THEY BATTLED IN BLIZZARD FOR RANFURLY SHIELD

NZ Truth, Issue 1286, 31 July 1930, Page 13

THEY BATTLED IN BLIZZARD FOR RANFURLY SHIELD

SOUTHLAND'S MUD VICTORY

Teams Wallowed In Bog At Rugby Park While Antarctic Gale Shrieked

GOOD FOOTBALL OUT OF QUESTION (Prom "Truth V' Invercargill Representative.) * Conditions could not have been worse for the first Ranfurly Shield game of the season between Wanganui (challengers) and Southland (holders). Rugby Park was little better than a bog and the 30 players and the referee deserve to be presented with free tickets for the fourth Test for sticking out the distance. Kipling's "muddied oafs" had nothing on them at the finish of their mud bath.

TO make matters worse, an Antarctic blizzard raged half-way through the game, blinding the players and obscuring the game from the crowd. Good football was out of the question, and the game was m no way a trial for the Southland team. Without Hazlett, who was playing m Auckland, the -home forwards went well enough, but they were not the same pack which, under similar conditions, fought /out a hectic 80 minutes with Beamish and Co. Against the howling gale m the flrst half, the maroon forwards put tons of dash into their play, and it was largely due to their slogging that Wanganui were kept out, but m the second spell they broke only m spasmodic bursts and were little better than the visitors. Southland's backs surprised their most sanguine admirers by the way they threw the leaden ball about. Holden made all the difference behind the scrum, -and he dished up plenty of ball to his backs. His play must have made the selectors think hard. They dropped him m favor of Charlie Johnston— brother of LanGe — for the British game. Holden is right back to his -best form. Southland scored five tries m all, three of them the result of passing rushes, a phase of play which may have been obliterated m the conditions. All of the

O. Porter

backs handled well with the exception of Porter, who captained the team m Hazlett's absence. More tries might have come the holders' way, but for the centre's inability to juggle successfully with the greasy ball. Bert Geddes, son of selector Arthur, was the outstanding player on the ground. Playing on the left-wing, he scored two good tries, and made another after a great 40 yards dash. His handling and footwork m the heavy going was up to the best standard, and a continuation of this form will make him a hard man for visiting wingers to contend with. • Sharpe, the ex-Oriental boy, and Niven, at five-eighths, did all that was required | of them, and under better conditions promise to develop into a clever inside pair. Norris was only fair at full-back. 6 His poor tackle of Ambrose did not inspire confidence. Porter is too slow for centre. He had two speed kings m Diack and Geddes to make openings for. but he was unable to do it. Full-back would suit him better. Diack's kicking .was of great assistance to the side. Good as he is on the wing, he would be much better at centre. Of the home forwards, Purdue and Metcalf stood out as two great toilers. Both have pace and dash, and can handle as well as backs. Purdue' is heading straight for the New Zealand team, and it looks as if nothing will stop him: Metcalf 's footwork was a revelation. He is the nearest thing to perpetual motion playing football m Southland. Southland may have been points better than Wanganui, but they did not impress as . likely to hold the shield very long. . Changes will have to be made. The material is available, and to hold the log of wood this material must be used.

With Hazlett back, and a change or two m the backs, the side will be much improved. Wanganui were very poor and never looked like winning. They lacked an opportunist m the side. Plenty of chances came their way, but they went begging just as quickly as they offered. Walden, at wing-forward, went well, but he had nothing on "Wampy" Bell, who is playing good football this season. Bell broke up many weak attempts at attack by the Wanganui backs, ■ and moulding his play to suit the conditions, dribbled through the opposition time after time. Morgan, a youthful five- eighths, was the best of the visiting backs. He tackled solidly,, and displayed resource m attack. For a wet weather game, the 101 st challenge game could be described as interesting, but not up to standard. Stronger opposition might have had the desired effect on the holders, whose forwards were below par. The next challenge is on ATlgust 6. when Otago will journey south for a tilt at .the shield. Otago have never held the shield, and as it is the dark blues' jubilee year, they will be right after the maroons. "Truth" ventures tp predict that they (Otago) will have to beat Southland forward before they can hope to lift the t rophy.