Taranaki’s first defence Of the Ranfurly Shield against Wanganui coincides with the beginning of WWI…
Taranaki’s first defence of the Ranfurly Shield in 1914 was neighbour, Wanganui, whom they had managed to beat on 3 June at Wanganui, by only 9-8.
The challenge was played at the Hawera Showgrounds on Saturday 27 June and the results of the match were published on the same day that the newspapers carried advice of the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne.
Ranfurly Shield Match #31
Taranaki 7 – 3 Wanganui
27 June 1914
