Rugby: Waikato avoid eternal damnation, retain Ranfurly Shield

Sit down rugby anoraks – the chance of witnessing eternal Ranfurly Shield history has disappointingly gone awry.

Hawke's Bay had a golden opportunity to shed one of New Zealand rugby's unwanted records – forever – and they blew it, capitulating 42-22 to Waikato in their Shield challenge.

Why disappointing? Well, for the neutral, we had a chance at history tonight; a record which would never be broken. Waikato had only claimed the Shield four days earlier, and a Bay victory would have set the record for the shortest reign in the 114 years of the Shield.

Instead, Hawke's Bay still hold the record – a six day reign in 2013 – after missing their opportunity to take down a fatigued but impressive Waikato unit in Hamilton.

Had they managed to win, it would have been near impossible to see how the four-day record would ever have been beaten. Unless rugby's dystopian future involves destroying players' bodies by making them play every three days, a four-day tenure would have stood forever, but alas, Hawke's Bay couldn't deliver.

Perhaps I'm being a touch unfair with these historic ideals. To get around to belated praise of the victors: Waikato were fantastic, deserving to retain the Shield, and since their next defence is against Southland, they should be able to keep the Log o' Wood for a few weeks at least.

Waikato celebrate one of their many tries. Photo / Photosport

It's been a hell of a turnaround. Last Wednesday, Waikato were on a 10 game losing streak, but eight days later they have now won three on the trot – beating Wellington, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay, all in stunning fashion.

It took a mammoth physical toll – all bar two of the side who wrestled the Shield away from Taranaki backed up their performance tonight – and the province had barely got accustomed to seeing the Shield in Waikato.

The future Irish test winger scored one scintillating try, running onto the back of a woefully overthrown Waikato lineout to race away to score, and helped set up two others as Waikato continued their sudden emergence as an attacking juggernaut.

Hawke's Bay had their moments in the first half – and held the deficit at six for a long period of the second half, but Waikato – fatigued, battered Waikato – were somehow the freshest team left, running in three tries in the last 20 minutes.

Murray Iti – dutifully following the New Zealand law that every man nicknamed "Muzz" must sport a mullet – scored what proved to be the decisive try which wrapped up the Shield, and also sent Waikato top of the Championship ladder.

Promotion would be an additional boon, but avoiding eternal place in the unwanted record books, while still retaining the Ranfurly Shield? Priceless.

Waikato 42 (Dwayne Sweeney, Sevu Reece, Jordan Manihera, Murray Iti, Fletcher Smith, Raniera Takarangi tries; Smith 6 cons)
Hawke's Bay 22 (Brad Weber, Tom Parsons, Sasa Tofilau tries; Jamie-Jerry Taulagi 2 cons, Tiaan Falcon pen)
HT: 21-15