WAIRARAPA VICTORIOUS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1929, Page 11

WAIRARAPA VICTORIOUS

RANFURLY SHIELD DEFENDED DEFEAT OF MANAWHENUA SIDE. THIRTY-SEVEN TO SIXTEEN. By Telecraph.—Press Association. Masterton, Aug. 17. The Wairarapa Rugby representatives successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield for the third occasion this season, this time against Manawhenua, who were defeated to the tune of 37 to 16. The weather conditions were unfavourable to good football, the ground being softened by rain in the morning, and a strong westerly wind prevailed throughout the afternoon. The game was mostly of a forward nature, with occasional bright openings by the back divisions. Wairarapa were definitely superior, although the visitors’ forwards dominated the play in the first spell with the help of the wind, the half-time score being: Manawhenua 13, JVairarapa 8. In the second spell Wairarapa rattled on scores in quick succession. Play in the first spell was mostly confined to Wairarapa territory, but the shield-hold-ere did well to keep Manawhenua’s score down under the conditions. The visitors’ big, bustling forwards frequently broke away from the line-outs and loose melees, invading Wairarapa’s territory, but the superb defence, mostly by Cooke and Corkill, kept the green line intact. Within three minutes of the start Manawhenua opened their account with a free kick by Fletcher. After a considerable period of give and take play there was a good forward rush by Wairarapa. Mill snapped up near the line and dived across. Fuller failed to convert. Manawhenua were having slightly the better of things, which culminated in Parsons crossing the line and Fletcher converting. Shortly afterwards Cooke • broke away and scored in his characteristic style, Fuller converting and making the scores 8 all. Just before half-time Mills crossed for Manawhenua from a loose forward rush, Fletcher again converting. Half-time sounded with the score:— Manawhenua 13 Wairarapa 8 With the aid of the wind and sun in the second spell, Wairarapa penned Manawhenua in their own territory, except for very occasional sorties. Towards the second half of the spell, especially, Wairarapa scored in quick succession, which soon left no doubt about the shield remaining in Wairarapa’s keeping. Play wag considerably brighter in the concluding stages, when the Wairarapa forwards played splendidly and fed the backs well. The Mill-Corkill-Cooke combination worked splendidly. Cundy was the first to score for Wairarapa in this spell, following good play by Reid. Fuller failed to convert. Manawhenua replied with a great rush which saw Parata dive across for a good try, but Fletcher found the wind too great to convert. All the backs handled in turn in the next scoring movement, Mill sending the ball away for Fuller to cross, but he failed with the kick. Immediately Mill secured again, fooled the opposition, and put in a good run to send J. Donald across to score. Fuller converted. From then on Wairarapa completely dominated the play and rattled on an additional 18 points per medium of tries by Corkill, Cooke and Stringfellow, all of which Cundy converted with beautiful kicks. Cundy also landed a great penalty goal from near half-way, the final score being:— Wairarapa 37 Manawhenua 16 Mr. T. Fletcher refereed. A full record of the various matches played for the Ranfurly Shield is:— 1905-1513. —Auckland, the first holders of the shield, defended it against Taranaki on 6 occasions, Wellington (5), Canterbury (2), Hawke’s Bay (2), Otago (2) and Southland. 1913- —Taranaki beat Auckland, Wairarapa, Canterbury, Southland and Wellington. 1914- —Wellington beat Taranaki (twice), Canterbury (three times), and Auckland. 1922-1926. —Hawke’s Bay retained the shield, meeting Wellington, and Wairarapa provinces on four occasions, Canterbury (3), Auckland (3), Southland, Taranaki and Otago once each. 1927. —Wairarapa beat Hawke’s Bay. Later Hawke’s Bay defeated Wairarapa on points, but lost .the shield to Wairarapa on a decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union. Manawhenua beat Wairarapa. Canterbury beat Manawhenua. 1928. —Wairarapa beat Canterbury, Mrlborough, Wellington and Manawhenua.

1929. —"Wairarapa beat Hawke’s Bay, 10 —6, Auckland 17—14.