FIELD GOAL GIVES RANFURLY SHIELD TO WAIRARAPA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23349, 4 September 1950, Page 3

FIELD GOAL GIVES RANFURLY SHIELD TO WAIRARAPA

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Sept, 4 Wairarapa gained an unexpected but well-deserved win in the Ranfurlv Shield challenge match against Canterbury before a crowd of IT.OOO n°np!e at Lancaster Park on Saturday. The only points scored in a faA but rugged game came from a fi»ld goal bv the Wairaeapa fuM-bark. A. Mahupuna. It was Canterbury’s first defence of lh" shield since winning it in Dunedin in the middle of August. The game was nlayed on a ground which, in suite of recent heavy rain, was fast and Wairarapa won because their quick-breaking forwards worried the Canterbury inside backs from the first whistle to the last. All Canterburv successes of this season have been achieved on reallv soft grounds and ♦he rapiditv with which the Wairarapa break-’awavs got among the Canterbury books out Them badly out of gear. Canterbury had more than n fair share of the hall, but persisted in sendmg it awav to the backs, who were usually tackled as soon as they cot it. When the Canterbury backs did get movin' 7 the attacks were nearly always wished ncross-field bv the Wairarapa loose forwards. Territorial Advantage Territorially Canterbury had the better of the game and might have retained the shield had the side had a good goal-kicker. In the second spell .five likelv attempts at goal went | astray. | The Wairarapa backs never looked

likely to score, but the forwards played with tremendous dash, particularly in the ■ second spell. The captain. A. Blake, played an outstanding spoiling game but had to retire with an injury at half-time. J Ryan was. perhaps, the most active forward on the ground, getting through an extraordinary amount of work. E. McPhee was another who impressed. W. Waaka and L. Sciascia were often prominent. The best back on the ground was S. Walsh behind the Wairarapa scrum. He sent out good passes and defended stou’ly and his nositional kicking was first class. Outside him B Couch was reliable, but little more. B. Desmond at centre tackled strongly. Mahupuka's line-kicking often earned applause and he was never in real trouble. Leading Forward Canterbury’s best forward was A. ■ Coulin.g. who played one of his best games. G. Bond. R. Duff and C. Hardie also played well. The only back to impress was the first five-eighth, P. Kearney, who had an unenviable time trying to cope with the Wairarapa forwards. Bo'h the half. P. Vincent, and second five-eighth. .T. Houghton, nlayed badly. Wairarapa had the advantage of a fresh breeze in the first spell. The Canterbury backs attacked and a kick took play' to the Wairarapa line, but Walsh got back to save. When Wairarana attacked half-wav through the spell. Canterbury forced. The drop-out kick was fielded by Mahunuka. who steadied himself and kicked a magnificent field goal from near the loft iouehline and just inside half-way. Both sides made mistakes in handling. The Canterbury backs were often

bustled into errors., The Wairarapa forwards were always lively and played with added spirit in the second half, and Ryan led several attacks. Canterbury got close to the Wairarapa line time and again, but the forwards always took play downfield again. Once Kearney burst through down the middle and Cotiling had a clear run in. but the defenders converged on him from all sides and he was stopped 10yds. short of the line. A few minutes later Reeves went through Couling was in sunport. but again the defenders got him a few y? r ds short of the line. In the last quarter-hour Canterbury attacked strongly, but excellent tackling kept them out and the game ended without further score. Canterbury won 'he scrums. 35-17. and the line-outs, 33-30. Seven, penalties were awarded to Canterbury and three to Wairarapa. The referee was Mr. W. B. Broadhead (Wanganui).