THE SEDDON SHIELD QUEST

Marlborough Express, Volume LIIII, Issue 224, 22 September 1919, Page 2

THE SEDDON SHIELD QUEST

EXPMMENCES AM) LESSONS OF THE TOUR.

(By "Spectator.") The MariboTough team failed in its mission to the Coast, but the trip has not been without profit (other than financial) to our Rugby legislators, players, and supporters. Ono fact which was strikingly revealed at Westport is that continued possession of the Seddon Shield is regarded' seriously nob only by the Rugby Union and" players, but. the* whole town is seized with the idea of holding tho trophy. It is realised that, upavt from sporting recommendations, the Shield is a valuable asset to tho business of the town, as it is responsible for the assembling of crowds which cannot but stinangthon tho finances of thoso in business. Even though Bullor.» and Marl-

borough met on a. Saturday afternoon tho business establishments wore closed during the progress of tiro game, not so much to allow employees to witness the play, but more out of a sense of duty.

While there is manifest such a lively interest it is reasonable to expect" that the standard of play will bo maintained. Public enthusiasm spurs players on to a greater sense of rjieir responsibilities and demands that they -shall take the game seriously. " For the Shield match Buller were a trained team; by comparison Ma.rlborough. were not. The holders had tho advantage of a gymnasium, >and their methods of training were systematic. After MJarlborough had "defeated Wellington and Nel&O'n tho Buller enthusiasts realised that they would have to rnako an organised and sound defence, and that they entered seriously into their preparation was one of tho main, factors in their success. After the match "Clem" Green, the Buller skipper, admitted that the band of enthusiasts who ■assisted1 in the training by rubbing-

down and massage treatment had contributed-in- a great degree to the retention of tjhe Shield. With public interest so keen, and players imbued with the necessity of careful training Buller will be a difficult proposition. And besides, Marlborough wall require some' forwards of the heavy type of past years. If tlio Awatere Club comes into the competition next season—and it is to be hoixxl that it will—the filling of this want should; be greatly assisted. Tho promising young forwards who slro"in the limelight to-day will become heavier as th© seasons go on, &o tihe prospect is altogetheir satisfactory. , . Thero was something, to admire also in the methods of the Buller Union. On the day,'of the match there were little .stands in the streets for tho sal© of tickets; everybody was talking football; a brass band led a. procession to the ground, and an admiring crowd followed the footballers as if tlie^y were "All Blacks." Arrived at the ground the visitors were accorded a ervic reception; not even Viscount Jellicoe could have received a warmer compliment. The standard of referee-ing in the Shield match reached a very low ebb, and was in striking contrast to the display given by Fathea* Eiccleton at Greymouth. The Marlborough Union was unfortunate in its choice out of the threa' names submitted by the Buller Union, and p such an important engagement it is regrettable that the control was so obviously inefficient. Much could be written about this unsatisfactory phase of the game: the award of penalties to Bull«r was so daspropoytionato that when the verdict was- given, in favor of the visitors oin rare occasions sections of tilie, spectators were inclined to cheer. "The refer eeing has been so' roundly .condemned that a similar experience should not be made possible in, future. INDIVIDUAL FORM. Tlie most noteworthy feature of the tour was the,form displayed by Phillips. . The Moutere wing shone out in the majority of the . club matches played in the earlier part or the season,,and in the match against Wellington his '■exhibition was convincing. The selectors could not do otherwise but retain him in the Coast team, yet this action was not wholly approved. On the tour there was no stronger or more dashing wing three-quarter than Phillips, and both players and the many supporters who accompanied the team pay a generous tribute to his quality. On his play he would have been a worthy member of the South Island team •which met the North Island combination in Wellington on Saturday. -. . Fuller's claims have been so strongly urged this season that the manner in which he justified his inclusion is pleasing. In Nelson his line-kicking was outstanding; it was even a revelation. + _ The selectors could not overlook~Tiim for the Shield match, and besides playing a satisfactory game at full-back he kicked a good goal on his only attempt. His try at Greymouth was also a fine effort. Generally, he gave the indication that he will be far more useful to a team as centre-three-quarter than in the position of. fullback. Fitzgerald was a strong member of the team. He scored a.splendid try against Nelson, and his defensive work throughout was meritorious. Bottrell did not play up to' form against Buller. ,In this match McHale had a trying time against the home forwards, but he came through the ordeal successfully. On the whole the tackling of the backs was above the average. J. Brien, was the most prominent forward throughout the tour, and he was the one member of the pack who showed up against the heavier Buller forwards. • At Greymouth Maher seemed to be in his element and played a dashing game. Owing to a leg injury T. Smith did not participate in any of the matches on tour. t FINANCES OF THE TOUR.

The Rugby Union has been in a happy position this season. It has built up a sound credit balance, and its resources will not be seriously drained as the result of the Coast tour. The expenditure- amounted to £152 14s IOJd, covering the cost of travelling and living expenses for 19 players for eight days. As the receipts amounted to £87. 10s 2d the Union has to find only £65 4s B£d, so ifc can be seen that financially they have fared well. Receipts for the

tour were made up as follows:— Nelson £10, Westpbrt £43 9s, Greymouth £14 Is 2d, players' subscriptions £20; With matches against Nelson and Awatere to swell the exchequer, the Union should finish the season in. as properous a condition as has been the lot of few Unions in Marlborough. HISTORY. Tlie present generation of Rugby players will remember the inauguration of the Seddon Shield series. The trophy was subscribed for and is the joint property of the Marlborough, Nelson, Buller, and West Coast Unions. Tlie first contests were played in 1906, when the preliminary games resulted in Marlborough's \ictory over Nelson and Buller's success against West Coast. The final game was played at WestI ort, Marlborough were not stroa.^ly represented, but despite the adverse conditions they prevailed, J. Murp'iy scoring the only try of the game. The Shield came to Blenheim and remained here until 1913, the results; of challenge matches during that period being as follows: 1907 Marlborough 9, Buller 9. 1907 Marlborough 14, Nelson 4. 1903 Marlborough- 13, West Coast 13. 1908 Marlborough 6, Buller 3. 1909 Marlborough 13, West Coast 6. 1909 Marlborough 6, Buller 3. 1910 Marlborough 14, Buller 8. In 1913 the trophy was wrested from the Marlborough stronghold, and Buller stalled off a Marlborough challenge during the following season, the score being 17-6 in favor of the holders. There was a lack of competition' during the war period, but as this season commenced under happier auspices Buller were tested by the other three Unions. That they have emerged successful is a tribute to tbeir prowess and particularly to the public interest which has such ~an important influence on the game in Westport. THE FUTURE. With a view to developing a trainr ed representative combination the suggestion has been ma.de that rlub competitions should, be curtailed next year; that at about the middle of the season say 20 probable "reps." should be selected and that by a <r.;:adiial process of elimination they should be reduced to a definite "rep." team with ample opportunity for o^ajjised training before the next off ort is made to wrest the Shield.

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