THE SHIELD WINNERS

Evening Star, Issue 22145, 27 September 1935, Page 8

THE SHIELD WINNERS

RECEPTION TO DTAGO TEAM LARK ATTENDANCE AT CONCERT CHAMBER' Representatives of various sporting bodies and members of the general public attended in large numbers at the Concert Chamber last evening to take part in the civic reception to the members of the Otago Rugby football team who, for the first time in the history of the Ranfurly Shield, brought the trophy to Dunedin. The mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) presided, and there were on the stage the members of .the team and Mr D. M. Stuart (president of the Zealand Rugby Union) and Mr J. R. Wootton (president of the Otago Rugby Union), who were the managers of the team on its northern tour. The .shield itself occupied a prominent position at the front of the stage. , The Mayor said that it was fitting on this historic occasion, when the Ranfurly Shield had been won for the first time by Otago, that the city and province should pay tribute to the team that had done so well during the year, and had finished the season’s sport in such a triumphant manner as to bring home the coveted trophy.—(Applause.) Notice should also be taken on this occasion of the splendid work of the Otago Rugby Union, that through a long period of years had fostered the sport. The very fine ground at Carisbrook, with its up-to-date _ appointments, was a standing memorial to the capable way in which the funds of the union had been managed.—(Applause.) From time to time the union had assisted the various clubs and encouraged them in ways not known to the general public. It had ever been alert to increase the interest in the game, and to that interest and support, no doubt, to a very great degree was due the very fine performance that the team had put up this year in winning eight out of eleven interprovincial matches, and which had reached its culmination on Saturday last at Lancaster Park.—(Applause, in which a dog outside the hall assisted with loud barking.) It was a. matter of note that when the first shield match was played in 1902 Dunedin possessed but two firstclass football fields. To-day, in addition to these, the Kaikorai Club had its own ground, and the city provided playing fields for football on 36 grounds, the majority of them being devoted to Rugby. In addition, the city provided 75 cricket pitches, 16 hockey grounds, 31 tennis courts, 21 croquet lawns, and 7 bowling greens. To come to the team —he had witnessed many of the games this year, both club and representative, and he could not say how greatly he had enjoyed them. It had been no surprise to him that the shield had come this way. Otago had a fine team, and its last year’s captain, Hore, this year’s captain, Simon, and also Herb. Smith, who had led the team to victory on Saturday, were not only first-rank players, but also great 1

generals.—(Applause.) He greeted the team in the name of the city, and extended to it most h'earty congratulations.—(Loud applause.) The Mayor said he had two apologies —one from Mr F. R. Anderson, president of the Otago Football Association, and one/from Mr F. Jones, M.P., who were both absent from the city. Mr J. M. Fraser, president of the , Otago Cricket Association, said he wished to add congratulations on behalf of the cricketers of Dunedin and of Otago to the Otago Rugby team. The team had had a most successful season, culminating in the winning of the Ranfurly Shield. They were all very proud of the record, and they knew that the team had played the game both on and off the field. Their behaviour, particularly off the field, had brought credit to the city and province—(applause)—but that was only what was expected when a team was sent away from Otago. The speaker went on to pay a tribute to .the work of the Otago Rugby Union, the play of the team, and the excellent control of the two managers—Messrs Stuart and Wootton. Mr Fraser said it was very fitting that Otago should win the shield this year, as Mr Stuart, who had done fine work for the game, both on and off the field, for the past 35 years, was the president of the New Zealand Union this year.—(Applause.) Mr E. R. Grace, who spoke on behalf of the Otago Football Association and other sporting bodies, also extended congratulations to the Otago Rugby team, and to the managers. It was well known, he said, that New Zealand held pride of place amongst the great Rugby countries of the world, and if their Otago team could run out premiers in New Zealand then he would say that in Otago they had no mean standard of football. (Applause.) The speaker inferred to the cordial relations which existed between the Rugby Union and the Football Association, and said that he had been asked to speak not only for the Association game, but for other sports, and he would say that those who had listened in and those who had seen the game at Christchurch must have been impressed by the sportsmanship . and clean play. It was not only the winning of a game which counted, but the manner in which it was won, and he desired to pay a tribute to a team of good clean sportsmen. (Loud applause.) “ This is a unique occasion,” said Mr D. M. Stuart, in reply. “ For over 30 years we have been struggling to get the shield.” He said they appreciated very much the fact that they were being given a civic reception, and that so many had attended. They had their Chamber of Commerce and their various leagues, but he felt that the Otago team had also done something in bringing the shield to Otago. (Applause.) Mr Stuart referred to the many old exOtago players met with on the tour, and said that in Canterbury they had had the assistance of their old friend, Mr V. G. Cavanagh in coaching the team. (Applause.) The team spirit of the players was very fine, and there was not a growl when this or that man was not played. That team spirit had something to do in bringing the shield to Dunedin. (Applause.) Mr Stuart said he would like particularly to pay a tribute to Mr H. Simon, who was an

