RANFURLY SHIELD RUGBY
Ranfurly Shield Match # 24 – 16th September 1911
Auckland 29 – 10 Poverty Bay
Venue: Alexandra Park, Auckland – Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Mr E.Spurdle (Taranaki)
Two days after facing Taranaki on the 14th September 1911 , Auckland faced the second challenge of the season when a crowd of 6,000 attended Alexandra Park in ideal weather. Auckland looked tired after the tour, and were unable to counter the fire of the visiting forwards during the first spell which ended with the Bay leading 3-4. Erekana had opened the scoring with a great kick from the touchline, near halfway, when he potted a goal. Macky was Auckland’s scorer.
Then early in the second half, Auckland added 21 points in 20 minutes. Macky scored again, O’Leary converted. 8-4. O’Leary scored and converted. 13-4. Bruce scored. 16-4. McGregor scored. 19-4. Wilson scored and Macky converted. 24-4. Poverty Bay then livened up, and after Kaipara, the North Island representative, had made one of his famous corkscrew tries, he sent Aorere on to score. 24-7. Then Douglas hurled himself across from a lineout. 24-10. Auckland had the last say, a try by Wilson being converted by O’Leary to make the final score 29-10.
Auckland: R.Magee, J.V.Macky, A.C.McGregor, O.Wolfgramm, J.O’Leary, W.McK.Geddes, P.Thomas; J.H.Hall, Jim Clark, A.C.Wilson, J.A.Bruce, W.Cunningham, E.Harper, F.Herring, G.A.Tyler* (capt.).
At the final moment G. Murray and J. Barrett withdrew, being replaced by Wolfgramm and Clark.
During the match Hall retired to be replaced by J. Glenn.
Poverty Bay: Erekana (Pewhairangi); Chas.Ryland, J. Clark, H. Tocker; A. P. Kaipara (capt.), G. Pollock; J. Hart; T.Crookt, Bert Lowe, J. Nicholas, S.McColl, H. Francis, Aorere (Mahaki), C.Winter, R.Douglas.
Charles Cole replaced Hart during the match.
The referee was Mr E. Spurdle of Taranaki.
Moana Paratene, Maori representative and half-brother to Bill Cunningham, failed to arrive, and Aorere had to lock in his stead. H.Francis was a brother of Auckland’s “Bolla” Francis.
Erekana, Kaipara and Ryland were New Zealand Maori representatives earlier that season and the two latter represented North Island in October, Kaipara actually appearing for North in three seasons.
This was the last match of George Tyler, the well-known 1903-4-5 All Black. He had played in nine shield matches for Auckland, altogether representing Auckland 34 times from 1899. He played 38 games for New Zealand. J. G. O’Brien had stayed behind in New Plymouth.
On 16 September Wellington defeated Marlborough 13-3. Marlborough who were scheduled to contest the shield on 23 September, telegraphed Auckland on 18 September that they were unable to get a strong enough team away.
Auckland had now successfully defended the shield against 18 challenges in six seasons – a fine record. At the end of this season the Thames All Black, H.Hayward, Hawke’s Bay All Black, D.Evans, Jim Clark (Auckland) and J.Barber (Wellington) transferred to the League Code.
Extracted from
“Ranfurly Shield Rugby”
first published 1960
Publishers: A.H.Reed & A.W.Reed
by Arthur H.Carmen
