AUCKLAND’S CHALLENGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26782, 27 May 1948, Page 6

AUCKLAND’S CHALLENGE

Sir,—l notice in the Daily Times that a member of the Auckland Rugby Union and a selector of that body, Mr E. P. York, talked about Otago being “ windy ” because they did not run with open arms to and accent the northern body's challenge for the Ranfurly Shield. Has Mr York forgotten last year's match, when Auckland came down with colours flying and were going to lift the Shield by hook or by crook? In fact, it was reported that they even brought down the case to take it back to Auckland, and the Otago team just let them go so far and' then ran them off their legs. Mr York’s remarks put me in mind of the old Otago Scot who was up in Auckland on business and there was so much bragging that the old fellow burst out with, " Hoots, mon, when I get back to Dunedin I’ll see a couple of my mates and we’ll come up arid buy Auckland.” When Hawke’s Bay last played Otago in Dunedin for the Shield, having flown Le Quesne down for that match alone, the manager told a Daily Times reporter in an interview before the match that they had their best team in, and if they were beaten, which they didn’t expect to be, there would be nothing said; but no sooner had they arrived back home than they began to cry about the referee. The manager admitted after the match that he had never seen forwards go as the Otago team went that day and the Auckland manager and captain said something the same last year after the match. The Otago boys are as fit to-day as they were then and waiting for allcomers, so Auckland should beware.—l am, etc. “ Richard Connell.” Concord.