Challenges: Canterbury may lead the way

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 38

Challenges: Canterbury may lead the way

PA Auckland Auckland could face seven or eight challenges for the Ranfurly Shield next season, with Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Nonh Auckland and Manawatu leading the way. Mr Ron Don, chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union, said yesterday that the pattern of challenges for next season would depend on whether the New Zealand Rugby Union changed — “and that is quite on the cards” — the

form of the national competition. “On the basis of this season”s competition, we would have home matches and shield challenges from the big three of the South Island plus Manawatu and North Auckland.” said Mr Don. "It could be a tough old year. “However, the chairmen of the unions in the championship are meeting in November. There could be changes in the national competition. “There is widespread dissatisfaction at the escalating cost of travel for

championship matches,” he said. “There is the fact of good North Island teams going down to the second division, while weaker South Island teams remain in the first division. ’"1 pointed inis out when the championship began and what I feared has become a reality,” said Mr Don. In Dunedin, meanwhile, Alex Wyllie, the Canterbury captain who retired on Saturday from firstclass rugby, later expressed sympathy for Otago rugby and its present predicament.

Wyllie ended his firstclass career with a flourish. leading Canterbury to a 32-20 win against Otago at Carisbrook. Otago, which has won only one of 10 national championship matches, will now have to play Marlborough in a promo-tion-relegation match at Carisbrook on Wesneday. Wyllie, who played 210 matches for Canterbury, including 105 as captain, conceded later that Otago’s record this season was "not the best” but he added: “Canterbury has great respect tor Otago rugby.

It Is a shame Otago rugby is in the position it is in at the moment. “It is not good for South Island or New Zealand rugby. I hope that Otago wins on Wednesday and that it gives Canterbury one helluva game in Christchurch next year.” Wyllie said: "The game today was not as hard as I thought it might be. We have had a lot of criticism ourselves this year. "It is up to all the unions in the South Island to get together, to get the Ranfurly Shield down here, win the inter-island game and to show the

North Island unions what we are really like." Wyllie spoke with an aggressiveness which has characterised his play on the field and his speech was well received b> the gathering at the aftermatch function. Paut sapstord. Otago’s captain, was understandably pensive after the game. “It is a sad day tor Otago rugby. We don’t like being in this position. We certainly don't want to lose games and I’d like to thank our guys for giving it a bit ot a burst in the second halt.”