RANFURLY SHIELD RUGBY

Ranfurly Shield Match # 169  – 4th September 1948
Otago 40 – 00 Poverty Bay
Venue: Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Mr R. Pratt (Buller )

Once again almost impossible conditions prevailed at Carisbrook, continuous rain and a sodden ground resulting in mud patches and sheets of water.

Only 9,000 turned out to witness the struggle, and could never have expected to be spectators to such a brilliant display as the Otago backs once again provided under adverse conditions.

Every member of Otago’s back division shared in the scoring, the backs securing nine of the eleven tries. Otago led 15-0 at half time.

Tries were gained by Kearney (3); Botting (2); O’Connor (2); Mcates, Woodhouse, Haig, and Elvidge; Haig converting two and Moore kicking a penalty goal.

Otago: Altered only by L. S. Woodhouse returning as half (vice R. A. Haig) and A. E. Hellyer going on to the side of the scrum, and D. H. Hamilton moving in to lock in place of Lester Harvey.

Poverty Bay: R. J. McGregor; J. Barbour, N. L. Kane, I. W. James; R. A. Clay, R. M. McKinley; E. S. Lee; G. F. King, R. B. Birrell, I. G. Shaw (capt.), W. Carrington, I. Munro, J. Ferguson, N. Summersby, W. R. Brown. In the second spell G. W. Harris replaced McGregor, James going to fullback.

The referee was Mr R. Pratt of Buller.

William Carrington had been a member of the New Zealand Maori team to Fiji in July.

Extracted from
“Ranfurly Shield Rugby”
first published 1960
Publishers: A.H.Reed & A.W.Reed
by Arthur H.Carmen