RUGBY CONTESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18198, 18 September 1922, Page 9

RUGBY CONTESTS.

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH.

HAWKE'S BAY RETAINS TROPHY.

SYDNEY WINS THIRD TEST.

OTAGO TEAM SUPREME.

The season for representative Rugby football practically closed on Saturday. The principal attractions were the Ranfur3y Shield contest between Hawke's Bay and King Country, the third and final test match between Sydney and Combined New Zealand University, and the return match between the two champion provir •»•}, Otago and Southland. Hawke's Bay isily retained its title as Ranfurly Shield holders ior the season, defeating King Country by 42 points to 8. Sydney University, after being defeated in the first and second tests, sprung a surprise by winning the third test at Wellington on the call of time with a penalty goal. Otago justified its right fo be called the champion team of New Zealand, defeating Southland for the second time this season. j The following are the results: — ! Otago 14 defeated Southland 0 | Wellington 25 „ Canterbury 9 ' Sydney Qui. 22 „ New Zealand 19 Hawke's Bay 42 „ King Country 8 Nelson 13 „ West Coast 6 RANFURLY SHIELD GAME. KING COUNTRY OUTCLASSED. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER. Saturday. The Hawkcs's Bay Rugby representatives to-day in the second challenge match successfully defended their right to hold the Ranfurly Shield by decisively beating the King Country Unions team by 42 points to 8. The day was brilliantly fine, and there was an attendance of about 4000. A fortnight's rest seemed to have had a bracing effect on the home team, who played a bright, open game, and quite outclassed the visitors. The first spell opened at a lively pace and the Hawke's Bay forwards and Kicks combining wejl ran up 26 points —six trios, four converted—while the challengers never at any time looked like scoring. In the second half the efforts of the home team slackened for the greater part of the spell, and up to the last ten minutes had added eight points—a penalty goal and a converted try—while King Country also scored eight points similarly. In the last few minutes the Hawke's Bay backs made a number of effective combined movements and added a further eight points (two tries, one converted). The visitors had three or four fairly smart individual players, but the team as a whole did not give an impressive display and ■were much below provincial standard. MEETING OE CHAMPIONS. OTAGO BEATS SOUTHLAND. [BY TELEGRArH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Saturday. The curtain was rung down on interprovincial football in Dunedin to-day when Otaco and Southland met at Carisbrook before a crowd of about 12,000. The match had aroused a great deal ot interest owing to the tine records of both teams in competition with northern provincial representatives, and both teams took the field full of confidence. The result proved a somewhat easv win for Otago, who have thus gone through the season with an unbeaten record. . , Southland won the toss and Otago kicked off against a diagonal wind. In the early stages play swung from one end to the other. Mathieson (Otago) was getting the ball awav from the scrums, but the backs were making little use of it. Hazlett and Shand broke through the Otago defence, but Bell sent them back with a good run, fallowed bv Diack, who kicked to the line, where Townsend obtained possession, but was collared over the Otago line by Cockroft a force down being given. Passing by St. George, Hazlett and McDonald "saw the Otago defence outwitted, but a mark by Murray and a freekick to Otago, temporarily relieved the pressure. Southland returned to assault first by the forwards and then by the backs, but the blue blacks cleared with a rush to halfway. Mathieson passed to Townsend and this player beating Agnew, passed to Mackerth, who just outpaced McDonald and scored a good try for Otago. Bell failed to convert. The local team were now showing better combination and Southland were forced. Fast uo and down play followed, but it was not a high standard of football, although everv '.nch of ground was keenly contested. Half-time came with Southland attacking. The second spell opened with Otago strongly attacking. Bell had an unsuccessful shot at goal. The reds were defending well against the strong pressure. Some good passing by the Otago backs ended in Mackereth being collared _ by McDonald. A hot attack was sustained on the reds' line from which Dickinson finally emerged a> d dashed over. He fails? with the kick. The reds took play to Otago quarters but Mathieson sent them back to halfway. A moment later White was injured, but he only left the field temporarily. Otago kept up the pressure and had the reds strictly on the defensive, Dickinson on one occasion being almost over again. A series of scrums took place on the reds' line and Be!l made a sensational run right through the Southland backs, who were fortunate to clear. Duncan next dribbled through and fell on the ball, Bell converting with a good kick. The blues, who, entirely outplaying the opposition, took the ball down field in a fine piece of passing, which ended in Williams being collared on the line. Southland cleared and Johnston took play past halfway, but Otago were irresistible and good play by Owles, made an opening for Dickson, who passed to Coombs, who scored. St. George retired hurt and was replaced by Oughton. After a short spell of ; play at halfway. Coombs and McMeeking dribbled through to the reds' line, where play remained (ill the game ended shortly after with the scoro: — Otago 14 Southland 0 SYDNEY UNIVERSITY WINS. NARROW MARGIN VICTORY. [BY TELKGRAPH. —PEESS ASSOCIATION-.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. The final test Rugby match between the. Sydney and New Zealand Universities was played at Athletic Park this afternoon before an attendance of 9000, including His Excellency the GovcrnorGeneral. The first half of the game was keenly contested, New Zealand having the advantage of a fairly strong southerly wind, but the standard of play was nothing remarkable, in the second spell the venue of play was changed with startling suddenness from one end of the field to the other, interchanges being brilliant and varied. The finish was dramatic, the final Sydney score being obtained just as the bell rang. Spectators were delighted with the open character of the play in the second half. New Zealand were first to score, Jackson receiving the ball at the end of a rush in a good position with nobody in front of him. Sydney drew level with a penalty goal by Hesslein, the same player placing Sydney ahead with another penalty goal. Hart got a try at the end of a rush in which Lusk, Fea, Perry, Jackson, and Calder took part, Miller converting. Just before the first spell ended Miller kicked a penalty goal for New Zealand, and Raymond scored a try for Sydney, the latter being tho finish of a movement in which Morgan, Hess-

