach was called upon to save from forward attacks, and a third time he tackled South near the line following a pretty combined movement by the Bay backs. It was now apparent that the Wairarapa forwards were trying to keep play tight, and the wisdom of the decision was shown when they began to hold their own much better. Harvey, Irvine and Walker, were playing fine football, and under their leadership the green pack gradually improved, and went downfield in a good rush. Wairarapa’s opening score came when Hart sent the ball out to Mill, who made a good opening, handed on to Cooke, to Fuller, to Jury, the last-named capping a beautiful piece of combined play by scoring well out. Fuller converted with another great kick. Wairarapa 10. Hawke's Bay 6. In addition to holding their own in the scrums, the Wairarapa forwards adopted bustling tactics, with the result that many a Hawke’s Bay movement was nipped in the bud. The great fault with the green puck, however, was that they would not follow up—frequently Hart was the only player to be seen following a long kick, and as a result of this the defenders lost a good deal more ground than they need have done. The rest of the spell was confined to the opposing packs, with Wairarapa keeping the play tight and push- -- the black and whites back in every scrum. The forwards were making it willing, too—so willing that the referee thought It necessary to impartially warn them all, collectively. The end of the game came with the forwards scrumming in Hawke's Bay territory, and the score unchanged. Mr. J. Moffat (Wellington) was the ref area.

PLAY IN OTHER CENTRES WANGANUI. By Telegraph.--Press Association. ' Wanganui, July 20. Rugby matches on Saturday resulted as follow: — . Marist and Pirates drew, 11 all; Raierau beat Technical Old Boys, 9 —6; Wanganui and Old Boys beat County ,2i>— 3Kaierau now lead in the championship with 18 points, Pirates 17, Old Boys 16, Marist and Technical Old Boys 12, Ratana 6, County 4. .) CHRISTCHURCH. By Telegraph-—Press Association. Christchurch, July 20. To-day’s Rugby results are as follow: Albion 11, beat Merivale 3; Old Boys I <- beat Linwood 3; Sydenham 9 beat West Christchurch Old Boys 3; Christchurch 29, beat Technical nil. AUCKLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, July 21. Sports fixtures on Saturday were played in almost incessant rain, al }d on grounds resembling quagmires. Owing to the bad state of Eden Park the only senior Rugby match played was the first round postponed one between University and Marist, who met on the showgrounds, the former winning 15 —0. University and Ponsonby are now level for the chamcurta j n . ra i ser Mount Albert Grammar School and Hamilton High School drew, 3 all. SOUTH TARANAKI. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hawera, July 20. Southern division Taranaki senior Rugby results: —Opunake 25, Waimate 6; Okaiawa 24, Athletic 3; Hawera 9, Patea 0; Kaponga 14, Eltham 5. e DUNEDIN . By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, July 21. Rugby results : —Kaikorai 9, ’Varsity A 5; Pirates 8, Taieri 3; Alhambra 11, ’Varsity B 3; Dunedin 7, Union 6; Southern 18. Zingari 0.