RANFURLY SHIELD AT STAKE TODAY

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 15

RANFURLY SHIELD AT STAKE TODAY

Southland Will Attempt To Regain Symbol Of Supremacy

By

ONLOOKER

Southland and Otago will meet for the sixth time in Ranfurly Shield games at Dunedin today. Each game since the provinces first met at Invercargill in 1921 has produced some thrilling Rugby. The results have not always been as close as the last game—at Invercargill on July 30—but the importance of the occasion and the rivalry between the sister provinces have given the games something more than inter-provincial standing and each match goes down as i “the best ever.” , There will be another big crowd at iCarisbrook to see the teams fight their lJuly battle over again. Last year 35,000 persons crowded the' terraces and stands, and a record for inter-provincial Rugby anywhere in New Zealand was made. It is not expected that there will be 35,000 spectators today, but what might be lacking in numbers will be made up for in enthusiasm. Southland’s chances of regaining the shield are not rated too highly. The performances of the team in games since the Otago match have not been those of a team fit to take top place in New Zealand Rugby. Still, it can be said that the team which will meet Otago today will be a stronger one than the Southland team which lost the. shield, and there is just the possibility that the players will not make the mistakes which have spoiled much good play this season. The forwards appear to be more evenly matched than in the first game. If. that game Southland’s pack dominated the play and at times played all

over the Otago pack. Today Otago will have playing men who were not avail- , able for the first game. The addition of “ Parkhill and Quaid gives it greater strength, and although V. L. George is an addition to Southland’s pack the advantage of the replacements would appear to be with Otago. This means that Southland may not get the ball so regularly from scrums and rucks. The exchanges should be more or less even, with perhaps the loose play favouring Southland. Whether this advantage will offset the superiority in the backs undoubtedly held by Otago remains to be seen.-One can only say that if the Southland backs handle the ball just reasonably well Southland would have a good chance of success. The defection of three men of the calibre of Simon, Trevathan and Gillies from the Otago backs would appear at first glance to help Southland’s chances. Trevathan and Gillies played a prominent part in Otago’s win at Invercargill, and since that match they have largely helped Otago to retain the shield. Otago will not want for good reliable backs, however. N. A. Mitchell and T. Berghan are two who were not in the side which beat Southland at Invercargill, and it would not be unfair to say that the appearance of this pair more or less makes up for the absence of those who have dropped out. Mitchell, on form, would be a greater thorn in Southland’s side than any of the others, and as Berghan won a world-class reputation as a five-eighths in Australia the balance of the exchange seems to favour the new back division. Southlanders will be interested in Mitchell’s play. The former Southland ceptain, although he has represented New Zealand from Otago, has not yet played for Otago. He will be at his right place at centre three-quarters today and if he is well served by Perriam he should be able to show the crowd some of the play which won him high praise in Australia. Another player on the Otago side who will require watching is Berghan. Since his return from Australia Berghan has not been able to reproduce his best form. He apparently was not able to link up with Simon, Otago scrum half, and has been played at second five-eighths to Trevathan. He will be back in his usual place today. At his best Berghan is mercurial. He may be the man to turn the scale in Otago’s favour.

FORMIDABLE OTAGO REARGUARD

In spite of the absence bf Trevathan, Simon and Gillies, Otago’s back line is a formidable one. Simpson, the new half-back, is an unknown quantity in Southland, but he must be something above the average to have been included before Howden or Campbell, Berghan and Perriam will be the five-eighths. Perriam played centre against Southland at Invercargill and although his chances were limited he played well. In addition to Mitchell the three-quarters are Black and Werner. Black showed what a good scoring winger he was at Invercargill by beating Sutherland and crashing through a tackle by Barnett for a try. His pace is his biggest asset both on attack and defence. Werner distinguished himself against Taranaki by scoring three tries. At full-back Otago will have J. Taylor, the New Zealand full-back who

rarely plays a poor game on Carisbrook. Taylor’s kicking has been a feature of his play this season. He is just as good a goal-kicker as Trevathan so Otago should lose nothing there. Since his return from Australia Taylor has been taking the shots at goal for Otago, and

