Shield Changes Hands

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 214, 24 August 1931, Page 2

Shield Changes Hands

Canterbury Lift the Trophy

Wellington Beaten in Thrilling Finish

15,000 Spectators on Athletic Park

(Special to “Tribune.”)

Wellington, August 22.

The ground was in splendid condition, and the weather of the right order, although a keen southerly wind was blowing, when Wellington took the field at Athletic Park this afternoon to meet Canterbury’s challenge for the Kanfurly Shield. It was Wellington’s second Shield engagement of the season, and in the expectation of seeing a good measure of entertaining football, there was a great crowd present.

THE KICK-OFF. Wellington won the toss and Innes kicked off for Canterbury against the wind. In the first minute Canterbury had a close call when the fullback, A. Eoberts, fumbled the ball from a kick by MacDonald. A little later Collision was caught offside, but Eoberts, from near the side line, was unable to goal. A hefty kick by Page put Wellington well up the field again, but efforts to break through by McPherson and Nicholls, in turn, were solidly checked, and ultimately Eoberts cleared. A good dash down the wing by Brown raised some enthusiasm. Flay had been in progress ten minutes, and there had been nothing in it of any great moment. Getting the ball from the line out Kilby served his backs nicely, and the ball passed cleanly right along tho chain to Huxtable, but it was purely a lateral movement and little, if any, ground was gained. The Wellington forwards then took up the play, and were heading well when penalised. WELLINGTON LUCKY. Wellington were lucky when Lilburne was caught with the ball and Nicholls, unable to clear himself, passed back to Page right on the Wellington goal line. Fortune qujckly changed, but Wellington were uhable to press home their attack. Innes turned defence into attack, breaking away cleverly. He passed to Oliver, and a try seemed inevitable, but when a few yards from the line Oliver was solidly tackled by Lilburne, and the situation was saved for Wellington. Nicholls made a fine run in which he exploited the “dummy” very effectively before passing to Fuller, on the wing, who, however, was forced out. Penalties against both sides were fairly frequent, and play was rather scrappy. When Brown made a break through and passed on to Andrews there was trouble. Sidestepping nicely Andrews went to the Wellington line, whore he was solidly tackled, and the referee ruled a force down. Kilby was playing well behind the Wellington pack, and Lilburne was giving good assistance at full-back. HAET’S GOOD DASH. From a scrum in midfield Hart made a good dash down the line, and play swung over in front of the Wellington posts, where Mullan and Oliver paved the way for a try by Innes. Eoberts failed to goal. Canterbury 3 Wellington 0 Play had been in progress thirty minutes. The sun was troubling the Wellington players. Canterbury threw the ball about with abandon in a strong effort to break through, and would have been successful had not Andrews, with Brown outside him, tried to do too much. Andrews was solidly tackled by Jessep. Tho ground was hard and several times play had to be held up on account of injuries. Lilburne was brought up to second five-eighth, Fuller taking the full-back position. In the last few minutes Kilby received a nasty knock and had a brief spell on the side-line. The spell ended with Wellington on the attack, and no alteration to the score. THE CHANGE OVEE. Changes were made in both teams in the second spell. Fuller, who had damaged an eye, was replaced at lullback by Cormack, and the Canterbury wing-forward was Crockett in the place of Andrews who was also injured. Territorially, Wellington had had slightly the better of the first spell but play had undoubtedly been affected by the sun. Canterbury had had many more scoring opportunities than Wellington but wore unable to make full use of them. With tho exception of a few incidents play had not been very bright. Early in the second spell a fine breakaway by Diedrich had Roberts bustled on the Canterbury line. A scrum was ordered and after some hard play at close quarters, Huxtable scored for Wellington. Taking tho kick from the twenty-five flag, Nicholls, with a fine effort, just failed to convert. Wellington 3 Canterbury 3 When Wellington gained a free kick through a Canterbury player being off.side, Nicholls used his boot to good purpose, gaining considerable ground. There was an anxious moment for Wellington when Innes, fielding the ball from a clearing kick by Cormack, made an effort to pot a goal. He sent the ball soaring high into the air and it just failed to cross tho bar. Lilburne opened up play neatly and sent to Nicholls and Page for Mac Donald to make a fast dash. MacDonald, however, was forced out of play. Barry and Price broke away from scrummaging play with the ball

at toe, pushing aside the Canterbury defence, and Price just managed to fall on the ball for a try. the kick at goal was not an easy one, and Nicholls again missed. Wellington 6 Canterbury 3 Kearney, one of the Canterbury forwards, retired injured, and was replaced by Foley. There were now only eleven minutes to go, and Wellington were by no means out of the wood. They were fighting hard and had to, for Canterbury were providing very strong opposition. CANTEEBUEY TAKES THE LEAD. From a scrum near the Wellington line the ball was sent back to Day, who shot through the defence, fending off Nicholls to score under the posts; Roberts converted, and Canterbury took the lead. Canterbury 8 Wellington 6 Wellington replied with a spirited forward rush, but this was turned and Canterbury were well upfield again. MacDonald, however, managed to gather in the ball and cleared. Lilburne had to receive attention, but was able to carry on. With a little more than five minutes to go Wellington's prospects were far from bright. Excitement was intense. Wellington tried hard in these last few minutes to stave off defeat, but were unsuccessful, the game ending: Canterbury 8 Wellington 6 Mr. J. S. King (Taranaki) was the referee. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. ST. PAT’S BEAT ST. BEDE’S. Wellington, Aug. 22. In a curtain-raiser to the Wellington—Canterbury match, St. Pat’s College, Wellington, beat St. Bede’s, CUristchurch, by 14 points to 9.