CANTERBURY OFFER REJECTED New Date Set For Shield Challenge

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31942, 20 March 1969, Page 17

CANTERBURY OFFER REJECTED New Date Set For Shield Challenge

(New Zealand Press Association)

NAPIER.

Canterbury’s offer to switch the date of its Ranfuriy Shield special challenge with North Auckland has not been accepted by the holder, Hawke’s Bay.

Instead, Hawke’s Bay has proposed Wednesday, September 10, as an alternative date for North Auckland’s special challenge.

ered, it would forgo its challenge for the shield. .

Involved In Loss

“Hawke’s Bay was disappointed that North Auckland did not officially approach Hawke’s Bay as to its intentions before making its statement and it considers that the matter could have been disposed of quite easily at that point.

This follows North Auckland's complaint about the previously allocated date of Saturday, September 6, the same day as the New Zealand Maori team will play Tonga in the second test at Auckland.

played on that date, North Auckland by the possible loss of the Going brothers and Hawke’s Bay by the possible loss of K. K. Crawford, H. J. Paewai and B. Furlong. The hardship was considered equal to both teams. “North Auckland, on receiving Hawke's Bay’s letter advising it of the proposed date, issued a press statement that unless another date was off-

“Hawke’s Bay strongly desires to meet North Auckland in 1969, and for that reason it has offered to meet North Auckland on Wednesday, September 10, when there is no counter-attraction involved, and notwithstanding that such a change of date does, in fact, involve Hawke’s Bay in financial loss,” Mr Bramwell said. When the Hawke's Bay offer was referred to Mr D. K. Ross, chairman of the North Auckland union, last evening, he said: “Doubtless we will accept that date. The matter will be considered at the annual meeting tomorrow night.” i The president of the Canterbury Rugby Union, Mr C. [H. McPhail, said last evening I that it was unlikely that Canterbury would reapply for North Auckland’s original date, but would not comment further until he conferred with other members of the union.

Canterbury had been offered September 27 for its challenge. Mr W. S. Bramwell, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay union, said yesterday that in accepting eight shield challenges for 1969, all from major unions, Hawke’s Bay had set itself a huge task for 1969.

Equally Affected Only one complaint to the proposed fixtures had been received. from North Auckland. Hawke’s Bay’s proposal of September 6 was made aftexvery careful consideration. “Hawke’s Bay realised that both teams would be equally affected if the game was