INTERESTING CHANGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19736, 8 September 1927, Page 15

INTERESTING CHANGES

RANFURLY SHIELD HISTORY. FIRST WIN TO CANTERBURY. possession for the season. Canterbury is sure to receive the heartiest congratulations of the Rugby football community of New Zealand on winning the Raniurly Shield, after many attempts. In a number of its challenge matches Canterbury has gone very close to lifting the trophy froin the holders. Its first challenge for the shield was against. Auckland in 1906, at Auckland, but the holders easily retained possession by winning 29—6. Canterbury came North again in 1910, and until almost right on time was leading 4—3. Auckland pulled a sensational game out of the fire in the last minute or two of play, winning 6 —4. In 1914 Canterbury issued a challenge to Taranaki, but again luck was against it, as the holders won by 6 points to 5. Canterbury played Wellington twice for the shield, being beaten in 1919 by 21 points to 8, and in 1920 by 15 points to 3. Canterbury had three memorable tussles with Hawke's Bay for possession of the trophy. In 1923, at Hastings, Hawke's Bay won by 9 points to 8 in the closing stages of the game. The challengers were unfortunate in the match at Napier in 1925, as Dalley could not playon account of an injury. Hawke's Bay won that match by 24 points to 18. Great Match in Christchurch. Hawke's Bay showed a sporting spirit toward Canterbury by taking the shield with it to Christchurch last season for a special match, but again Canterbury was unsuccessful in a great contest, the final scores being 17—15 in favour of the holders. McGregor could not play in that match.

The season 1927 will go down as tlie most remarkable in the history of the Ranfurly Shield, because of the fact that it has changed hands three times. Wairarapa won it' from Hawke's Bay on June 3, by 15 points to 11, and on July 9 Hawke s Bay defeated the holders in a return match, but lost the game on a protest. Manawhenua came into possession of the shield by beating Wairarapa on July 20 by 19 points to 16. Manawhenua then staved off challenges by Taranaki and Wanganui, which teams it defeated 9—3 and 25—6 respectively. As the result of yesterday's match the Ranfurly Shield goes to the South Island for the second time in its history. Southland was the first South Island Union to win the shield, which it took from Wellington at Invercargill, on September 15, 1920, the scores being 17—6. Southland lost it to Wellington again the following year. After all the controversy that has gone on this season nobody will begrudge the fact that the shield has found a ne\V resting-place in the South Island for the time being. No More Matches This Season. The rules governing the Ranfurly Shield contests set out that 14 days' notice shall be given of intention to challenge for the shield. Challenges have to be in by the end of August, and no shield match may be played after the last Saturday in September. Canterbury has two more repre sentativs fixtures to fulfil. It meets Wellington, at Wellington, next Saturday, and Of ago, at CHristchurch, on Saturday, September 17. As neither of these contests can be made challenge matches Canterbury will hold the trophy for'the season. Ihe following have been the holders of the Ranfurly Shield since its incep-tionl9o2-4, Auckland; 1904-05, Wellington; 1905-13, Auckland: 1913-14, Taranaki; 1914-20, Wellington; 1920-21, Southland; 1921-22, Wellington; 1922-27, Hawke's Bay; 1927-28, Canterbury.