Rugby: Log o' Wood has a noted history

Photo / Wikimedia Commons

The Ranfurly Shield is a trophy that holds a special place in the hearts of rugby lovers in New Zealand.

Seen as upholding the traditional values of the game, the shield is a provincial challenge trophy that was first donated to New Zealand rugby by the Earl of Ranfurly, the country's Governor General between 1887 and 1904.

The shield, colloquially known as the "Log o' Wood", was initially played for by Auckland and Wellington in 1904, with Wellington winning the inaugural 'challenge' 6-3 in Auckland.

It has since been held by 16 of the country's 27 provincial unions.

The 'sudden death' nature of the shield challenges give them an added excitement factor, compared to the longer-term progress of championships such as the Air New Zealand Cup or the Super 14, with their many rounds, semi-finals and final.

There is also the allure that any team, no matter how lowly in rugby status, can win it on any particular day.

The many shield upsets over the years have become the stuff of folklore.
For example, in 1971 minnows Marlborough stunned the Lancaster Park faithful with a 13-6 victory over a strong Canterbury side laced with All Blacks that remains one of the great victories by an underdog in shield history.

For shield veterans Canterbury, it was a setback that was reversed in 1982 when the red and blacks defeated Wellington 16-12 to kick-start the province's record equaling 25-match run as holders between 1982 and 1985.

That run of successful defences was ended by what many observers believe is one of the greatest games of rugby in history – the challenge from arch-rivals Auckland, at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on 14 September 1985.

The match was a promoter's dream. It had everything - two teams full of contemporary stars of the game; and two coaches, hard man Alex "Grizz" Wylie for the holders and "yuppie" John Hart for the challengers, who were poles apart in their demeanours.

Auckland raced out of the blocks to a 24-0 halftime lead. Surely – this was insurmountable. However, no-one told the Canterbury side.

They mounted a courageous comeback only to fall agonisingly short, missing what would have been a match-winning try by inches with the final kick of the match.

Having fought to hard to win the exalted "Log", Auckland weren't about to let it go in a hurry.

That dramatic challenge started a run which will surely stand forever as the record for the greatest number of consecutive Ranfurly shield defences - 61 matches, between 1985 and 1993.

This tenure also saw the introduction of a novel feature by the Auckland holders.

Tradition dictated that shield challenges only occurred in matches played on the holder's home ground.

But during this period Auckland took the shield on tour to provincial unions that, mainly for financial reasons, would be unlikely to be able to mount a challenge for the trophy.

Since 2000, Canterbury have enjoyed the coveted trophy in their clubooms for the longest tenures – having won it on four occasions this century already.

Since 2007, however, the shield has tended to bounce around the provinces a little more than usual, changing hands no less than six times (including last night's nail-biter) in that space of time.

Southland have become the third smaller union to hold the shield since 2000, joining Bay of Plenty and North Harbour in this honour.

Shield Tenures since 2000
(number of successful defences in brackets)

Canterbury - September 23, 2000 (23)
Auckland - October 11, 2003 (2)
Bay of Plenty - August 15, 2004 (1)
Canterbury - September 5, 2004 (14)
North Harbour - September 24, 2006 (3)
Waikato - August 25, 2007 (0)
Canterbury - September 1, 2007 (1)
Auckland - September 29, 2007 (5)
Wellington - September 20, 2008 (6)
Canterbury - August 29, 2009 (4)
Southland - October 22, 2009

- NZHERALD STAFF