Rugby Football RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 20

Rugby Football

RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGES

By "Dropkick"

A good deal of surprise was created this week by theaction of the Canterbury Bugby Union in turning down Wellington's challenge for the Eanfurly Shield, and, no doubt, the decision will cause some wonderment in centres outside Wellington. One would have thought that every effort would have been made to fit in a Shield match for Wellington, and that, if Canterbury's engagements were regarded as being too heavy,' Wellington 's challenge would have taken precedence over some of the others. Canterbury had some narrow escapes from losing the Shield, last season, and one was when a weakened Wellington team in the course of its southern tour met the holders. The Canterbury Union may have a very good reason, as yet undisclosed, for not accepting Wellington's challenge, but the conclusion to be drawn from, its action can readily be imagined. True, Canterbury is undertaking a northern tour in addition to meeting challenges for the Shield, but in this respect they are no worse off than somo other unions have been. There was a time when Wellington, in addition to meeting challenges at home, took the Shield on lour; and there have been occasions when Wellington has gone out of its -way to meet Canterbury in the matter of, special matches. There have been times, too, when holders of the Shield have willingly played on a Wednesday ' between two Saturday engagements. .Then, again, there is the fact to be considered that Wellington was one of the first in with a challenge, which was accepted. It all makes it very hard for Canterbury to explain away the burning down*of Wellington's challenge, and the explanation to bo made to the Wellington Union will be awaited ■with interest. The New Zealand Union, of course, could step in, but the matter is not likely to be taken that far, it being anticipated that the Wellington Union will accept. Canterbury's decision. It was suggested that Wellington turned down four Saturdays, but it is possible that some of those Saturdays were already booked by teams meeting Wellington in the course of a tour. Quite naturally, Wellington would first meet, a touring team's requirements in the matter of a suitable date. Then, again, Canterbury claims.to have two hard games on the Saturdays before and after the Wediiosday provisionally fixed for the Shield 'match with Wellington. The Saturday matches are with West Coast and Buller. Other accepted challenges are1 from Ashburton, Southland, Ofago; King Country, South Canterbury, and Taranaki. Does that represent, such a difficult programme that Wellington could not have been accommodated?

CANTERBURY TURNS DOWN WELLINGTON