RANFURLY SHIELD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 August 1936, Page 8

RANFURLY SHIELD.

MANAWATU'S MAGNIFICENT EFFORT. OTAGO CAME VERY CLOSE TO LOSING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Last Night. Otago came very close to losing the New Zealand premiership Rugby honours to-day in its third match in defence of the JianfurJy shield against Manawalu, which it defeated by 1.1. points to live in a game that was for the most part ragged and uninterest ing. The match was played on a fasr ground in ideal weather before an attendance of about *SO(JO spectators.

Five minutes before the final whistle the home side were called upon to dofend strongly in an effort to retain a, lead of one point, its tally of six points being made up of two penalty goa's ugainst the visitors' converted try. The brilliance of the wing throequarter, Watt, who gathered in a cross kick and raced round for a spectacular try, placed the issue beyond doubt. Otago was not up to full strength a* four members of the regular team were being rested and the side was further, weakened when two valuable players in (smith and McDonald had to leave the field with injuries early in the game, but this did not account entirely for the defenders' close call. Manawatu fielded a fine pack of forwards who had an advantage of over nine stone in weight. The visiting forwards, headed by McKenzie, Button] and Sullivan, played a tireless game and carried off the honours of the match. They harried the home inside backs, not allowing them to settle down to their customary bright game throughout the entire match. hi the second spell especially they gave a great display and the spectators formed the : impression that the shield would go to the visitors. With Simon absent from the halfback position, the Otago backs were disappointing, botli on attack and defence. Trevathan gava a poor display and in the first spell attempted field goals and stab-kicked in a manner that must have been exasperating io the outside backs. When he did send trie ball out, his passes were frequently ill-directed, with the result that tfie speedy wings, Watt and Black, saw little of the ball.

The visiting inside backs were given numerous chances of which Thurston often took advantage, but there were few attempts at chain-passing. Brinsden played a sound game behind the scrum and fed his backs well, being little troubled by the slow-moving Otago forwards. Gillespie proved speedy on the wing, but, he was no match for the brilliant Watt, who was always dangerous and played another outstanding game. Taylor played u great game for Otago in the "full back

position and was greatly superior to Waldin.

After half an hour of uninteresting play, which was only relieved by spectacular individual dashes, Taylor opened Otago's account with a penalty goal from 35 yards out near the touch-linr, after Trevathan had failed with several easier kicks. There was no addition !o the score before half time was called, the spells incidentally being of 40 minutes.

In the second spell the Otago backs threw the bail about more freely, but the visitors' tackling was deadly an J their forwards recovered the lost ground admirably. With Otago defending' in their twenty-live, Fletcher stab-punted across to Gillespie, who gathered in the ball nicely and raced for the corner. Watt tackled him and they knocked over, ihe corner flag, but the referee awarded a try. Powell put Manawatu ahead with a great kick. The visitors' lead was shortlived, as Taylor soon after kicked another penalty. . In the last quarter the visitors kept up a strong attack, but with the hom-3 side on the offensive, ThurstoiMittempted a clearing kick. The ball did not reach touch and Watt gathered it in beautifully and in a great race up the touch-line, beat the defence to ruii round behind the posts for- a try, Taylor converted, making the final score:

Otago 11, Manawatu 5. During the game, Otago were award ed 15 penalties and Manawatu two.

Auckland Beat Wairarapa

MASTKRTON, Last Xight

Tn a game that was only bright in patches and which, to a marked extent, was spoilt by too much whistle, thu touring Auckland JKugby representatives defeated Wairarapa to-day by 21 points to 10. The visitors displayed speed and initiative for the which th« slower-moving and slower-thinking homesters had no effective counter.