in three games has scored a big number of points. Taylor is a former Southlander. He played for the Pirates juniors before going to Dunedin. He is a Mataura boy. Whether Southland will be able to repeat its great victory of last year will depend upon the ability of the backs to hold the Otago backs. Last year the presence of Wesney when Mitchell retired injured made a big difference to the play of the team. Wesney is an improved player this season and is the type who seems to play better as the importance of the occasion demands it. He will have a big task today but he should be equal to it. He will be called upon to give the thrust to the attack and at the same time he will be detailed to keep Mitchell in check. It should be a good duel between two former club mates. Wesney is much the better tackler, but he may be overshadowed by Mitchell in attacking work. The return of J. Purdue behind the Southland scrum should ensure soundness at this important point. He has

played only one inferior game this season and that against a team of forwards which was renowned for its quick breaking. He will have P. Grace back in the first five-eighths position so there should be nothing lacking in the understanding of each other’s play. Grace has had a rest from play since the Hawke’s Bay game and should be all the better for it. His marking of Berghan will be watched with interest. With Sutherland and Wesney filling the other inside positions the soundness of the play of the Southland backs should not be found wanting. Both are solid players. This pair scored all of the points in the game at Dunedin last year. Wesney scoring a try and converting it and kicking a penalty goal and Sutherland kicking a wonderful potted goal -from near the halfway line. Ballantyne will be playing his first big game at Carisbrook. He is no stranger to the ground, however, as he played there when a member of the Dunedin Training College team.

The fast nature of Carisbrook should suit his play. Mahony and Milne also know Carisbrook. Mahony was an opponent of Southland last year. He played on the wing in that game. If the playing conditions are good the crowd should see some bright Rugby. Both teams will strive hard for success. Whoever wins will be called upon to play Wellington for the shield, a match which should be as big a draw as any of the other games this season. If Southland wins it will have to meet Wellington for the shield at Invercargill on Wednesday. The teams for today are:— SOUTHLAND FULL-BACK: J. Ballantyne. THREE-QUARTERS: R. G. Mahony, A. W. Wesney, C. Milne. FIVE-EIGHTHS: P. Grace, A. G. Sutherland. HALF-BACK: J. Purdue. FRONT-ROW: L. George, W. Sherrif*. C. George. MIDDLE-ROW: T. Metcalfe (captain), B. Herron, G. H. Graham, J. Hamilton. BACK-ROW: W. L. Crawford. OTAGO FULL-BACK: J. Taylor. THREE-QUARTERS: L. Werner, N. A. Mitchell, W. A. Black. FIVE-EIGHTHS: T. Berghan, W. Perriam. HALF-BACK: J. Simpson. FRONT-ROW: J. Mahoney, C. Quaid, G. McDonald. MIDDLE-ROW: R. Neiper, F. Vorrath, L. Hill, W. McLelland. BACK-ROW: A. A. Parkhill. , Mr J. Burton is the referee. SOUTHLAND’S RECORD IN SHIELD GAMES Southland has played 17 games for and in defence of the Ranfurly Shield, and has won seven and lost 10. As challenger it has won three games and lost seven, and as defender of the shield it has won four and lost three. Following are the results of the games played by Southland: — 1906—v. Auckland; lost 12-48. 1914—v. Taranaki: lost nil-6. 1920— v. Wellington; won 17-6. 1921— v. Otago; won 10-8. 1921—v. Wellington; lost 13-28. 1925—v. Hawke’s Bay; lost 12-31. 1929— v. Wairarapa; won 19-16. 1930 — v. Wanganui; won 19-nil. 1930—v. Otago; won 37-5. 1930—v. Hawke’s Bay; won 9-6. 1930— v. Wellington; lost 3-12. 1931— v. Wellington; lost 13-36. 1933—v. Canterbury; lost 3-21. 1935— v. Canterbury; lost 3-8. 1936— v. Otago; lost 3-16. 1937 — v. Otago; won 12-7. 1938— v. Otago; lost 6-7. SUMMARY.—PIayed 17, won 7, lost 10; points for 191: against 261,