SHIELD HOLDERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 23

SHIELD HOLDERS

SOME FRIENDLY ADVICE

When the Southland Rugby, team was in Wellington recently the fact that the Ranfurly Shield had again come into Southland's keeping was not overlooked, and the visitors received many congratulations upon their achievement in lifting the trophy from Otago. Possession of the Shield was not in dispute in the Southland-Wel-lington match, but the possibility of that being the case next year was menioned when, the teams were at the usual social gathering after the match.

On behalf of the Wellington Rugby Union Mr. J. Prendeville (president) congratulated Southland on getting the "old log of wood," and remarked: "I hope you will look after it carefully, because we will be down there next year." On tour this season Southland had been handicapped through injuries in playing on hard grounds, and Mr. Prendeville expressed the hope that the injured men would soon be recovered. Especialy did he hope that the "star three-quarter" Southland had supplied for the first Test would be fit for the next Test. "I refer to Ward," he added.

While they had no excuse to make, Mr. N. R. Brown (one of the Southland managers) said that his team had suffered a little wear and tear through the hard grounds on tour. "We will show you grounds as we know them when you come down looking for the Shield," he- said, "and we hope that we will send you home the same as you are sending us home."

The Southland captain, G. Thomas, thanked Wellington for the sporting game which had been played, and, looking to events next year, he said: "If you come down next year and are successful in taking the 'log of wood,' we will say, 'Good ,luck to you.'"

The visit of the Springboks was mentioned by J. L. Griffiths, the Wel-

lington captain, after paying tribute to the southerners for the game they had played under the handicap of so many injuries. After all, a match against the Springboks was the, big event the'players were really hoping to meet successfully, and he hoped that Southland's players would all be fit for the match at Invercargill."You will find the Springboks good footballers and good fellows to play against," he added.