Nine shield challenges

Press, 24 October 1984, Page 56

Nine shield challenges

Canterbury has accepted nine challenges for the Ranfurly Shield next season. This, is more than was expected, and only one application was declined, from Otago, which asked Canterbury to play a shield match in Dunedin. The list was approved at a meeting last evening of the Canterbury Rugby Union and was unchanged from a recommendation put forward by a special subcommittee comprising the president, Mr M. R. Barnett, the chairman of the competitions committee, Mr M. R. Inglis, and the Canterbury coach, Alex Wyllie. . The first challenge will be by King Country on Wednesday, June 19. King Country was not on the original list, but according to the C.R.F.U. secretary, Mr D. J. Cunningham, its letter was dated within the prescribed time.

The other eight are Taranaki; Tuesday, June 25; Southland, Saturday July 6; Marlborough, Wednesday, July 31; Mid-Canterbury, Saturday, August 31; North Auckland, Saturday, Sep-

tember 7; Auckland, Saturday, September 14; Wellington, Saturday, September 21; and Manawatu, Saturday, September 28. If Canterbury is successful up to and including the North Auckland game it will have equalled the record of 25 defences. A new mark might then be set against Auckland, the union which, through its team of the early 19605, at present holds the record. In announcing the list, Mr Barnett’ said he was impressed by the attitude of the team, as was expressed by Mr Wyllie. “Because of the busy programme next year there was every reason to curtail the list as much as possible. But iMr Wyllie, and the union, too, feels that as many provinces as possible should be given the opportunity to play for the shield,” said Mr Barnett. He said that by scheduling two challenges for June, Canterbury had gone outside the normal shield season of July to October. However, earlier games could be arranged at the discretion of the holder.