SHELD NOT IN DANGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26246, 2 September 1946, Page 6

SHELD NOT IN DANGER

SOUTHLAND'S EASY WIN (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Sept. 1. Southland had little difficulty in defending the Ranfurly Shield against South Canterbury on Saturday. Playing bright and open football, the holders won by'3s points to 9. The bacKS revelled in the fast conditions, and scored eight of the nine tries registered by Southland. Six tries were scored by the wing three-quarters South Canterbury was outplayed but not outclassed, and fought every inch of the way in the scrums, line outs and rucks, but had no counter for the frequent thrusts of the Southland inside backs. They were lacking m cover defence, which has been almost perfected by the Southland forwards The visitors’ back line was given many good starts by the service from the base of the scrum, but was not equal to breaking down the defence of the shield holders. A. L. Chandler, wing three-quarter.. had a field day for Southland. He scored four tries, two in each half. Southland’s other points came from tries by A. G. Sutherland (2), N. J. Bennett, R. F. Waldron, and R. Haziett, two conversions by T. R. D. Webster, and a field goal by Waldron. P. Fitzgerald scored South Canterbury’s try. which was converted by R. Prattley and W. Pratt kicked a field goal. The game was played in sunny, calm weather, and on a dry ground. The crowd was estimated at about 7000