TODAYS SHIELD MATCH Plenty Of Support For King Country

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31139, 16 August 1966, Page 17

TODAYS SHIELD MATCH Plenty Of Support For King Country

(By

I. J. D. HALL)

It might be deviating from the Canterbury party- line to suggest it. but there will be considerable sympathy throughout New Zealand for King Country when it plays its Ranfurly Shield challenge against Auckland today.

In fact, if King Country could win the Shield it would be happily welcomed for King Country, through the great efforts of the Meads brothers and their 10 cohorts against the Lions at Wanganui last Wednesday, has captured the imagination of the Rugby public.

A small and isolated union such as King Country will always get the swinging vote in a shield challenge but this year it probably has even a proportion of Auckland followers behind it. Before the Auckland-Lions game, when the shield challenges were becoming common conversation, many stalwart Auckland supporters expressed the hope that King Country would win today rather than allow Canterbury the chance of winning next Saturday; at that stage Auckland’s chances of holding the

shield were not regarded highly by its supporters. It must not be overlooked that King Country will be one of the most powerful challengers that Auckland will meet.

Last season it won its 11 games and this year, if not quite so impressive as a team, at least has the Meads brothers in commanding form, six other fiery forwards and an accomplished inside back combination in B. A. Cressey, I. N. Ingham and J. W. McIlroy, and a bumping, barging wing in J. Paki. Auckland, naturally, has a more sophisticated team but it will miss the services of D. G. Harker in the line-outs and can expect very little possession there.

Its pack is competent, polished and particularly adept in driving, short-passing movements but may lack the fire and spirit of King Country. The Auckland backs have a far better reputation than their opposites. M. A. Herewini and R. E. Rangi have been playing well this year;

T. W. M. Tataurangi can always produce a brilliant game and the wings, D. W. McKay and D. H. Montgomery, are fast and tricky. It should be a close match and hard fought, for King Country would never give in, no matter how much the game might run against it. King Country.— G. Rumble: B Hall. S. Anderson. R. Pakl; J. Mcllroy, I. Ingham: B A. Cresay: R. FltntolT; M. Rush. C. E. Meads. S. T. Meads. G. Peake, H. Paiaka, W. R. Wordley, R. Parr.

Auckland.— D. Laurie: D. W. McKay. R. E. Rangi. R. J. Patterson: T. W. Tataurangi, M. A. Herewlni: D. L. Meek: L. W. fell; N. Cullimore. K. A. Nelson, M. 1. Jakich. W. J. Nathan: R G. Webb. K. J. O'Shannessey, B. T. Thomas.

The referee will be Mr C. J. Wilson, of Mid-Canterbury.