Ranfuriy Shield Has Been Won By Wairarapa

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 1950, Page 6

Ranfuriy Shield Has Been Won By Wairarapa

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night —Wairarapa gained an unexpected but well deserved win in a Ranfurlyy Shield challenge match against Canterbury before a crowd of 17,000 at Lancaster Park on Saturday. The only points scored in a fast but rugged game came from a field goal by the Wairarapa full-back, A. Mahupuka.

It was Canterbury's first defence of the Shield since winning it at Dunedin in the middle of August. The game was played on a ground which, in spite of recent heavy rain, was fast and Wairarapa won because its quick breaking forwards worried the Canterbury inside backs from the first whistle to the last. All Canterbury’s successes this season have been achieved on really soft grounds, and the rapidity with which the Wairarapa breakaways got among the Canterbury backs put them badly out of gear. Canterbury had more than a fail share of the ball, but persisted In sending it away to the backs, who were usually tackled as soon as they got it. When the Canterbury backs did get moving the attacks nearly always were pushed across the field by the Wairarapa loose forwards.

Territorially, Canterbury had the better of the game, and might have retained the shield had the side had a good goal kicker. In the second spell five or six attempts at goal went astray. The Wairarapa backs never looked likely to score, but the forwards played with tremendous dash, particularly in the second spell. The captain, A. Blake, played an outstanding spoiling game, but had to retire because of an injury at halftime. J. Ryan was perhaps the most active forward on the ground, getting through an extraordinary' amount of work. E. McPhee was another who impressed. W. Waaka and L. Sciasca often were prominent. The best back on the ground was S. Walsh, behind the Wairarapa scrum. He sent out good passes, de-1 fended stoutly and his positioftal I kicking was first class. Outside him, |

B. Couch was reliable, but little more, and B. Desmond at centre tackled strongly! Mahupuka’s line kicking often earned applause, and he was never in real trouble.

Canterbury’s best forward was A. Couling, who played one of his best games. G. Bond, R. Duff and C. Hardie also played well. The only back to impress was the first fiveeighth, P. Kearney, who had an unenviable time trying to cope with the Wairarapa forwards. Both the half P. Vincent and the second five-eighth, J. Houghton, played badly. Wairarapa had the advantage of a fresh breeze in the first spell.

Canterbury’s backs attacked and a kick took play to the Wairarapa line, but Walsh got back to save. When Wairarapa attacked half way through the spell Canterbury forced and the drop-out was taken by Mahupuka. He steadied himself and kicked a magnificent field goal from near the left touch line, and just inside half way. Both sides made mistakes in handling. Canterbury’s backs often were bustled into errors. The Wairarapa forwards, always lively, played with added spirit in the second half, and Ryan led several attacks. Canterbury got close to the Wairarapa lihe time and again, but the forwards always took play downfield again. Once Kearney burst through down the middle and Couling had a clear run in, but the defenders converged on him from all sides, and he was stopped 10 yards short of the line. A few minutes later Reeves went through. Couling was in support, but again the defenders got him a few yards short of the line. In the last quarter of an hour Canterbury attacked strongly, but excellent tackling kept them out and the game ended without further score. Canterbury won the scrums 35 to 17 and the line-outs 33 to 30. Seven penalties were awarded Canterbury and three to Wairarapa. The referee was Mr. W. B. Broadhead (Wanganui).