Ranfurly Shield

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26220, 18 September 1950, Page 6

Ranfurly Shield

When Canterbury lost the Ranfurly Shield to Wairarapa on the first Saturday of this month it was disappointing to many Canterbury people that South Canterbury, next in line to challenge, had lost the chance to play Canterbury for the shield in the province’s centennial year. South Canterbury, however, has won the shield back for the province; and the centennial has been Well celebrated in the football world by two Canterbury teams winning it from teams of other provinces. A game of changing fortunes at Masterton on Saturday saw South Canterbury take a narrow lead in the last minutes of the game, hold it to the end, and become holder of the Ranfurly Shield for the first time. Pleasure in the South Canterbury team’s achievement is the greater because outstanding parts were played by two of New Zealand’s best contemporary footballers—L. A. Grant and M. P. Goddard. South Canterbury may be more fortunate than Canterbury and Wairarapa, and hold the shield more than a matter of days. But whether South Canterbury survives the first challenge or succumbs to it is of no great moment. All Canterbury shares in pleasure at the South] Canterbury team’s success last Saturday and extends to the team the hearty congratulations that are its d “e. ...