SHIELD MATCH

Southland Times, Issue 22097, 18 August 1933, Page 8

SHIELD MATCH

SOUTHLANDERS FIT THOMAS TAKING THE FIELD GAME BEING BROADCAST (From Our Special Reporter.) Christchurch, August 17. The Southland Rugby team arrived here to-night, all the members of the side reporting fit and well. 'McKay and Grant rejoined the team at Timaru. The tremendous interest being taken in the game for the shield on Saturday was practically shown all the way from Timaru where at all points wellwishers met and greeted members of the team. At Timaru the Maroons won many friends and a big crowd farewelled them at the station. At Ashburton and again at Christchurch a big contingent of Southland supporters was present at the station. Enthusiasm everywhere has reached test match proportions and a record crowd at Lancaster Park appears assured. The team is now thoroughly fit and will take the field as previously announced. Thomas has completely recovered and will take up his position behind the scrum. Geddes’s leg has also recovered and he will be fit and well for the game. The Maroons will have a final run and will then rest for the match. The weather has been fine and the prospects are for a hard and fast ground. It is anticipated that over 20,000 will be present on Saturday. The Maroons are quietly confident ot success, but whatever the result Southlanders will have put up a great game. It is now understood that the game will be broadcast. The Broadcasting Board has offered the Canterbury' Union £5O which has been accepted and will be handed over to charity. Great interest is being taken in the invasion of Southland supporters and the general opinion here is that citizens appreciate and admire the enthusiasm of the southerners. Mr J. Moffitt (Wellington) the referee, is wellknown to Southland teams.

ARRANGEMENTS finalized BROADCASTING OF MATCHES. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, August 17. The Canterbury Rugby Union has decided to allow the broadcasting of the match Southland v. Canterbury on Saturday, having concluded arrangements with the Broadcasting Board for the right to broadcast all the remaining matches of the season. The Board has agreed to pay a fee of £5O which the Union has promised will be given to local charity. In a memorandum on the subject the Union states it has been the considered opinion of the Union that any privilege granted the Broadcasting Board in respect of football matches should be paid for, as it is the Board’s duty, to provide its patrons with entertainment. Undismayed by the previous refusal of the Canterbury Rugby Union. to allow the match to be broadcast, the Radio Club, through its president, Mr A. W. Jones, and secretary, Mr W. R. Mabson, yesterday enlisted the support of influential men throughout Southland to obtain permission for a broadcast description of the biff game. From almost every town and township .in the province telegrams were sent to the Hon. Adam Hamilton, the president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, the Mayor of Christchurch and the president of the Canterbury Rugby Union. Mr P. A. de la Perrelle and the Mayor of Invercargill also sent telegrams urging that the privilege be granted. Last evening his Worship received a reply from Mr D. Sullivan (Mayor of Christchurch) that he had waited on the Rugby Union, who had promised to further consider the matter. ALL ABOARD! TO-NIGHT’S THE NIGHT. EXCURSIONISTS DEPART. All roads will lead to the Invercargill railway station this evening when the three excursion trains to Christchurch depart. In addition to the 950 passengers there will be large gatherings of well-wishers, so that it is safe to predict the station will wear a more animated appearance than it has for years. The Maroon ribbon should be strongly in evidence, for hockey girls will be on the platform disposing of. official badges, the proceeds from which will financially assist the K Cup contenders in their North Island venture. The timetable of the three excursion trains is as follows: Reach Leave Depart In’gill. In’gill. Christchurch. (Sunday). 6.40 p.m. 9.55 a.m. Sunday 10.11p.m. 9.10 p.m. 11.0 p.m. Saturday 10.59 a.m. 9.30 p.m. 9.40 a.m. Sunday 9.45 p.m. Passengers need not fear that they will be hungry on the journey, for the refreshment rooms at Gore, Clinton, Milton, Dunedin, Oamaru, Ashburton and Christchurch will be open. Passengers will be able to obtain breakfast at the Christchurch station both on arrival on Saturday morning and before leaving on Sunday. The Christchurch City Council has finally cast the die and the southerners will be permitted to parade from the station to Cathedral Square and from the Square to Lancaster Park. Flourishing of oysters and muttonbirds will be permitted. With the Southland Pipe Band will be the two pipe bands of Christchurch, fully prepared to outdo the wailing of their rival “lethal weapons.” The parade from the station to the Square will take place between 9 a.m. and 9.30 and after lunch the marchers will cover the last stretch to the scene of combat. In the evening the Shield will be presented to the winning team at the Canterbury Winter Show. In order not to disappoint the Christchurch journalists, Mr Angelo Pasco has donated a sack of oysters to be borne north in triumph. The oysters will be later presented to the Canterbury Rugby Union. The trains will be met on their arrival by the Show Committee and Southland supporters and an encouraging welcome is promised.

A PATCHY DISPLAY SOUTH CANTERBURY GAME. UMARU WRITER’S COMMENT. En route to Christchurch to play Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield, the Southland representative team met and defeated South Canterbury at Fraser Park by 24 points to 11, after a patchy display bv both teams (says the Timaru Herald). In the first session neither team was inspiring, but Southland showed a great improvement in the first half of the second spell, when they made the game safe. The visitors reserved three or four backs who will play in the Shield game, but these will have to tone up their form a good deal if Canterbury are to be defeated on Lancas-

ter Park, where they are usually at their best. The Southland backs showed more combination and understanding, and their handling and passing was much superior to that of the home side. They were favoured with a much larger share of the ball from their forwards. A lot of their passing was forward, however, and it is not likely that the same indulgence will be shown them in other matches. Porter was sound until he retired with an injury, while Mitchell was responsible for much heady work. Frampton at half made the most of his opportunities, and showed that his speed was very dangerous near the line. Bruce on the wing provided the finishing touches to two very bright movements. The Southland pack was superior in short passing. Its members got the ball back crisply from the rucks while they were better in scrum tactics. The halfback, however, too often picked .out of the scrum. In the loose the visiting forwards were rather slow, and in the last quarter were being outplayed by the home men. The Maroon packmen displayed a tendency towards offside play, but this fault will no doubt be quickly corrected if it proves unprofitable. Purdue, Southern, Pawson and Metcalfe were the pick of Southland’s forwards.