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Spectrum was a long-running weekly radio documentary series which captured the essence of New Zealand from 1972 to 2016. Alwyn Owen and Jack Perkins produced the series for many years, creating a valuable library of New Zealand oral history.
[Crowd cheering on players during a rugby match]
Unknown man talking about the valley having a miracle holding the shield.
[Crowd cheering on players]
The NZBC presents Shield Fever. Jack Perkins follows a Ranfurly Shield rugby challenge, from Wairarapa Bush, in Blenheim.
Jack is at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim, the current nerve centre of New Zealand rugby, deep in the heart of Ranfurly Shield country. Two weeks ago at Canterbury’s Lancaster Park , after 70 years, the Marlborian David had toppled the Cantabrian Goliath and returned triumphant with the coveted trophy.
It is Marlborough’s last training session and Jack talks to the coach, former All Black, Ralph Caulton and to locals including Marlborough’s public relations officer Sandy Beverley and Lorna Hurst, a meter maid on a scooter, about provincial pride, the upcoming defence, and the problems and opportunities the Ranfurly Shield brings to a small province like Marlborough.
Marlborough’s captain, Ray Sutherland, takes the shield to Wairua hospital and Mayor and jeweller, Sid Hurley, talks about engraving the shield.
The Wairarapa contingent arrive and give a chant and Jack talks with unknown supporters about the numbers of supporters and the upcoming game.
Game day and Jack describes the scene as the teams arrive. The curtain raiser ends and the shield fever crisis is about to begin. Unknown supporters from both sides discuss their teams as the game progresses. In the end, Marlborough retain the shield.
That was Shield Fever, technical direction by Jim McMullen. The programme was produced and narrated by Jack Perkins for the spoken features section of the NZBC
A Spectrum radio documentary.
[Bagpipes and crowd noises fade out]