BID FOR THE SHIELD

NZ Truth, Issue 1127, 7 July 1927, Page 14

BID FOR THE SHIELD

'The Bay Sanguine of Success Against Wairarapa ' • (From ',N.Z. .Truth's" Hawkes Bay Representative.) # Norman McKenzie, selector and manager of a team known unto "' the Rugby' World as Tne Bay, ' ' has packed his valise (leaving sufficient; space therein for a lost trophy) 'on a pilgrimage to Wairarapa, whence he goeth m quest with a larjje multitude of followers. ,

THERE endeth the j first chapter of a province whose religion .» and teachings are ,said to be Rugby. The secondhand last will not be revealed until Saturday. Two years ago the public of "Welling-' ton per medium of a .large crowd of Bayites decorated "With black and white^ribbons saw and learned the feeling and earnestness of the supporters of Hawkes Bay's Rugby fifteen. , -Now it is Wairarapa's turn. 1 Next to the unemployment question 1 Hawkes "Bay^s main topic of conversation is undoubtedly the challenge to Wairarapa. , , Granted there are sufficient grounds for hope.' On^ June ,3, Wairarapa had a cleancut victory over the Bay and the mar- . gin could on the play easily have been 4 greater. > The argument here is that the Bay i on Saturday show a big improve-

ment on that form, but by the same rule so will .Wairarapa. The personnel of the team is slightly altered from that of the defeated fifteen. With the' earlier match still m mind, "NiZ. Truth's" rep. can see only one result on Wairarapa's showing— that is another victory for the holders of the shield. Norman McKenzie considers his team able to avenge the defeat on the King's Birthday. ' His team, he says, is better trained and the weak links have' been strengthened. The following is the team tha.t BayItes are pinning their faith to: J. Smith (full-back); Barclay, Blake, Priestly (three-quarters); Corkill, Te Ngaw>> (five-eighths); Anstis- (half); M. Brow-nlie/ (royer);' Swain, J. Gemmell (hookers); Conrad (lock); C. ■Brownlie, Canipbell (supports); Tankard and S. Gemmell (back row). Should B. Grenside be available Priestly will' be on the line.