Waikato League Bid

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32396, 8 September 1970, Page 11

Waikato League Bid

“The Press” Special Service HUNTLY. Waikato intends to challenge Canterbury next season for the Rugby League Cup, the inter-provincial trophy which is the code’s equivalent to the Ranfurly Shield.

Canterbury won the cup from West Coast last month Waikato had thoughts of requesting a match before the end of this season but decided that it would be pointless after learning that Canterbury could not accept a challenge from Wellington because of an already crowded September fixture list.

In spite of two recent defeats by Wellington, Waikato had an impressive season. After beating Wellington in April, it eliminated Northland, | Midlands and Auckland to! reach the final of the national Rothmans inter-provincial tournament. Sweet Success

The success against Auckland was the victory of the year—indeed the victory of many years, for Waikato had not beaten Auckland since 1946.

The record 36-11 demolition of the Auckland XIII at Dav

ies Park, Huntly, brought the sort of exhilaration that only the successful underdog can experience. The win was made even sweeter because it came on the day of the league’s sixtieth anniversary dinner. Waikato was captained in its memorable season by the 1965-70 Kiwi second-row forward, W. G. Deacon. The injury that he suffered during the 21-27 loss to Wellington ip the Rothmans final was a crippling blow to Waikato’s prospects. The last time that Waikato played in Christchurch, in the national tournament semi-final last year, it was beaten by

Canterbury, 16-0 Two years earlier Waikato was successful, 21-13, at Huntly.