Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1950. RANFURLY SHIELD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 259, 19 August 1950, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1950. RANFURLY SHIELD

Otago’s Rugby supremacy, which has lasted since the province lifted the Ranfurly Shield from Southland in 1947, came to an end on Carisbrook, the scene of many famous encounters, on Wednesday, when the touring Canterbury team were successful by 8 points to nil. The result was entirely unexpected, but this should not detract from the merit of the win. Football is a most unpredictable game. The British Isles team went down to both Otago (23-9) and Southland 111-O), and Southland defeated Canterbury 25-8 on Saturday last The British team beat Canterbury 16-5. On those results alone Canterbury were given no chance ot lifting the Shield, and yet they not only won, but! defeated the renowned Otago team at their own game. Heartiest congratulations will be extended to Canterbury on their success, their first since they held' the Shield in 1935. It is all the more welcome in 'view of the fact that this is centennial year. Canterbury are well down the list so far as Shield records are concerned, but they, may enjoy as good a run as Otago. The record number of consecutive victories is held by Hawke’s Bay, which successfully defended the shield 24 times between 1922 and 1927. Auckland resisted 23 challenges between 1905 and 1913, while up till yesterday Otago had successfully defended the shield for 18 games in succession. Of the 179 games played since the competition started, Otago has won 34, Hawke’s Bay 28, Auckland and Wellington 26 each, Canterbury 24, Southland 19, Wairarapa 11, Taranaki 7, and Manawhenua 3. In 1927 Hawke’s Bay beat Wairarapa by 21 points to 10, but the match was awarded to Wairarapa because of a breach of the residential qualification of a Hawke’s Bay player, W. Barclay. So much for records. The Shield indicates Rugby supremacy, and as such has value, but there have been some features in its history which have not been praiseworthy. In fact, at one time it was suggested that the Shield be dumped in Cook Strait in order to stop the game becoming commercialised. There was a good deal of trafficking in players and putting teams into camp for training, but happily that has now ceased. Provinces should win- or lose on their merits, and that has been the case since the Shield has been in the South Island. The trophy is undoubtedly a great moneyspinner, and as the Canterbury Union has a splendid ground, it should be able to build up a good reserve, providing it can hold off challengers, the first of whom will be Wairarapa on September 2.