inspiration to the team both on and off the field, his remarks being received with prolonged applause. Next year, said Mr Stuart, Otago would do her best to retain the shield, but when her time came to relinquish it—as come it must some day—he hoped they would lose it in as graceful a manner as had Canterbury, (Applause.) Mr J. B. Wootton said he would like to endorse what Mr Stuart had said. The Otago team had played good football and had played clean football. He was pleased to be able to say that on the tour the members of the team had behaved themselves as gentlemen both on and off the field. (Applause.) The Mayor said that old Otago players who were still with them were Sir James Allen, captain of the Otago team in 1883, and president of the Otago Union in 1891; Mr Crosby Morris, president in 1901; and Mr James Hutchison, president in 1902 and 1903. The two first-named were out of town, and Mr Hutchison had deputed his task of addressing them to another old player in Mr F. H. Campbell. Mr Campbell said it gave him great pleasure to pay tribute to the valiant footballers who had brought back the llanfurly Shield. After Otago had been beaten by Wellington and Taranaki he had been a little doubtful when the team met Canterbury, 'but he knew a great many people there, and they had said to him that they did not mind if Otago took the shield from them, because Otago played the game in a good spirit. (Applause.) They would freely lose if Otago were the better team. The speaker concluded by paying a tribute to the team, which' had upheld the honour of the Otago Rugby Union and their good old game. (Applause.) Mr H. Simon, the captain of the Otago touring team, who was received with applause, expressed thanks on behalf of the members of the team for their being honoured in such a way. It had been an honour to them to be able to say they represented Otago, and it had been an honour to meet ex-Otago players, who were very, numerous wherever they went. Ho could assure them that from the beginning of the tour it had been the ambition of every one of them to do his utmost for the good name of Otago, both on and off the field. (Applause.) In respect to the Hanfurly Shield match, it would lie impossible for them to express their feelings before and after the game, and it was very gratifying to know that their efforts had been appreciated. (Applause.) He would specially like to thank all those good sports who had made the trip to Christchurch and who had helped to spur the team on' to victory. Those who had seen the game would, agree that Otago was not so vastly superior, and that it had been only the dogged determination of every man that had won the day. The boys had been imbued with a Mo-or-dic spirit, and the encouragement they received from their supporters was, to his mind, one of the reasons for their victory. (Applause.) So long as that spirit existed in Otago teams, and their supporters continued to take such a keen interest in the game, he was sure they had no need to have any fear for the future of their good game. Mr Simon said he desired to thank their employers,

who had been no doubt put to inconvenience, for allowing the men to get away to take part in the game. He only hoped they could repay them by holding the shield for some time, which, as they knew, would be good business for everybody. Mr Simon concluded by again thanking them for taking such a live interest in the game, and he hoped they would continue to take that interest for many years to come. (Loud applause). The large attendance gave resounding cheers at the call of the mayor for the team, and accorded them musical honours.