RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 September 1927, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SHIELD MATCHES STOPPED. (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 9. As the result of a decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union, there will be no further matches this season for the Ranfurly Shield. This decision was telegraphed to the Canterbury Rugby Union this morning. A provisional challenge had been made by South Canterbury within the time limit laid down by the New Zealand Rugbv Union, but the head Union has' decided the challenge is invalid, as Canterbury did not hold the shield at the time the challenge was made. The ruling of the New Zealand Union is that no more matches for the Ranfurly Shield will be played this season. This means that Canterbury will hold undisputed possession of the shield until next season. A member of the committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union stated this morning that Canterbury would have been quite prepared to defend the shield against both South Canterbury and Otago, but there can be no questioning the New Zealand Union’s decision. The Canterbury Rugby team will be accorded a welcome by the Mat or (Rev. J. K. Archer) on its return from the North on Sunday morning. The welcome will take place at the Christchurch Railway Station on arrival of the ferry train. S. AFRICAN TOUR TRIAL MASTERTON, Sept. 9. The following team has been selected to represent Wairarapa and Bush combined against Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay and East Coast combined at Napier on Wednesday, in the South African trial match: Full back, Roache (Wairarapa); three-quarters, It. Booth (Wairarapa), Stringfellow (Wairarapa), Tait (Bush); five-eighths Udy (Bush), Cundy (Wairarapa): half, Hart (Wairarapa); wing forward, J. Donald (Wairarapa); forwards, Whitehead (Bush), Moynihan (Bush), Galvin (Bush), Fairbrotlier (Wairarapa), Harvey (Wairarapa), Reid (Wairarapa), McCalmont (Wairarapa). Reserves: Forward, Ward (Wairarapa); back, Ferguson (Bush). Cooke, G. Donald and W. Irvine were unavailable.