Off the ball

By JULIE ASH

It was dubbed "the fabulous fortnight." Two weeks in 1996, when Taranaki were the proud holders of the Ranfurly Shield.

After prying it from Auckland on August 24, the "Naki" defied all odds the following weekend and beat North Harbour, extending the shield's stay in amber-and-black country.

Unfortunately, Waikato lifted it seven days later and the Log of Wood was gone.

Whether or not Taranaki take the shield from Canterbury in Christchurch tonight, in Taranaki those two weeks will be cherished forever.

On arrival from Auckland, the team and shield were immediately paraded around New Plymouth.

A netball tournament in the then-sparkling new indoor stadium came to a standstill when the boys and the shield popped in for a visit.

In fact, over those two weeks the shield must have travelled through every square kilometre of the region.

As a result there are now thousands of former Taranaki school kids who have in their possession a picture of themselves posing proudly beside the Ranfurly Shield.

Taranaki have possessed the shield four times since its introduction in 1902.

They first won it on August 16, 1913, and held on to it until September 10, 1914.

Between 1957 and 1959 they defended it against 13 challengers, and then again between 1963 and 1965 through 16 defences.

Every success has brought the region to a standstill.

Such is the enthusiasm for the Taranaki rugby side that it would be disastrous if ideas such as introducing Australian teams into the NPC and restricting New Zealand's involvement to the big five - Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago - ever came to fruition.

Although no one disagrees that the game must continue to develop, the killing of teams such as Taranaki would be a crying shame.

In the regions, entire towns turn out for club matches, thousands paint their letter boxes to match the colours of their team, and only a real, live bull will do as a mascot.

Even Wallaby Matt Burke recognises the importance of the NPC.

"The NPC is sacred to those blokes over there," Burke was reported as saying when asked about introducing Aussie teams into the national competition.

But regardless of what the future holds, today Taranaki have the chance to get the shield back.

And according to Taranaki's Daily News, the omens are good.

A week before Taranaki lifted the shield from Auckland in 1996, Bay of Plenty suffered a one-point loss, leaving the way clear for Taranaki.

Last Saturday, Bay of Plenty put up a brave fight but had their shield hopes dashed by Canterbury 31-26, once again opening the door for Taranaki.

Even without their All Blacks, Canterbury will be hard to beat.

But with all of the "Naki" behind them, including a whole new generation of school kids waiting to get their pictures taken with it, NZ rugby's most cherished trophy may be ready to pay Taranaki another visit.