Rugby Football

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 176, 11 July 1927, Page 4

Rugby Football

HISTORY OF THE SHIELD. A shield, was presented in 1902 bv the Earl of Ranfurly. then Governor of New Zealand, Rugby Union for competition between the provincial unions. This is the shield which today bears his name and which is so keenly competed for among the provincial teams, the holders being deemed the premier team of the Dominion. xA- + The Auckland representative team were a good side in 1902. defeating Canterbury (19-3), Wellington (18-5). and Taranaki (21-3). These wins proclaimed them to be the champion team of the year, and at half-time m the North v. South Island match season it was handed to Mr G. rtDixon, as representative of tiie Auckland Rugby Union. The Aucklanders were not allowed to “.eon possession of it very long on tne first occasion, a Wellington team defeating Auckland by 6 points to 3. A. W. Stevens, the then treasurer ci the Rugby Union, was the manager of the team, but they could not bring the shield home with them, as it was locked up in the bank, which did not open its doors before the team had to leave for New Plymouth on the Monday morning. Just as well, possibly, for Taranaki defeated the Wellington team on the following Wednesday by 11 points to 3. Th© next year, 1995. the All Blacks sailed away on their memorable tour, and the Aucklanders defeated Wellington by 10 points to 6, and the shield went back to the Queen City. There is stayed until 1913 despite attempts by Canterbury, Taranaki. Southland. Wellington. Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay. South Canterbury. Marlborough. Otago. Poverty Bay, and South Auckland ft) lift it. The Aucklanders tired of the shield, as it did not tend to create greater interest in the playing of representative matches, and because they were forced to plav games which otherwise they would have turned down. Wellington made a big effort in 1910. when the scores read 3-3 as the final bell rang.

PERSISTENT CHALLENGERS. Taranaki was one of the most persistent challengers, and in 1913 they defeated Auckland by a narrow margin of 14-11. Two matches were played at Hawcra. three at New Plymouth. and two at Stratford. In the seventh game Wellington were the challengers, a fid they succeeded in again getting possession of the trophy with a score of 12-6 in their favour. Then came the war. and with it the suspension of all interprovincial and Ranfurly shield matches. On resuming in 1919. Canterbury (twice). Taranaki Auckland, and Wanganui were defeated. Th© next season — 1920—was a busy one. Canterbury. Bay of Plenty, Taranaki (twice). Hawke’s Bay. Auckland (twice). Wanganui, South Canterbury, and Otago were all beaten in turn. The Wellington representatives took the shield away with them on their southern tour, and Southland had the satisfaction of winning it —the

match for its possession ending in their favour by 17 points to 6. This, so far. was the first and only time the Ranfurly Shield has rested in the South Island but it did not stay there long. Southland defeated Otago in 1921. but their next match against Wellington saw the shield return to th© previous holders —2B points to 13 being the nature of Wellington's win. Auckland and Otago made bids in 1921, and in 1922 Hawke’s Bay got in early, and scored an unexpected victory of 19 points to 9. They were op tour at the time, but rightly claimed that thev sho-ulff be allowed to take th© shield back to Napier before being asked to defend it. HAWKE’S BAY’S HOLD. From 1922 until 1927 the shield stayed in Hawke’s Bay. a record being put up in the number of games played by the wearers of the black and white in defence of the trophy, Auckland’s total being exceeded by two. On June 3of every year. Wairarapa made a bid for the shield, but always suffered defeat. In 1926. the boys in green went down to the staggering score of 77 to 14. This rear, however they had their revenge. Th© Bay’s team was the weakest with which the province had defended riie shield, while the Wairarapa representatives were stronger than thev had ever been before. The result was defeat By 15 points to 11.