RANFURLY SHIELD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3665, 14 July 1927, Page 1

RANFURLY SHIELD.

“REFEREE LOST A CHANCE.”

The game at Masterton for the Ranfurly Shield was far from what could be regarded as Rugby, states the Hawke’s Bay Herald’s special reporter. In the main it was warfare and, unfortunately, at times of a guerilla character. For the most part it was the natural consequence of two highly trained teams, but all too frequently was added the piece of rough play that is entirely opposed to the ethics of Rugby. Neither side is condemned, for the unseemly behaviour could have been early nipped in the bud, when a glaring opportunity for the assertion of authority presented itself in the first five minutes, but was let go unchecked. When the referee did take action in ordering two players off the field it was probably the mildest offence that had been committed up to that time. It is seldom that the public are seen participating in' the heat of a situation, but such was the character of this game and it was fortunate that two policemen were handy to restrain the crowd on the side-line. Twenty or thirty persons on the spot feeling in the same frame of mind as these who did participate might have easily precipitated an unsavoury brawl had not the police been in attendance. To say the least, the tactics employed by some of the players were sufficient to drive away the support of many people and' if possession of the Ranfurly Shield is to encourage this class of Rugby warfare the sooner the borer completely consumes the trophy the better.