SHIELDHOLDERS GO DOWN TO SOUTHLAND, 24 to 23

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6668, 23 July 1928, Page 8

SHIELDHOLDERS GO DOWN TO SOUTHLAND, 24 to 23

The weather was dull but line, and there was no wind, the ground being iii’good order. The attendance was between' 5000 and 6000.' The teams were as follow: :: 1 ■Wairarapa: Cormack, Fitzgerald, Stringfellpw, R. Jury, •P. Jury, Gundy, Nunn, Reid, M‘ Elmont, Le Qucsnc, Beside, M‘ Gregor, Willoughby, Ward, Farter. f . _ . ■ ..Southland: Oughton, Diack, Murray, Gedcies, M'Duliffo, 8011, Johnson, Lawden,. Roberts, Batchelor, 'M‘ Kenzie, Bird, Southern, M'Leod, M'Ewen. . The absence of several , Eahfurly Shield players detracted somewhat from the interest in the game. The opening exchanges were not inspiring, but toward the end of the first spell the home-side gained the upper band, and walked off at the interval with a margin of 11 points in their favour (14 points to 3). The second spell was full of interest, and, although the homo side’s lead was increased, the visitors gradually reduced the gap until near the end they had an advantage of four points. A clever blind side movement initiated by the Southland half,; Johnson, in Wairarapa’s twenty-five was capped with a try in the corner and the fate of the game hung on Diack’s kick from the touch-line. Earlier in the game he had failed with several easier ones, but this time he rose to the occasion, giving his side the victory by one point.-. Neither side displayed much combination. Southland's win was due mainly to the fact that their backs were given a greater share. of the ball' than the visiting rearguard, another factor being the repeated successful using of the blind side of scrums, a ruse that eventually paved the way to the defeat of the shield holders. Although two of Wairarapa's tries ..'ore obviously the result of a forward ss, Southland was lucky to win. The fee was below inter-provincial stan- . but the second spell effort by Wai_;a invested the game with a thrill. : ; he visitors' score was made up of a nalty’by Gundy, and four converted ;r;es, the scorers being Ward (2), Gundy xnd Stringfellow one. The Eanfurly Shield was not at stake. ; ; _- —j ; .. ’>' WAIRABAPA JUNIORS (17) ; : DEFEAT HAWKE’S BAT,(9). . • ; MASTEBTONj Last NighW. In a junior Eugby. representative match Wairarapa (17) defeated Hawke's Bay (9) p an uninteresting match. ' , - '' WAIKOA EEP3. OUTPLAY NAPIER A’JD HASTINGS. WAIROA, Last Night. The annual Eugby representative fixture, Napier and Hastings versus Wairoa at Wairoa yesterday, played in fine weather, resulted in a win for Wairoa by 22 points to 9 after a- good, fast game. SOUTH CANTERBURY BEAT NORTH OTAGO BY 16 to 9. Last Night. At Eugby in tbe first representative match'of the season, South Canterbury (defeated North Otago by 16 points to 9 In a bright, spectacular exhibition of the code. . The visiting backs showed good combination, and indulged in nice passing bouts. The home forwards outplayed ’ their opponents in the loose, though the latter, adopting, the 3-2-3 formation, won two serums out of every three. ’ South Canterbury rattled on ten points in the first ten minutes pf the game. Tries by M‘Bride and T. Manning were both converted. by Fairbrother. Scott added a good try, Hollow opening the home score with a try; The half-time score was 13 points to 3. “North Otago had the better of the second spell territorially, packing 3-2-3 to better advantage in the scrums. Wise kicked a goal from a penalty, Frame adding a try to the home side's total close on time. Scott gained a second try for me visitors, and the final sepre was 16 points to 9.

DULLER TURN TABLES OUT 5 1 1 WEST COAST BY A POINT. WESTPORT, Last Night. In the return Rugby match between Bnller and-West Coast, played on Victoria Square yesterday, Buller turned the tables on their former victors, winding ,by 14 points to 13 after a game that was always full of interest. The first spell found Buller much disorganised, the Coast showing out bettor both in the forward® -lacks, P. Griffiths, the Buller captain, came up from full-back to five-eights in the second spell, and altered the whole complexion of the game, Buller backs dcx veloping attacks and putting more vigour into their play, the Buller forwards more than holding their own. The game, however, was always open to possibilities, as quick changes from defence to attack repeatedly took place. . The, final score left Bnller winners 14 points to 13. ' - ,1 y Por Buller tries were 1 scored byujjv Caldwell (2), Clarke, and hi'ln tyre, Caldwell converting one try., Tries for

Southerners Snatch Victory By Great Goal in Last Minute ■ , -■, i/f ’ ’ > ♦ Trophy, . However, Not at Stake . , Per Press Association. * ,' , INVERCARGILL, July 21;- • The first representative match, of the season was played here to-day when Southland defeated Wairarapa by 24 noints to 23 after a keenly-contested game in which the result was in doubt until the' conversion oi Southland’s last try.

Coast were scored by Freitas (2), and Tainui, Coulton and Freitas each converting one try. In the curtain-raiser, Town Thirds defeated Country by three points to nil. NELSON BACKS PROVE TOO SPEEDY POE MARLBOROUGH. NELSON, Last Night. At Eugby yesterday, in fine weather, Nelson beat Marlborough after a rather uninteresting display by 18 points to 9. The local backs were superior, but the forwards were fairly' evenly matched. At the end of the first spell, Marlborough led 6 to 5, but in the second half Nelson backs, by several good passing bouts, eclipsed the visitors.; For the winners tries were scored by Snodgrass (2), Wells and Fowler, Eeed converting three. For Marlborough tries were scored by Devine, Smith, and Washington. . N.S.W, HAVE CLOSE CALL IN GAME WITH VICTORIAN. C’nited Press Association—-By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Sundav, s.t> p.m. ' MELBOURNE, July 22. . At Rugby Union New South Wales, defeated Victoria by 22 points to 19.