RANFURLY SHIELD

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 7, 2 September 1927, Page 3

RANFURLY SHIELD

CANTERBURY’S CHANCES ee UNIQUE POSITION IN RUGBY Listeners who heard the de« scription of the fast Ranfurly Shield match, Hawke's Bay v. Wairarapa (which, by the way, lias now become historic in more ways than one) will be pleased to know that the Broad« casting Company is making every effort to broadcast a de: scription of the game Canter bury v. Manawhenua, to be , played at Palmerston North on . September 7,- provided the match is for the shield. The position in regard to this game is almost unique. It will be remem. bered that while the dispute between Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa was sub, judice Manawhenua provisionally chal lenged Wairarapa; this challenge wa accepted, and Manawhenua won by 1 points to 16. Thus Wairarapa’s winning of the protest availed them n thing, as the shield was automatically} . passed from Hawke’s Bay, who los it on the protest, to Manawhenua. In the meanwhile Taranaki provisionally challenged Heawke’s Bay, and this game ended in a draw, 5 points all. What was expected to be the piece de resistance of the Rugby season, the meeting of Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury for the shield, will not therefore come to pass, but Canterbury will play Hawke’s Bay in the actual course of their tour, though there is no shield at stake. Canterbury fortunately lad included: a game with Manawhenua cn their tour, though they had omitted a fixture with Wairarapa, so Canterbury have a second string to their bow in their attempt to capture, for the first time, this coveted trophy. But, lo, at the time of writing there is still a nigger in the woodpile, and that is the fact that Manawhenua haye to defend the shield again twice before they meet Canterbury. The two contenders are Taranaki and Wanganui. It is felt that there will not be Do-minion-wide interest in these games, as neither of these contenders have any real claim to the preniier position in New Zealand Rugby for 1927, It} is extremely doubtful which province is the strongest in the North Island, and the claims of Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington are all freely canvassed. There is not much doubt, however, that Canterbury is the strong» est South Island side, and for that reason if Canterbury meet Manawhenua this game shoull devide the resting! place of the shield for the season 1927. If Manawhenua win, Canterbury’s will’ be the last challenge this year. ‘The shield is reported to be badly affected by the borer, and in its present old age it seems cruel that it should pass through such a hectic season! Hawke’s Bay held it, Wairarapa beat them for it on June 3, Hawke’s Bay defeated Wairarapa on July 9 and took the shield back to Napier, only to have to pass it back as mentioned earlier. Manawhenua, ‘Taranaki, Wanganui or Canterbury will cventually hold the shield for the season, and a few lines in passing about the above teams’ performances in representative football this season might be interesting. June 8-*Wanganui (16) lost to Taranaki (20). July 30-"Wanganui (25) beat South Canterbury (6). August 13-*Wanganai (14) lost to Southland (19), August 24-*Wanganui (6) drew with Hawke’s Bay (6). June 3-Taranaki (20) beat Wanganui 6). July 6-*Taranaki (11) lost to Wellington (15}. July 27-YTaranaki (5) drew with Hawke’s Bay (5). August 83-*faranaki (27) beat South Canterbury (9). August 13-*Taranaki (0) lost to Auckland (25). . August 17-Taranaki (6) lost to Wairarapa (19}. Ansys 2u0-Taranaki (3) beat Otago . August 24---Taranaki (23) beat Southland (18). July--Manawhenua (3) lost to: Wairarapa (23). July 27-Manawhenua v. Maori Team---draw. . July-Manawhenua (18) beat Wairarapa (16). July 80-Manawhenua (0) lost, to Hawke’s Bay (16). August 17-Manawhenua (8) beat King Country (6}. August 20-Manawhenua (0) lost to Auckland (17). August @f-Manawhenna (9) lost to Waikato (17). August 20-Canterbury (11) beat Southland (0). August 97-Manawhenua (25) lost to Wellington (14). ' Denotes home team. Tt will be seen that Taranaki and Manawhenua have both been well beat-, en by Auckland Taranaki beat! Wanganui, and Canterbury have only plaved one game. Taranaki will have met Manawhenua at the end of a long tour, and this will be against their chances. Wanganui have not toured, but do not appear to be good enough to win the shield. Canterbury meet Manawhenua on the second vame of their tour, thonel after a stiff game with Hawke's Bay at Napier. If the Cauterburv-Manawhenua match is for the shield the game will be described by the same announcer who officiated at Masterton, and. listeners should get a good idea of the match from listening in on September 7.