RANFURLY SHIELD

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 237, 3 September 1927, Page 3

RANFURLY SHIELD

FIRST CHALLENGE REPELLED. ELEMENTS PLAY A PART. (By “Cross Bar.”) Conditions could hardly have been worse when Manawhenua, the holders of the Ranfurly Shield, were required to face their first challenge for possession of the trophy on Wednesday. Rain ovornight had given way. to glorious conditions in the morning and early afternoon and, while the sun may have been suspiciously bright, few foresaw the terrific electrical disturbance which was to intrude almost immediately following the commencement of the game. From an early hour the crowd had commenced to wend their way towards the Showgrounds, the brilliant sunshine tempting many to make their stand around the picket fence which guards the oval. The curtain-raiser between Manawatu and Bush juniors kept the steadily growing crowd fully interested the contest being -waged at a fast pace throughout. The visitors held an all round advantage in height and weight, the local men appearing small in comparison, but what they lacked in this direction they made full amends for in speed and cleverness. The game opened sensationally for, from the kick out Manawatu went to the assault to force a breach in the defence. Bush replied with a field goal—a pretty left footer by McKenna —but before the interval the home fifteen had gained three further tries, the major points being added in one instance. From a territorial point of view that margin of 12 points had been hardly, deserved, for the Bush representatives had had more than their fair share of the attack, but, whereas they could not finish off their movements, Manawatu were ever dangerous when within striking distance. The second spell was a repetition of the first in that on more than one occasion the Manawatu scoring movements were launched from their own twenty-five. There was one particular §em contributed by Fletcher, the High chool centre, who badly fooled the defence prior to cutting clean through to outpace the opposition and score behind tho posts. Manawatu, however, could score but the two tries in the second half, and the addition of the major points on both occasions by Weston, the valuable work performed by that player being by no means solely from that source, enabled the total to be swelled to 26. Bush penetrated but the once and good kicking by McKay furnished the extra points on that occasion, while he also sent over a beaptiful penalty which raised their quota to twelve. A margin of 14 points in Manawatu’s favour was somewhat flattering, yet in the majority of the instances the work which led up to them was well worthy of reward.

Weston, at full-back, and FJgtcher were the outstanding members of the home rearguard, although Page, Waugh and Sutherland showed at intervals, Waugh standing up to a gruelling time behind an outweighted pack in great style. The forwards battled away hard, being a very even set, but probably Flowers, Waugh, Lancaster and Kerrigan are worthy of special mention. THE SHIELD GAME. Tho interval between the two games was availed of to formally hand over to Captain Jacob and his fellow representatives the Ranfurly Shield which they had wrested from Wairarapa, Mr A. M. Ongley, president of the union, and an old time Wearer of the green and white uniform of Manawatu, making the presentation before the crowded stand. Some trepidation had been expressed as to Manawhenua’s prosEects, but the president expressed the opo that they would prove worthy holders of tho emblem of Dominion Rugby supremacy. The spirit of the wish was reflected in the play of the team in tho ensuing contest waged later under shocking conditions and which were a strain upon the physical strength of all the participants. Hostilities had been hardly, entered upon when the threat of rain became stern reality, peals of thunder and flashes of lightning preceding a downpour of tropical intensity. Then came the deluge and the crowd swarmed on to the already crowded stands, there to take refuge irrespective of the fact that they were obstructing the view of the seated spectators. Meantime, the battle was being waged out in the open without thought or care of the elements. Attack and counter-attack were launched in close succession, although slowly but surely the rearguards passed into disuse as attacking units, the strain falling more and more upon the shoulders of the scrummagers.

Taranaki province has ever had the reputation of fielding a great forward pack and that this was again so was early evident, but in Manawlienua they were facing an equally virile force and the shield holders proved in the closing moments that their staying powers were superior, for, despite the heavy physical calls demanded of them, they were carrying all the fight in the closing moments. The challengers gained the initial advantage and Manawhenua’s supporters had some anxious moments early, in the piece. While there was little between the rivals in that opening spell, Manawhenua had been compelled to submit to several forcedowns. The only score of those 45 minutes was a magnificent penalty goal by Jacob, who had been badly obstructed following a great solo effort, and the interval found the shield holders enjoying an advantage of three points. That advantage promised to stay, for the rain which had teemed down practically throughout had converted the playing area into a quagmire, the surface water being inches deep in places. However, matters took on an altered appearance when, following a loose rush by the Taranaki forwards, a ground kick through saw a defender caught napping and, before he could recover, O’Keefe had followed through fast to pounce on the leather. Failure in tho shot at goal by Johnson left honours even and with the outcome still in doubt, although at this stage supporters of the home team would no doubt have been content wtih a draw. SUPERIOR STAMINIA. The spirit which had marked the work of the Manawhenua forwards throughout was by no means dimmed by tho reverse, and they steadily assumed the upper hand. The securing of that advantage was not attained without fierce opposition, but the defence of the challengers could not help but buckle under the strain and, following a period during which the shield holders did everything but score, they, penetrated twice per medium of those virile forwards. The kicks failed — which was not unexpected in view of the state of the ball —neither being from easy angles, but Manawhenua had stalled off a challenge from a no mean foe.

While it was impossible to determine whether the changes which had been made in the ranks of the home team were justified owing to the extremely difficult conditions which prevailed, Brophy did not give tho onlooker any

great confidence when he was required to face the short close rushes of the Taranaki forwards. His kicking was of distinot value to his side, however, although he displayed a tendency on occasions to punt to the open side —a dangerous practice. The other backs all faced their tasks with determination and performed with distinct credit. One fault could, however, be found with Goldfinch in that he sent on his passes too low. Indeed, the home backs essayed to pass all too often in that first spell when a short stab punt wbuld have proved more advantageous. To the forwards one can offer nothing but praise, Jacob and Galpin playing great games. Hoatloy, Tremewan and Payne were apt to go looking for opportune ties on occasions, but otherwise played on an equal par with Anderson, Crawford and Miles, who revelled in the tight. Collins, the visitors’ full-back, played v magnificently throughout, his accepting and kicking being of a high order. Brown and Owen did a vast amount of excellent saving work, while Hobaia and Dinnis demonstrated that, under better conditions, they would prove dangerous on the attacak. Taranaki’s forwards numbered several who are well known to big football and in Ward. Kivell, Walters and O’Keefe they, have a worthy quartette who by no means sacrificed their reputations or even blemished them by reason of tho fact that they were outplayed in those closing moments. Dean also did his full share, but he was not on the same plane as Jacob, the opposition rover.

To-day Manawhenua are meeting Wanganui in their second Ranfurly Shield contest and viewed from the basis of Wednesday’s contest they should prove equal to the task which oonfronts them. In the event of their proving successful, Manawhenua will be called upon to face Canterbury, which promises to furnish them with a task of no mean magnitude, although Taranaki enthusiasts who accompanied their team on the southern tour stated that the red and blacks were hardly a three points better team than'their representatives. THE “GRUBBER” KICK. SUGGESTION FROM ENTHUSIAST. A Wellington enthusiast puts forward the following suggestion : —Being an erstwhile Palmerston North resident, and having viewed tho Rugby match against Wellington on Saturday, it has forced itself upon me to write to you that I do not think it impossible for your representatives to hold the Ranfurly. Shield against probably the best —if they do not repeat the oft repeated blunder on Saturday of making a gift of the ball to the opposing inside backs almost immediately they got it—that is, punting it into the sure, clever hands of Nicholls and Johnson. Wellington almost invariably hooked it in the scrum; Manawhenua almost invariably gave it to them again on all other occasions except to touch—try the “grubber” kick.