lein, Woodhcad, and the scorer took part. The score at the interval was: New Zealand, 11; Sydney, 9. Things got interesting quietly after the game restarted. Thomas and Jackson got the ball about halfway, and after a couple of interchange passes Thomas got clear away and scored. Miller failed to convert. Siddells, the Now Zealand fullback, ■made a run on his own account, centring the ball, but his kick went too far across the field into the arms of Foote, who set off in good style and pasesd to Raymond, who finished his run across the lino in the arms of Stewart and Perry. Hesslein converted with a good kick. The score was now 14 all. Stewart, New Zealand's wing threequarter, who had been neglected all day, got his opportunity, scoring a fine try after a rush in which Lusk, Fea, Perry, and Calder had taken part. Miller converted the try with a good kick. Siddells tackled Raymond in fine style when a try seemed a certainty, but a few minutes later Buckleton emerged from a loose rush with the ball in his arms and went, all the way. Hesslein kicked a goal. The scores were again level—l 9 all. There were four minutes left to play when the ball was put in motion again, and both sides went at it with a --vill for victory. From a pass by, Lusk Fea made a good run, Hart, Mcßae, .and Jackson carrying on, Windeyer clearing with a good dribble. Morgan, Hesslein, and Woodhead improved matters for Sydney, and Stewart and Scott flashed out for New Zealand. Doyle broke away, but Fea stopped him, and a penalty kick near the halfway line was awarded Sydnev. The ball was placed for Hesslein, a 'brilliant kick going all the way and winning the match just as the bell rang, the scores were: Sydney • • ■. • • • . . 22 New Zealand 19 CANTERBURY AGAIN BEATEN. AN IRONICAL CROWD. [BY TELKGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CIIRISTCHTJRCH. Saturday. The final representative Rugby fixture for Christchurch was played to-day, when Canterbury met and succumbed to a weak Wellington fifteen to the tune of 25 points to 9. On performances Canterbury must be reckoned the poorest provincial team in the South Island this year. A crowd of about 7000 witnessed the match, and for the greater part of the time the spectators were ironically sarcastic. A very strong wind from the south prevailed and upset calculations badly, but the Wellington men adapted themselves to the conditions in such a way as to leave Canterbury quite out in the cold from a football point of view. The game was a lamentable display, even by the winners, who, however, were by far the better team on the day's play. The Canterbury backs showed form which would not. have done credit to a third grade team. The forwards were very patchy, and displayed no dash. For Wellington Creed, Shearer (2), Mahoney, Hopkins, Standon, and Thomas scored, Christopherson converting two tries, while for Canterbury Greatbatch and Kirwan scored and Masters kicked a penalty goal. NELSON BEATS WEST COAST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRISSS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON. Saturday. Nelson defeated West Coast for the Scddon Shield this afternoon by 13 points to 6. There was an attendance of about 4000. At half-time West Coa-st led by 3 yw>ints to 0, but in the second half the Nelson forwards ran all over their opponents. Hagar and Russell scored for the Coast, and for Nelson Garvin kicked a goal from a mark, Byrne potted a goal, and Grant and Reed scored tries.