RANFURLY SHIELD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21875, 10 August 1934, Page 15

RANFURLY SHIELD

S"HE CHALLENGE MATCHES / DOMINION UNION'S DECISION THREE GAMES IN EIGHT DAYS [by telegraph—PßESS association] V. ELLINGTON, Thursdny At last night's meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union, inquiries were made in a,letter from Hawke's Bay as to whether its home matches with Taranaki, Wangamii and Auckland 011 September 1. 6 and 8, respectively, were to be regarded as Ranfurly Shield challenges, f The management committee decided that the games in question were to be played for the shield. HAWKE'S BAY'S DISAPPROVAL CRITICISM BY OFFICIALS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] HASTINGS. Thursday Hawke's Bay Rugby Union officials expressed strong disapproval of the action of the New Zealand Union in deciding that the home matches against Taranaki, Wnnganui and Auckland on September' 1, 6 and S respectively should be Ranfurly Shield challenge matches. Mr. J. W. Norrie, chairman of the management committee, said that it was fair neither to the public nor to the players, many of whom came long distances, to have three matches played in a week. Mr. N. A. McKenzie. sole selector, said the decision was in direct contravention of the protection afforded Southland after that union had lifted the shield from Wairarapa. REPRESENTATIVE GAME MATCH IN AUCKLAND TO-MORROW'S ATTRACTION The annual- match between the Auckland and Nortb, Auckland representative Rugby teams will be played at Eden Park to-morrow afternoon, and a keen and interesting contest is anticipated. ' Owing to the absence in Australia of Caughey, Corner, Knight, Hadley arid McLean, Auckland's sole selector had to look round for reserves, and the general opinion is that he has chosen a side which will give a highclass exhibition. The Auckland team is as follows: F ullback.—Matheson. Three-quarters.—Kedgley, Pearson, Hammon. Five-eighths.—Hedge, Murdoch. Halfback. —Frankliam. , Forwards. —Pepper, Bond, Finlayson. Bush. Ross, Pearce, Lockington, Smith, Hardie (one to be omitted). The selection of Matheson as fullback came as? a surprise to many followers of the game, the opinion being that Heazlewoorl was a certainty for the position. Without knowing what is in the selector's mind,- • the average attender at Eden Park would say that the selector is experimenting. However, there is no doubting that Matheson is a good fullback, and, with Bush in the team, Heazlewood's ability as as goal-kicker will not be missed. The three-quarter line has plenty of speed and nippiness on attack, and it j would be a good thing to see its de- j fensive powers tested. Two young five- j eighths in Hedge and Murdoch should work well together. They have both been playing good club football and there is no reason why they should not reproduce this form in the higher grade. Frankliam is second string to Corner when the All Black is here, and the Ponsonby half can be relied upon for a sound all-round exhibition. The forwards comprise a solid pack • which will be well tested by the northerners. North Auckland has fielded some veiry fine forwards in past years—Finlayson, the Rika brothers and Fletcher, among many others. This year's team, which played against Waikato at Hamilton yesterday, is reputed to be again strong in the forward division, while its backs are said to be fast and nippy. Mr. I. H. Finlayson is sole selector to the North Auckland Rugby Union and his experience will have enabled him to get together a sound fifteen, and then impart to it some of his wide knowledge of the finer points of the game. After having had a game together, the North Auckland team should be capable of a better showing to-morrow than it registered in Hamilton yesterday. The personnel of the visiting team will not be known until it arrives from Hamilton to-day. Patrons of Eden Park should note the fact that the representative match will start at 2.30 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. as is customary in such contests. The change to the earlier hour has been made in order that the public will be able to see the finish of the match and then reach home in time to listen to the full broadcast of the test match in Sydney between the All Blacks and Australia. The curtain-raiser to-morrow will be between Sacred Heart College and the Ponsonby intermediate grade team. Fast} open football should be the re-sult-of this meeting.