RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21581, 18 September 1935, Page 6

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH

TO THE BDITOa OV TfiE. PUSS. Sir,—ln your excellent report of the Ranfurly Shield match there is omi blemish, Your report sayg, "Hatteriley was standing only two or three yards from the touch-line. He was awarded a try when he dived over'before the defence had realised the strategy Canterbury was exploiting." Surely your reporter is not defending unfair play. If Canterbury has to use Strategy of that type to hold the fhield, it would be better to burn it.—Yours, etc,, , SPECTATOR. Geraldme, September 18, 1635. [Our l Rugby writer replying to this letter says: "No defence of unfair play was made. The facts of the case were stated clearly, Rules were infringed during the execution of this particular strategy as frequently happens during the execution of innumerable attacks and counter-attacks during a Rugby match, but to impute any deliberate intent in this undetected otteace the rules is -to place construction en it that it not supported by the evidence. That the referee did not notice the particular offence committed during the execution of the %uick-throw-in" strategy may be regrettable, but it is most unfair to accuse the players involved of deliberate -unfair piay."l