Rugby: Shield fever bubbling

By KEVIN TAYLOR

Up to 2000 Canterbury supporters are travelling to Hamilton for tomorrow's Ranfurly Shield clash, which is shaping up to be the city's biggest game this year.

And if the TAB's odds are any indication, Canterbury's supporters may not be making the trip in vain.

The TAB was yesterday offering $1.22 on Canterbury and $3.80 on Waikato. For Waikato to beat Canterbury by 13 or more points the TAB was offering $15, while the odds for the Cantabs to do the same were just $1.90.

Despite the bright odds, Cantabrians are taking nothing for granted.

Canterbury Rugby Football Union spokeswoman Sonia Francis said they were by no means saying the game was already won. The Waikato team had to be treated with respect.

"They have had the shield tenure for 21 games now. They don't treat challenges lightly."

Between 1000 and 2000 Cantabrians were expected at the game, but there were no special charter flights, she said.

The biggest crowd of the season is being predicted for the match, which will follow the traditional Mooloo Parade through the city centre.

Canterbury Rugby Supporters Club president Dick Tayler said fans were not being over-optimistic. More people from outside the province than inside were predicting the red-and-blacks to reclaim the shield.

He noted that Canterbury lost when they played for the shield in Hamilton two years ago.

Nobody was making any plans in Christchurch for the shield's return, said Mr Tayler.

Waikato Rugby Union marketing manager Pat Mellsop said plenty of tickets were still available, but the covered grandstand was sold out.

While no study had been done on a big rugby game's economic impact on Hamilton, each one was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for the region, he said.

The owner of Biddy Mulligan's Irish Pub, Gordon Farrelly, said local bars were looking forward to tomorrow. "I'm expecting a lot of people in. I'd better - we've got a lot of beer here."