Kerre Woodham: Shore's Shield magic

It was a pretty impressive crowd that lined North Shore streets to honour the Ranfurly Shield-winning rugby team.

Certainly, more people turned up for the Boobs on Bikes parade on Queen St, but 5000 people is about 4900 more than turned up to protest the police use of Tasers. It's all relative.

And the boys thoroughly deserved their civic reception. Even in this era of professional rugby, the Ranfurly Shield has retained its magic.

I remember living in Hamilton when Waikato won the Shield. It was brilliant - we were given Wednesday afternoons off school to watch the midweek Shield games and there was a sense of superiority in the region.

As Shield-holders, we had earned the right to beat our chests.

And for rugby players, being on a Shield-winning team must be a career highlight. I know rugby players have other dreams and ambitions these days, but winning the Shield must still rate quite highly - maybe below scoring a lucrative advertising deal but slightly higher than dating a Miss Popularity contestant.

To be honest, I know little about North Harbour. Or its rugby. It hasn't played thrilling rugby, from what I can remember. There are no epic matches etched into my brain that I can replay instead of counting sheep to get me back to sleep. I only really remember the Battle of the Bridge and that wasn't because of the footy. But I'll take an interest now.

And, more importantly, the good folk of the North Shore may now throw their support behind their team. And North Harbour will have the confidence to play the sort of rugby that will still be spoken of with awe 50 years from now. That's the magic the Shield can bring to a side.