RANFURLY SHIELD HELD

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1932, Page 4

RANFURLY SHIELD HELD

CANTERBURY WIN BY 9 TO S WELLINGTON CHALLENGE FAILS. WINNING FORWARDS BETTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, ast Night. ■Canterbury beat Wellington by 9 points to 8 and' retains the Ranfurly Shield. Canterbury scored three tries, all in the second half, and cop veiled none.- Wellington scored a try ift each spell and converted, one against the wind. The ground was' fast and dry, but a strong south-west wind had a considerable influence on the play, lengthening or shortening the kicks and sometimes sending passes awry. Wellington won the toss and took advantage of the wind in the first half and certainly should have been more than three points.up at half-time. The Wellington attack was held up in this period by the very honest, dogged play of the Canterbury forwards. They had to play a solid rather than showy game because the Wellington forwards were too lively for them' in the open, and if the home side had tried to play Wellington’s game the result would certainly have been different. The Canterbury forwards played a much improved. game in the line-outs and scrums and secured a fair share of the ball. The inside backs did not often make' the best' Use of it. The passing lacked snap and precision. The Wellington passing was generally more accurate and faster, and it was well for Canterbury that their forwards were ia such splendid form. . ■ Wellington attacked early, but Canterbury nearly notched the first points when. Harb, made a splendid run down the. side-line, shook off Ball’s t&ckle> beat several men with fast swerves, but when the line seemed open Pollock pushed him into toucii. The first spell was largely a battle of tactics among the forwards, with the Wellington backs looking the more dangerous wluffi on the move. ' Killeen was moved up from centre to first five-eighths, Robins going back to centre. The change was eflcctive, fdt iff the next bout of passing by the Wellington backs the ball went snabpily 'ftdiii Killeen' to Griffiths and Robins, ’ who went through the Canterbury defence at speed and scored a fine try which Pollock failed, to convert. The score at half-tiffio was Wellington 3, Canterbury nil. After the opening of the second spell the Canterbury backs tried more passing with fair results territorially. The Canterbury attack bustled Pollock, Who had to find touch two yards from the goal line to save. From the line-out Cottroll drove over for . a try near the corner. Roberts failed with the kick and the. score was 3-all. .. . . Canterbury after.a spell of even play had Wellington penned on the line again, and from a scrum two yards out Bouterey lipped round on the short side and scored. Roberts missed with the kick. Before long Canterbury were attacking again. A series of passing bouts ended in Innes sending King over for another try. Roberts again failed to convert. , , . Wellington played with renewed dash for a space, and several passing bouts in which McDonald, Killeen, Griffiths, Stiver, Robins and McLean took part ended in McDonald scoring after a determined, run at tho corner*, La meson’s kick for goal was an amazing effort and the score was Canterbury 9, Wellington 8, Play whs rather in Canterbury’s favour for the remaining ten minutes of play and the game ended without further score.

VICTORY FOR WANGANUI

MANAWHENUA BEATEN 16 TO 6. EMERGENCIES IMPROVE TEAM. . Wanganui, September 3./ Wanganui defeated Manawhenua at Rugby to-day by 16 points to 6. The first spell' was! a succession of lost chances for both teams, faulty handling being responsible. The spell Was robbed of any lustre. Injuries just before halftime resulted in Wanganui’s replacing two backs, the first five-eighths and centre and, as often happens in Rugby, the players from the reserve list responded so well that the combination Ayas improved. Manawhenua fielded a solid pack ■ of forwards. The tight, play was all in their favour, but in the loose. Wanganui had too much pace. Similarly in the backs Wanganui in the second spell had pace and ' combination' which greatly overshadowed those of their opponents. When the margin of points was increasing: Manawhenua made desperate efforts to' improve the position, and at one stage were within two points of .Wanganui. The visitors set up a series of stern' attacks on Wanganui’s goal, but all failed as a result of superb defence and pace, and in three open movements Wanganui came.away from defending positions to prove that the home team had. the necessary finish which Manawhenua lacked. The first spell ended three-nil in favour of Manawhenua, Elliot having scored a fine try as a result of a rearguard attack. Wanganui opened the second spell with 14 men, and while the team was at that strength Walden played at centre and scofed a try under the bar which Thompson converted. Walden scored again a few minutes later from the blind side of a serum. Manawhenua retaliated with a neat try, the scoring of which proved Meta Johnson’s ability to draw the defence. He sent Cooke over, and when the kick failed Wanganui led by only two points. Thompson kick? ed a penalty goal for Wanganui. Following along a period of defensive play Wanganui came away for Waters to score. A conversion by Thompson made .Wanganui’s total 16 and the match finished without Manawhenua’s increasing from six. SOUTHLAND DEFEAT OTAGO. FAILURE OF OTAGO BACKS. ■ Dunedin, Last Night. On a dry ground and before a crowd of 15,000 Southland defeated Otago by* 11 points to -8. The forward packs were evenly matched but the Otago backs, who received a greater nuiiiber of .chances, failed owing ,to the oi thrust among the inside meu. At the end of the first spell Otago were leading by 5 points to 3, South* land’s score being the result of a alty goal kicked by Porter, while Finlayson scored a try for Otago which Bathgate converted. In the second.spell, which was very even, McSkimming scored for Otago but the try was not converted, while McKay scored tor Southland, Porter converting. Berry scored the deciding try, which was not converted.

AUCKLAND RUGBY MATCHES. > .By. Telegraph.—l’rees 'Association. . . Auckland, Laslt Night. Rligby matches resulted: ponsonby I<J beat Manukau 13; Grammar 19 beat Training College '3; College Rifles 19 beat Technical Old Boys 0; University 19 beat Otahuhu 13;' Marist 32 beat Grafton 6. ' '' ’ ‘ WELLINGTON TOURNAMENT. Wellington, Last' Night. A seven-a-side Rugby tournaiiient was played on Saturday.- In a .fast -and Spectacular final < Eastbourne. beat Poheke by Jo points to 3. FOOTBALL AT SYDNEY. ' / LEAGUE, SOCCER AND RUGBY. By. Telegraph—Press 'Assn.—Copyright. Rec.. 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 4. . In the Rugby League first semi-final 16,000 spectators saw South Sydney defeat Eastern Suburbs by 26 to 8. , In the Rugby Union final Manly defeated Drummoyn by 12 to 9. - Playing Soccer, first semi-final, Balgownie tied with Westou 2-all.