Memories of 1954 recalled

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33032, 27 September 1972, Page 12

Memories of 1954 recalled

As long as Rugby is played in New Zealand, the Otago-Canterbury Ranfurly Shield match of 1954 will be recalled as one of the epic inter-provincial encounters.

Today’s challenge for the shield by Otago revives memories of that famous match—especially Canterbury’s furious last-ditch assault, which ended in a try by the replacement fullback, D. J. Mayo. This levelled the scores at 9-all, and the excited crowd poured on to the ground, preventing the conversion attempt from being taken. The crowd also spilled on to the ground at the end of the 1935 shield game between the two unions—but on that occasion it was in recognition of Otago’s first successful challenge for the trophy. On the way to the game, Otago had been beaten by South Canterbury and Taranaki, but it got the better of Canterbury and won, 15-6. The highlight of the game was the dropped goal kicked by D. Trevathan, the Otago first five-eighths who became an All Black two years later. As he kicked for goal, he was flung off his balance by a Canterbury player, and the bail almost screwed over one of his shoulders.

The shield stayed at the southern end of the island from then until 1950, when Canterbury scored its shock 8-0 victory at Carisbrook. Otago defended the shield against eight challengers in 1936, lost it to Southland in the sole game of 1937, regained it in 1938, and then, after six defences, lost it to Southland again.

Otago’s 17-11 victory against Southland in 1947 marked the dawning of Otago’s golden age. During its three-year tenure of the trophy, Otago staved off 18 challenges and produced 16 All Blacks. Several of its other players of the period later played for New Zealand as well.

Canterbury beat Otago, 15-8, in the shield game of 1955 and again successfully defended the trophy against its ' southern rival in 1970, winning a hard game, 16-12. In the period between these matches, Otago beat Wellington for the shield in 1957—its first win on Athletic Park for 49 years. But, two games later, it lost the trophy to Taranaki.

Otago has played 59 shield matches, and has won the trophy four times. It has had 36 successful games, which places it sixth on the list of shield-winning unions.