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Great support

Bands, banners and bar- 1 rackers, most of them with I the standard equipment of I tweed coats and hip flasks, I provided colourful support s for Southland rugby teams I in the years immediately before and after World Ward 11. These invasions, as they were called, began in the ( 1930 s to provide backing for the maroons’ Ranfurly , Shielf challenges and they ( grew into an integral feature of Otago-Southland matches, in particular. ’ When Southland chai- <

lenged Canterbury for the trophy in 1933, three special trains were needed to take the hundreds of southern supporters to Christchurch for the game. A Southland invasion committee was formed and under the leadership of an Invercargill celebrity, Bill Graham, trains bulging with rowdy supporters, pipe bands, pies and whisky chugged their way north. The excitement generated was intense, and the recovery period protracted.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19850704.2.119.7

Bibliographic details

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 23

Word Count
142

Great support Press, 4 July 1985, Page 23

Great support Press, 4 July 1985, Page 23