RANFURLY SHIELD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 235, 1 September 1927, Page 3

RANFURLY SHIELD

MANAWHENUA SUCCESSFUL. EXTRAORDINARY CONDITIONS PREVAIL. GAME PLAYED DURING TROPICAL STORM. A lake of water, incessant heavy rain, vivid flashes of lightning and heavy peals of thunder—such was the unusual setting for the meeting of Manawhenua and Taranaki at the Showgrounds yesterday afternoon in the first challenge match for possession of the Ranfurly Shield. The brilliant. early afternoon gave way to dark threatening clouds as the hour for the entry upon hostilities approached and, while the contest openod in fine weather with a playing area in wonderfully good order, a torrential downpour of tropical intensity intervened, driving the spectators into the already crowded stands, while converting the area into a sea of muddy water. The storm raged throughout the game until pools of water accumulated inches deep into which the ball disappeared and converted what had promised to be a fast spectacular contest into a battle between the opposing packs. PRESENTATION OF SHIELD. Considerable interest had been evinced in the meeting of the rival aspirants—the one new to Ranfurly Shield honours and tho other a former holder of the pinnacle of football supremacy in the Dominion. Throughout the course of the morning a crowd commenced to make their way Palmerston North-wards, quite a contingent coming from as far afield as Taranaki, and it was a happy gathering which surrounded the oval from an early hour. With the curtain-raiser between Manawatu and Bush disposed of, the display therein being of a bright and open nature, the opportunity was taken by Mr A. M. Ongley, president of the Manawhenua Rugby Union, to formally hand over to Captain Jacob and his men the Ranfurly Shield which they had so proudly won in their contest with Wairarapa less than a month before, the Manawhenua representatives having been greeted with a great outburst of applause as they filed out on to the arena for the ceremony, Mr Robinson, manager of the home team, leading the way with the beautiful little white Pomeranian-which the team has adopted as its mascot, it being gaily bedecked with ribbons.’ In handing over the trophy, Mr Ongley expressed the hope that they would prove worthy holders—such was the wish of all local enthusiasts. That the trust had been placed in fruitful soil the game which followed strikingly illustrated. , THE FIRST SPELL. At a few minutes after the appointed hour the rival teams filed out on to the oval, Jacob leading the shield holders, who presented a magnificent spectacle of splendid manhood as they passed out on to the sward in their bright uniform —a sward which was so soon to bo lost to view—while a further outburst announced the entry of Brown and his men in their garb of yellow and black. The teams which filed out to their places following the exchange of compliments were as under : Manawhenua (holders). —Brophy, McDonald, Hunt, Roberts. Mullins, Goldfinch, W. Parata, Miles, Heatley, Crawford, Galpin, Payne, Anderson, Tremewan and Jacob (captain). Taranaki (challengers). Collins, Hohaia, Brown (captain), Dinnis, Johnson, Owen, Morey, Kivell, Wills, Ward, Walter, O’Keefe, Robinson, Young and Dean. Manawhenua elected to defend the south goal and Brown brought the opposing sides into action by kicking off, the opening move leaving the advantage with the visitors. A dangerous cross kick by McDonald saw Owen make a bid to penetrate along the opposite wing, a melee ensuing right down in the corner, W. Parata raising the siege by securing from the scrum to line out at the twenty-five flag. Jacob led his men into foreign territory, but Brown stepped into the breach to line out. With the territorial advantage thus gained,. Parata endeavoured to set his line in action, Mullins cutting in only to be grassed right in front of tho challengers’ goal. Ward, who throughout was fated to prove a tower of strength to the yellows in the strenuous ninety minutes of the game, came into prominence by clearing. Immediately following Hohaia showed up in a short dash and matters were assuming an ominous appearance when McDonald claimed a mark from the winger’s centring Offside work later cost the yellows the advantage, Brophy sending them back witha magnificent liner. Roberts burst into the picture when he side-stepped his way to the open field, but his pass out was accepted by Brown and, although the All Black was overswarmed, the situation was saved. Manawhenua continued on the aggressive and Goldfinch made a bold bid to cut through the defence, only to fall short of his objective. However, the advantage could not be pressed home and Dinnis cleared with a nice individual effort which paved the way to an attack on the home citadel, the blues having to submit to a force-down —the first in 22 minutes’ play. The rain which by this time was falling in torrents was making handling difficult, but the homo rearguard were endeavouring to throw tho leather about with disastrous results, although one bout between Goldfinch, Mullins and McDonald was promising well when the winger knocked on. The visiting forwards were, however, turning those mistakes to profit and were sweeping away in solid rushes which required a power of stopping. The blue forwards were likewise putting great vim into their work and were harrying the opposing rearguard and, from one onslaught, McDonald was almost in, a free kick bringing relief to the hard pressed y.ellows. A hand-to-hand passing bout by the blue forwards saw them sweep right to the goal front before their passage was stayed, but in a flash the scene changed, Owen accepting, a dangerous centre by Brophy to open up to Brown to Hohaia and return to Brown, the centre being smothered just in time, an infringement enabling Brophy to gain a great stretch of territory. Again Hohaia attempted to open up play, but Jacob intercepted and dashed off downfield. The rover short punted, but was felled by the full-back and from the resulting penalty, Jacob found the uprights from well out—an effort which brought forth a storm of applause from the delighted home supporters. Manawhenua 3, Taranaki 0. .

