RANFURLY SHIELD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10985, 22 August 1921, Page 7

RANFURLY SHIELD

RETAINED BY SOUTHLAND AFTER BARD GAME. OTAGO’S SPLENDID FIGHT. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, August 20. After a keen and exoiting struggle Southland retained the Raafurly Shield in face of Otago’s challenge by 10 points to 8, before an attendance of 7000. The teams were:— Otago—Backs: Watson, Stewart, Ball, Ward. Owlee, Harley, and McNaughton; forwards: Bain (captain), Boreham, Ooombes, Sontag, Harty, Knox, Turnbull, Wilson (wSng). Southland—Bocksßrown, Diaok, KHlmour (captain). LopdelL. O’Kane, Hazlett, Beil; forwards: Rice. Agnen, Oookroft, Brett. Strang. White, Morrow, Baird (wing). The ground was holding, but the ball remained dry. The sun -broke through in the second half, but did not trouble .either side. GOOD 'BACK PLAY. _ Otago kicked off against a light wind. The Otago forwards showed up in the tight -work at once, and play stayed in the centre for some time, hut it was evident that Southland were relying on a -back game, their books handling well. O’Kane made several openings, one of which Owlee pulled up by obstructing. Diode's diet at goal was a little wide. Otago forced after- fifteen minutes’ play. O’Kane secured from the ruck in Otago’s twenty-five, and beating two men, passed to Diaok, who beat tne opposing hacks easily, and soored. The same player converted. Southland s Otago .....j..., , o A LUCKY SCORE. Southland was being -penalised for offside plav on line-outs, from which Otago were mostly getting the ball as well as taking mod: of the scrums. Southland kept up . the pressure, Watson saving several times m the face of forward rushes from, the maroon twenty-five. Southland got the ball from the line and the backs set off. The ball- went to Lopden and Gilmour, who was tackled, but Baird secured in the loose and potted. The ball hit the bar and Gilmour, securing, dived across near the posts. Agnen converted. Southland 10 Otago 0 PENALTY GOAL FOR OTAGO. Otago attacked with tight forward rushes and kicking by the backs. Baird was caught offside in his own twentyfive and Bell kicked a fine goal from a penalty. Southland 10 Otago 3 The game was very fast, play travelling up and down, hut the maroon backs had the better of the play, though Ward narrowly missed a soore. being tackled close in by O'Kane. Piay was in the centre when the spell ended. In’’the seoond half Brown went to the wing for Southland and Lopdell fullback. There was a lot ‘of tight forward play, in which Otago had all the advantage, and kept the pressure on the holders’ line for e long time. However, they could not get through. Loose forward rushes cleared temporarily, but the Otago forivards. aided by Owles, worked back and renewed the siege on the line till Brown beat Ward and cleared with a lona kick. Immediately the maroons

swept down, but an over-hard kick by GAlmour allowed Watson, to force. CHALLENGERS DANGEROUS. Otago broke away down the centre and Owles waa pulled down at the posts, and from a scrum the maroons cleared. Working the tight play on the line Otago attacked again and the ball cams from the side of the serum, passing through the backs to Stewart, who passed in to 801 l and secured again to score a fine try. Bell converted. Southland , 10 Otago 8 The maroons then adopted >loose play again and did much better. Bell had a kick from a penalty in the Southland twenty-five, but White stopped the ball and a loose rush carried play to the Otago line, where Watson saved. Brown had a shot from a penalty for an .infringement in the scrum, the ball missing the post by inches. FINAL STAGES WILLING.

Otago again Attacked and. the maroons were penned on the line, but a crosskick by McNaughton saw Brown beat Wand for pace and clear* Otago came agfrjT l and a long (kick saw the maroons forced from a kick. The Southland forwards' open rushes ‘broke up the challengers’ defence and one movement from the centre took play riirht down, bowling over back after back.- Diaok secured and dabbed over, but was brought back. O'Kane having knocked on. Southland kept hammering away and were attacking when time eounded. Southland 10 Otago - *•••*• 8 / The Otago forwards were superior in the close work and Hne-outs. but Southland were better in the loose, and the backs showed better combination both m attack and defence. Mr J. P. Peak© was the referee. HAWKE’S BAY RIVALRY NORTH BEATS SOUTH. Per Tress Association. NAPIER, August 21. At Rugby yesterday Northern Hawke's Bay beat Southern Hawke's Bay by 24 to nil.