RANFURLY SHIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 13

RANFURLY SHIELD.

LOST BY HAWKE'S BAY. DISMISSAL OF APPEAL. MANAWHENUA THE HOLDERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday. The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's claim to possession of the Ranfurly Shield, by appeal against the Now Zealand Rugby Union's recent decision, has failed. The Appeal Council of the New Zealand Union has advised the controlling body that it has unanimously dismissed the appeal of the Hawke's Bay Union. This means that Manawhenua, for the first time in the history of Ranfurly Shield matches, is now the holder of the trophy. Since the Wairarapa-Hawke s Bay match, over which the dispute arose, there have been some provisional matches for the Ranfurly Shield. In these, Taranaki dre,w with Hawke's Bay, and Manawhenua was beaten by Hawke's Bay Manawhenua, however, played Wairarapa subsequently, and won. No provisional shield match has since been played by Manawhenua, so that team is now the holder of the shield. The Taranaki-Hawke's Bay and the Manawhenua-Hawke's Bay matches will not be included in the record of shield games. Taranaki still has a chance of securing the trophy, as a match with Manawhenua for the shield has been approved. If Manawhenua retains the trophy, it will be required to defend it against Wanganui on September 3. Then Canterbury will meet the present holders on September 7. The trophy is at present in Hawke's Bay, but as soon as Hawke's Bay is officially notified of the decision of the Appeal Council, the shield will no doubt be sent on to the new holders. The match between Auckland and Manawhenua in Auckland to-day will not involve the shield in any way.