Thirty-six minutes had been occupied in securing that all important advantage, but those three points provided a feeling of safety when the interval found the holders still with their advantage intact. THRILLING PLAY. The re-entry upon hostilities was announced by a sustained peal of thunder with flashes of lightning at close intervals, and while in the heavens the

electrical disturbance raged, the contest on terra irma also furnished many electrical moments. The battle was waged with determination and vigour by the opposing packs, the balance resting the one moment with the homo side and then with the visitors. One sharp assault by the yellows spelt danger to the line of the shield holders, McDonald bringing Hohaia to earth when he was under full steam for the line. Tremewan led the way to clear and the visitors had some anxious moments in turn, Collins, their fullback, being, however, faultless. Jacob made a great bid to penetrate, but was held up and Heatley, who had been guilty of the same breach on more than one occasion previously, came in off-side following the rover losing close control. Taranaki fought their way clear, and they finally gained their reward when a ground kick through from some 15 yards out saw Brophy fail to halt the leather, and in a flash O’Keefe was past him to fall on the ball. Johnson made a poor attempt to goal. Taranaki 3, Manawhenua 3. The success stirred the' challengers to still greater effort, but the holuers refused to bend under the storm and they in turn invaded, which marked the opening of a lengthy period during which the advantage rested with the blues, who did everything but score. Jacob burst across the goal front in possession, but with McDonald alongside him, the rover foolishly elected to cut back infield and was promptly grassed. The invasions by the yellows were by this time becoming more and more spasmodic, the blues taking ever greater control. Finally from a throwin, Galpin accepted at his finger tips to break through and the rush swept to the yellows’ line where Tremewan was awarded a try. Jacob made a good but unsuccessful attempt to add the major points. Manawhenua 6, Taranaki 3. Although the result appeared to have passed into the safe keeping of the shield holders, the visitors did not let up, although they were being outplayed by the home pack, who fought their way to the challengers’ line time and again only to be repelled. Right on call of time Galpin was again instrumental in setting up a dangerous attack, his hand on to Anderson seeing the burly hooker bullock his way over wide out. The kick failed; but the shield holders had proved their right to retention of the trophy by the good margin of six points. Manawhenua 9, Taranaki 3. Mr R. Sutherland, of Auckland, controlled the game to the satisfaction of players and spectators alike, he employing the whistle very judiciously under the difficult conditions which confronted the contestants. WIN FOR WAIRARAPA. Per Press Association. TAUMARUNUI, Aug. 11. Wairarapa met the King Country representatives to-day before a large crowd, despite the unfavourable weather. Heavy showers last night and this morning made the ground a quagmire, but notwithstanding the bad conditions the Wairarapa backs handled the ball magnificently, and won comfortably by 27 points to 3. Wairarapa were superior in all departments, and the local defence was very weak. Stringfellow opened Wairarapa’s account, cutting right through the defence; Fuller converted. Then Cooke scored after a fine passing bout, but Fuller failed with the kick. Just before half-time Ward scored after following up a kick hy Cooke, and the latter failed to convert. After halftime the visitors had things their own way. Cooke, Usher, Gray and Le Quesne scored, and Fuller and Le Quesne converted one try each. Cavanagli scored for King Country from a forward rush. WANGANUI BEAT BUSH DISTRICTS. Per Press Association. PAHIATUA, Aug. 31. . In a fast, open encounter Wanganui defeated Bush Districts by 9 points to 6. Back play was inclined to be scrappy, but the forward divisions were well matched and fought a guelling contest. Jones, the Maori threequarter, scored two tries for Wanganui, the other going to Fromant. J. Galvin scored for Bush Districts and Udy kicked a penalty. The half-time score was 3 points to nil in" favour of the home team. After the second spell had been going for about fifteen minutes the referee ordered Jackson, the Wanganui lock, off for “backehatting” his decisions. He had previously warned Jackson. WEST COAST BEAT GOLDEN BAY.

GREYMOUTH, Aug. 31. In a Rugby football match West Coast defeated Golden Bay by 20 points to 13.