RANFURLY SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 131, 4 June 1924, Page 9

RANFURLY SHIELD

RETAINED BY HAWKES BAY.

WAIRARAPA HAVE SMALL LEAD AT lIALF-TIIIE.

(BI TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) : NAPIER, 3rd June. Hawkes Bay convincing established

their title to the Ranfurly Shield to-day by stalling oft Wairarapa's challenge to the tune of 30 points to 14. The match was played in dull weather on a greasy ground. The visitors won the toss, and M. BrownKb kicked-Jif again: t a fair wind. A fast pace • was set early, and the speed and dash of the Wairarapa forwards enabled the challengers to make a vigorous onslaught on the local territory, compelling the defenders to force. The Bay forwards broke through a scrum, and then Mill sent Falwasser away. Several backs handled the ball in a spectacular passing rush, and Grehside scored. M'Carthy converted. ', . Wairarapa resumed the- offensive, keeping the local backs busy defending. Following the failure of a passing rush by six backs, Desmond dived-over from a line-out. Booth's kick missed. 5-3. In the succeeding play, .Donald sustained an injury which appeared to affect him for the rest of the game until he went off towards the end. Continued onslaughts by the visitors culminated in a couple of local backs being bustled, and Desmond again touched down. The kick failed. 6-5. The defenders of the shield had their turn at attack, backs and forwards mixing dribbling and passing. Mill initiated a piece of back play, in which splendid in and out passing saw Falwasser score near the posts. M'Carthy missed the kick. 8-6. A free-kick to the visitors resulted in Hiroti piloting the leather over. 9-8. Till half-time the honours were slightly in Hawkes Bay's favour. Several back movements were initiated, but the Wairarapa tackling waa very" offective, and the spell ended Wairarapa 9, Hawkes Bay 8. The home side immediately attacked on resuming after half-time" and the visitors were required to exercise solid defensive work, whicl."Miey did for a time. Long kicks resulted in Wairarapa forcing down. Getting the ball from Mill, Mardon set off for the visitors' line, and was only, just stopped. Hawkes Bay continued knocking at the door, and compelled Wairarapa to force three times to get out of the difficulty. Then, from a line-out in the Wairarapa twenty-five, Walker passed to Blake, who ended a nice run with a try at the corner. M. Brownlie'skick failed. 11-9. With their nose in front, the defenders never looked back; They had the measure of the . challengers, whose efforts to keep the local men at bay were frequently broken through. Some splendid passing, in which Irvine was prominent^ ended in a couple of scrums. on the line, from one of which Mill secured, and cleverly sneaked round to score. M'Carthy landed a beautiful goal. 16-9. Carson went off with an injured wrist, and was replaced by Parker. The home team's pressure continued until, from a line-out, M. Brownlie passed to Kirkpatrick, who scored "in the corner. M'Carthy converted. 21-9. A passing rush, in which backs and forwards mingled, was started by a long in-pass from Falwasser, and resulted in Mardon scoring. M'Carthy. missed the kick. 24-9. J. Donald left the field; and was replaced by Roberts. The visitors gained home territory, and endeavoured to make an impression, but before long the Bay again got. a chance, and a back movement let Grenside over. M'Carthy missed the kick. 27-9. The visitors attacked, and only Grenside's speed prevented a Wairarapa back getting over. Booth missed _an easy goal from a free-kick. The visitors attacked without success for a considerable time. Then Ormond and Gemmell were associated in a movement from a line-but, and Gemmell scored. M. Brownlie missed the kick. 30-9." With only a few minutes to go, Wairarapa did not throw up the sponge, and from some loose play, Willoughby got going after some smart handling. The defence was beaten, and Parker scored in the corner. Hiroti landed a great kick, and the-match ended, with Hawkes Bay victors by 30 points to 14.