THE RANFURLY SHIELD

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1075, 12 September 1930, Page 7

THE RANFURLY SHIELD

I “NOT LIKELY TO BE OF : ANY GREAT BENEFIT’’ A WELLINGTON VIEW ! “ ; j After eight years, during which time j the Ranfurly has been held by Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa. Mana- ! whenua, Canterbury and Southland at different periods, Wellington has regained possession of the trophy, writes Drop-kick in the “Wellington Post.” It is not likely to be of any great benefit here, but, if it is the emblem of Rugby supremacy in the Dominion, the Shield is a little overdue in Wellington. At some period at least during the past few years Wellington has been entitled to recognition as the champion province. The conditions tinder which compe- j tition for the Ranfurly Shield takes } place do not, however, make it certain j that the champion province in any sea- ' son shall have possession of the trophy. For instance, last year Southland was j beaten by South Canterbury (14-17), | I Canterbury (3-21), Wellington (7-35).; j Manawhenua (17-27), and Hawke’s ; Bay (6-26), but by defeating Wai- ! rarapa (19-16) they became the holders of the Shield. The position is I that challenges must be made for the j Shield, and it sometimes happens that i the stronger provincial sides are un- j able to press their claim before the ; trophy changes hands in a season. PLAY ON HOLDERS* GROUND There is also a condition that *he ; matches must be played on the ground i ol the holders, and further, that challenges to the holders must be made before August 31 in each season. This \ season Canterbury had made prepare - i tions to play Southland for the Shield ! on September 17. but hopes of lifting the trophy have been dashed by Well- j ington’s win over Southland. Canter- ! bury met Wellington at Christchurch, ! but this was not a Shield match. ! There are three more engagements for . Wellington at home, and it was hoped , j that, in the event of Wellington having I possession of the Shield, these games j j would be for the trophy, it being ex- j j pected. of course, that Wellington i I would give its consent. The attitude ! i of the New Zealand Rugby Union's ; Management Committee, however, is i that the rules governing challenges j j must not be broken. At last week's ] meeting of the committee Taranaki j requested that its game with Welling- 1 ton should be for the Shield, i request was turned down. This means ! that in Wellington's remaining matches i at Athletic Park the trophy will not | be at stake. The games are: i September 13.—Hawke’s Bay. I September 20.—v. Wairarapa. September 27. —v. Taranaki.