RANFURLY SHIELD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21861, 25 July 1934, Page 17

RANFURLY SHIELD

SUCCESS OF HAWKE'S BAY CIVIC WELCOME AWAITS TEAM [by telegraph—own correspondent] . * HASTINGS, Tuesday • Hawke's Bay's win of the Ranfurly Sliield is causing general elation throughout the district. " The team's success is a very happy one, coming as it does in the Rugby Union's jubilee year," said Mr. J. W. Norrie, chairman of the management committee of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union today. " The performance of the Hawke's Bay players is most pleasing and shows definitely that they can rise to the occasion. We have a young team with plenty of brilliant football ahead of it, and we can expect it to do itself credit in its defence of the shield." , Mr. Nqrrie this morning received two challenges for the shield, one from Manawatu, whom Hawke's Bay defeated at Palmerston North last week, and the other from Wanganui, which is to meet Hawke's Bay on September 6. Manawatu had previously challenged Canterbury, but, as a result of Saturday's game, desired to have its challenge transferred to Hawke's Bay. The lattor team is scheduled, to play Taranaki on September 1 and Auckland on September 8, the date of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's jubilee celebrations, and it is expected there will be a challenge in connection with "both fixtures for the Ranfurly Shield. , The rules provide that all challenges must be received by holders of the trophy before July 31. It was pointed out by Mr. Norrie that the Hawke's Bay union was not compelled to accept all'challenges received and. as the position was at present, difficulty would be met in regard to lack of dates available for tho additional fixtures. Mr. Norrie mentioned that since the end of 1931, when it obtained possession of the shield, the Canterbury Rugby Union had taken over £5600 from challenge engagements, and in one match against Southland had netted £IO3O. In Hawke's Bay's heyday a match at Wellington had brought a date of over £I4OO. The Mayor of Napier Mr. C. O. Morse, stated this morning that of the team would be accorded a civic reception on their arrival .back in Napier on Tuesday week.