SHIELD TAKEN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 11 September 1914, Page 4

SHIELD TAKEN

mm I WELLINGTON WIN COVETED TROPHY TABANAKI BEATEN BY 12 TO 6 (BT TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) STRATFORD. 10th September. There was an attendance of about 2500 when the Wellington team captured the Ranfurly Shield from Tara- ! naki to-day, iD a contest that was considered to have been the finest exhibition of Rugby seen in the province for many years. Particularly in the first spell the game wac attractive, and full of incideut. Time and again the black backs turned the yellow attack into defence like, a- wave of the hand. Yet as often the yellow forwards broke through from their own territory and swept everything before them, till Twomey, at full-back, outflanked them with his kicks. The holders of the shield were somewhat unfortunate, as they lost their captain at the end of the firet half, and Young, a- forward, had to, be replaced half-way through the second spell. This had an appreciable effect upon th» succeeding play. Taranaki kicked off, and with three minutes gone, the first score was registered, a- goal being landed by Stohi(Taranaki) from »■ free kick. The yellows were defending off and on for j seventeen minutes, and Stohr, makipg a miskick in front of his own goal, Algar picked up and coolly potted a neat i goal with his left foot. At the twentyfive minutes' stage a. great passing rush by the yellow forwards ended in Taylor scoring, and again the Shield was safe. The first force waa registered at the end of thirty-two minutes' play. Stohr kicked hard, and the challengers' forced. After an interchange of kicks, the leather was passed right through the bla«k backs, and Fisher was thrown over at the corner-flag, but not before he had grounded the ball. Evensoa failed with the kick, and the score thus' stood at 7 to 6. Thirty-five minutes had gone in the second spell before any alteration came in. tho score. Play was about half-way when, from a: ruck, Moffitt passed to Roberts. The latter handed to Tilyard, who .sent the ball on to Algar, who scored behind the posts. Roberts added the major points — Wellington, 12 ; Taranaki, 6. There_ were some exciting incidents from this on to the call of time, but no further score. Cries of "Good luck, Wellington !" "The better team won !" were heard on all sides as the challengers bore the Shield in triumph back to their hotel. Mr. G. Nicholson (Auckland) was a fair and impartial referee. SOUTH CANTERBURY DEFEATS OTAGO TIMARU, 10th September. The Otago touring team played South Canterbury to-day. The ground was very greasy, a light rain having fallen. The home team scored 12 points (3 penalty goals by Cockroft and a try by Wilson), and Otago 6 (tries by Duncan and Williams). From, 800 to 900 were present.