Ponies firm favourites to make history

Ponsonby will be aiming for a rare three-peat when they take on Waitemata in today's Gallaher Shield final.

And there is every indication that the Ponies will achieve their goal.

Ponsonby go into the final as the firmest of favourites.

When the two Gallaher Shield finalists last met, in this year's second-round championship, Ponsonby won comfortably, 36-15.

Ponsonby also had the best attacking and defensive records of all 10 teams in this year's second round, scoring 341 points in nine matches and conceding 132. Waitemata scored 193 and conceded 163.

Otahuhu was the last club to win the final in three successive years - 1959, 1960 and 1961. You have to go back to before World War II to find the previous three-peater. And that was Ponsonby in 1937, 1938 and 1939.

Grant Keenan has coached Ponsonby for the last three years. In his first year, Ponsonby were beaten by University in the shield semifinal but won the final in 2004 and 2005.

Waitemata, who were promoted to the premier one competition in early June, last won the shield in 2003.

In a poll taken this week among coaches of the eight premier one sides which opposed both Ponsonby and Waitemata in the second round championship, the vote has gone unanimously to Ponsonby winning the final but with one proviso - if it is wet then Waitemata could cause an upset.

Ponsonby will be boosted by the return of Auckland rep squad members, winger David Smith and lock Jay Williams. Waitemata will be without captain and prop Nick White who is in Pat Lam's Auckland squad.

Keenan says his side is well prepared and he "has a pretty good idea how Waitemata will play the final" which starts at 2.35pm at Eden Park.

Waitemata head coach Lindsay Ellery said: "While we were well beaten on the scoreboard the last time we played Ponsonby we let ourselves down by giving away far too many penalties.

"Brett Williams kicked five penalties for 15 of Ponies' 35 points so the message is clear - keep those penalties to a minimum.

"We have the forwards to do the job and I believe we have a stronger bench than Ponsonby. So we intend to take the game to them."

Ponsonby will be captained by midfield back Benson Stanley, a nephew of All Black centre Joe Stanley.

There is also a strong connection with the Williams family in the Ponsonby club.

Goal kicking first five-eighth Brett is a nephew of Bryan Williams and the son of Ponsonby premier one team manager Ces Williams and winger Roimata Hansell-Pune is a second cousin.