Why Coman could go for mayor

PEP TALK: Magpies captain Mike Coman speaks at Civic Square, Hastings following the Ranfurly Shield parade, mayoral reception and civic reception on Tuesday. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN HBT133301-82

Havelock North man Tony Davies, who has long been involved in the Hawke's Bay brewing industry and is a devoted Magpies supporter, reckons the Bay's skipper could have a fine future in local body politics.

He cast his mind back to when he was a lad in Christchurch in 1950, when Canterbury lifted the Ranfurly Shield, to the widespread delight of everyone in the region.

He recalled that the game, like the Bay's opening defence clash against Counties, was played at the same time as local body elections were set to take place.

There was a parade of pride afterwards, of course, and that was when a group of locals decided that skipper and No8 Doug Herman needed more of a reward than just endless pats on the back.

Signs began to go up that week ... signs stating "Herman for mayor".

"They were all over the place," Mr Davies said, reckoning that Shield fervour was so strong at the time that the skipper would have likely got the mayoral chains had he decided to join the election race.

While he did not stand, some people still put his name on election forms and actually voted for him.

Apart from the local body elections link there was a second similarity, Mr Davies said.

"Like us, Canterbury took the shield off Otago."

He hopes that is where the similarities stop.

Because in Canterbury's first defence of the Shield, 17 days after taking it, they lost it to Wairarapa Bush in a shock upset.

Wairarapa Bush fullback Albert Mahupuku dropped a goal for the 3-0 final scoreline.

"It was a real upset," Mr Davies said. "The boot he used to kick the goal was later put on display in a shop in Masterton."

During the Shield parade through Hastings on Tuesday, Mr Davies made his thoughts about the Magpies' achievement loudly known.

"I yelled out 'Mike Coman for mayor' as they went past, and a few people were turning around looking at me," he laughed.

"And a couple of them agreed."