SOUTHLAND RETAIN RANFURLY SHIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19133, 28 July 1930, Page 14

SOUTHLAND RETAIN RANFURLY SHIELD.

DEFEAT WANGANUI BY NINETEEN TO NIL

Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, July 26. Southland successfully staved off the first of the season’s challenges for the Ranfurly Shield to-day, defeating Wanganui by 19 points to ml. Conditions could not have beten much worse. Heavy rain had made Rugby Park vei> wet. and the players were soon dodging about coated with mud. A high wind blew throughout, and several showers fell during the game. Play, considering the circumstances, was fast and interesting. While they did not look like winning, the Wanganui team gave the impression that they would be capable of attractive football on a dry ground ■Wanganui were fortunate in winning the toss and so having the assistance of the high wind and several showers of hail and sleet at their backs during the first spell, but they failed to make full use of the elements. Although the wind had dropped a little when the second spell commenced, th© Southland players made more use of it, Wanganui coming out of their own quarter onlv in spasmodic rushes. In forward work there was not the difference between the two packs that was anticipated. The advantage in weight of the home set was evened up by the pace and quickness off the mark of the visitors, the lighter men finding th«o heavy going not so big a handicap as some of the bigger Maroon men did. As the game wore on. however, the extra stone or two began to take effect, and the Maroons had definitely the upper hand in the second spell. The teams Southland. W. 11. Norris. E. 11. Diack, G. Porter and J. Geddes. L. Niven and R. Sharpe. A. H. Holden. L. George, C. George, I. Galt, TI. M'Kenzi'e, G. Purdue, T. Metcalf, W Southern and J. R. Bell (wing forward). Wanganui. W. M’Lennan. S. Ambrose, 11. Lowe and W\ Collier. J. Morgan and K. Gibbons. J. Duncan. A. Kilkolly, M'lntyre, F. I-leise, L. Stewart, J. Byers, F. Leahy, Preston and Walden (wing forward). Southland's first score came after Bell had caught both the Wanganui halfback and first five-eighth when they attempted to clear. From the ensuing scrum about five yards from the line, the Maroon pack screwed with thv> ball and surged over the line. Metcalf forcing his way over, with two or three of his team-mates in support. Diack kicked a good goal. Southland 5, Wanganui A penalty kick by Diack was fielded by Lowe, who kicked down the centre of the field. Porter took the ball and sent out a transfer to Geddes. The winger fielded it beautifully just on the half-way line, and set sail for the corner. After drawing two defenders, he threw a good lob pass in to Bell, who scored. Diack did not goal. The score at half-time was Southland S, Norris fielded a kick by a defender and tried to open up pla;t by throwing a long pass out to his line of backs. His pass was not accepted, but Geddes got his foot to it and dribbled on his own down tho side-line. Although faced by several Wanganui men, ive got through them and scored just inside the corner flag. Diack made a. good attempt to goal. Southland 11, Wanganui 0. Southland’s next try was obtained when Sharpe came round the side of a ruck on tho half-way line with the ball and went straight down the middle of the paddock. He lost his supports, but side-stepped the full-back and threw out a pass to Geddes. who had run himself into position. The winger took the ball in his stridto and ran over near the posts. Diack goaled well. Southland 16, Wanganui 0. Wanganui were finding St very difficult to hold up the Southland forwards. They had to force twice in succession, and good dribbling by Sharpe forced them back on to their Tine almost immediately. The ball, heeled from a ruck, was fielded cleanly by Holden, who handed on to Sharpe almost under the posts. The second five-eighths was blocked, but passed out to Porter, who ran across with Geddes waiting outside him. Diack missed the kick, and the final whistle sounded immediately with the scores:— SOUTHLAND 19 WANGANUI 0