Nelson waited 34 years for second challenge

Press, 31 July 1984, Page 20

Nelson waited 34 years for second challenge

Ranfurly Shield challenges don’t come Nelson Bays’ way all that often, and tomorrow will,, in fact, be only the fifth time that the district has competed for the trophy. The Nelson Rugby Union was among the first established in New Zealand. This

was in 1885, and in 1920 it was joined by a near neighbour, Golden Bay-Motueka. It was not until 1969 that these two unions amalgamated to form Nelson

Bays. The first challenge was by Nelson in 1924. It was against Hawke’s Bay, which was then in the high summer of its great 1922-26 shield run, a run which took in 24 successful defences. Only Auckland in the early 1960 s has done better, it successfully defended the shield 25 times.

Hawke’s Bay, despite the fact that it rested some of its top players, was far too strong for Nelson and won, 35-3, scoring eight tries to one.

Four of them went to Albert Falwasser, a brilliant three-quarter who played for New Zealand Maoris and who is still considered to be one of the best of the non-All Blacks. It was not until 1958 that the Nelson district was next

involved in a shield game. Tins time it was Golden Bay-Motueka’s turn and it never had a chance against a powerful Taranaki -side and was beaten, 56-8.

Taranaki had the shield from 1957 to almost the end of the 1959 season, and the 1958 season is still referred to in the province as “The Fabulous Winter.” Guy Bowers, who played some attractive rugby for the 1953-54 AU Blacks in Britain and France, led Golden Bay-Motueka, from first five-eighths. But although he showed undoubted ability, the might of Taranaki told.

Nelson was given a challenge by Taranaki in 1959 and, for a time, anyway, it put up a game fight In fact at half-time Nelson led 11-6, and a major upset seemed possible. However, in the second spell Taranaki came away to win, 31-14. Taranaki’s days were numbered, though. Four chaUenges later it succumbed to Southland, 23-6, in one of the great boilovers of post-war shield rugby.

Since the amalgamation

in 1969, Nelson Bays has had only one challenge. It was an obvious rival for Marlborough after the red shirts took the shield from Canterbury in July, 1973.

. Nelson Bays was fourth on the list of five chaUenges Marlborough accepted that year and, although the holder played poorly, it still had no trouble in winning, 29-9. Marlborough had every reason for confidence; it had already beaten Nelson Bays in three earUer games in 1973.

Even in its present weakened state, Canterbury is expected to have no trouble beating Nelson Bays tomorrow. It might even run up a big score. The only encouragement for Nelson Bays is that two years ago an almost fuUstrength Canterbury side could only beat it 18-12, on Lancaster Park, and 14 of Canterbury’s points came from the boot of Robbie Deans.

Last winter Canterbury B played Nelson Bays on a very wet Trafalgar Park and the B team won without too much difficulty, 20-6.