FOUR TRAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 206, 1 September 1933, Page 8

FOUR TRAINS.

RUGBY ENTHUSIASM. RAN'FURLY SHIELD MATCH. A CHINESE SKIPPER. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. A crowd of .2000 "West Coast cupporters is coming to Christchurch overnight by four special trains for the Ranfurly Shield match against Canterbury to-morrow. A fifth would have been put on, but there are not enough suitable carriages available on the Coast, the Department even putting seats in the guards' vans. Four trains is a record lor one district in New Zealand Rugby excursions. There are several outstanding players in the West Coast fifteen, and three are almost certain to make the South Island team to play North at Wellington on September 23. They are Fong (five-eighths), Scandrett (half), and King (forward). Other fine players are Ungues (five-eighths), Taafe (centre), and Freitas (an All Black froward in 1028). The Coast Shield challenge last year ended sensationally. Canterbury were leading, 5—3, with the Coast getting all over the scarlet and blacks, when the referee blew his whistle seven minutes before time, owing to his watch having gone wrong. Canterbury gave the Coasters another match (not for the shield), and this game ended in a eixpoint draw. The most spectacular figure on the field will, of course, be A. Fong, the Coast's Chinese skipper. West Coast won the Seddon Shield from Buller last year, and staved off all challenges this year, Fong saving the game against last year's previous holders by potting a goal. The teams will be:— Canterbury.—Backs: G. T. Nolan, G. F. Hart, C. J. Oliver, N. Dunshea, K. S. Mortlock, R. Hazelhurst, T. F.' Mullan. Forwards: A. I. Cottrell, J. Wade, A. Bowes, A. H. Andrews, A. M. Hartnell, G. Howell, J. E. Manchester, and R, King. West Coast.—Backs: Gilbert, Schroder, Taafe, Martyn, Fong, Hughes, B. Scandrett. Forwards: M. Kelly, Kirkland, M? Scandrett, Hughes, Thomson, Freitas, King, Jones.