RANFURLY SHIELD

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 34, 9 August 1934, Page 4

RANFURLY SHIELD

SHOULD HOLDEKS PLAY?

PARENT BODY SAYS "YES"

NEW ZEALAND V. THE REST

Is the Hawkc's Bay Rngby Union, which, recently won tlic RanfurJy Shield 'from Canterbury, compelled to defend tho Shield this season? The question, •asked by Hawke's Bay .of the Now Zealand Rugby Union, came before last night's mooting of tho N.Z.R.U. management coinrnittoc. At the same time the Taranaki and Auckland Rugby Unions notified that they had challenged Hawko's Bay to a match for tho .Shield. It was understood also that AVanganui had challenged. Tho letter from tho Hawkc's Bay Union pointed out that tho homo fixtures of tho union were matches with Taranaki, Wanganui, and Auckland on September 1, 6, and 8. It was impossible to expect that theso thrco matches should bo regarded as Ranfurly Shield challenges. Owing to the Maori team's tour, on which Hawko's Bay reasonably expected to have some representatives, considerable difficulty was being experienced in suitably altering the date of tho Wanganui fixture, which j could not be brought forward owing ] to the ground not being available. The challenge from Taranairi, it was further pointed out in tho letter, was held up at present on account of the fact that tho Rest of Now Zealand will bo playing New Zealand somewhere about tho end of tho month, and if any Hawke's Bay representatives were in--eluded in. that team they would not bo in tho/bCst condition for a game two or th^rjesclays lator. . i

The'chairman (Mr. S. S. Doan): AueltlaEd and Tarauaki liavo entered ehalleit'ges. Do you approve of that action?

In reply to Mr. A. 0. Kitto it was statod that so far no intimatiou of a challenge by Wanganui had been received.

The chairman: . Hawko's Bay ask wliother thoy arc to defend tho Shiold this Reason. I should say "Yes." Wo have to follow precedent. You will romember in 1927 that Hawko's Bay lost the Shiold to Wairarapa, and then defeated'the holders, but lost on. a pro-

test. Wairarapa then lost the Shield to Manawhenua. I think t-liey (llawko's Bay) should defend. I would not use tho word compel; there should not be such a thing as the word compel; but I think they ought to accept challenges. "Hawko's Bay," Mr. Dean added, "ask if they arc compelled to accept challenges. Do you jigrce that we say: Yes, they should play?" Members agreed. THE BEST V. TOURISTS. Anpthor request by llawko's Buy was for information as to when tho team to represent the Best of New Zealand against tho Now Zealand team now on tour would bo selected.

It was decided tho team be chosen not later than August 22. Tho chairman suggested thai; the selection be limited to fifteen players. If any emergencies wero required they could bo suppliod by drawing upon tho othor ton members of the touring tarn.

Mr; W. J. Wallace wondered whether it was not cutting it a bit fino to choose only fifteen.

Tho suggestion was adopted] Tho chairman said that fifteen should bo enough considering that tho touring team had twonty-flvo players. If anything should happen thero would be no difficulty in getting men.