HOLDING ON TO THAT SHIELD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17864, 4 June 1926, Page 1

HOLDING ON TO THAT SHIELD.

HAWKE’S BAY WILL NOW MEET WANGANUI. Having beaten Wairarapa by 77 to 14, Hawke’s Bay will defend the Ranfurly Shield against Wanganui to-mor-row. These are the first two cha 1 ler.ges of the 1926 season. Hawke’s Bay have successfully defended the shield since defeating Wellington by 19 to 9in 1922. Since ther twenty shield matches have been played. The first was one of the closest for, fresh from their victory against Wellington, the new holders played Bay of Plenty and won by the narrowest of margins—17 points to 16. In 1923 Canterbury also ran the holders to a point, the score being 9 to S. But, generally Ilawke’s Bay have won their shield games by good margins. Twice Hawke’s.Bay’s score has reached the forties, six times the thirties and thirteen times the twenties. Wairarapa had already played three matches against Hawke’s Bay for the shield. In 1923 they were beaten by 6 to 0. in 1924 by 30 to 14, and in 1925 by 22 to 3. Saturday's game will mark Wanganui’s first challenge against Hawke’s Bay for possession of the trophy. Last September, in a match in which the shield was not at stake, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland drew at Auckland, the score being 9 all.