Rugby: Ponsonby meet old foes in Gallaher Shield final

Ponsonby, one of the great clubs of New Zealand rugby, today guns for an unprecedented six Gallaher Shield club titles in succession.

They are up against University, a well respected Auckland club which is into its 121st season, and is chasing an 18th senior title.

Varsity has not won the Gallaher Shield since 1997, when it toppled Marist. Since then, there has only been heartache for Graham Henry's old club, defeated in three finals, the most recent of which was a 26-14 reverse to Waitemata in 2003, also the last year Ponsonby's name was not inscribed on the 87-year-old shield.

Ponsonby and University have fashioned an intense rivalry over the years. Between 1983-86 they contested three of the four finals, Varsity winning decisively in 1984, while Ponies narrowly claimed the 1983 and '86 deciders. But it was University which defeated Ponsonby in the 1994 round-robin stage to send them down into second division.

So to 2009, and Ponies have chalked up an unbeaten run of 17 games, annexing the pre-season Waka Nathan Cup and retaining the Fred Allen Challenge Cup. It helps to have a fine pair of goalkickers in the seasoned Brett Williams at No 10 and Adam Siddall on the wing, both of whom were among the points in Ponies' fine 46-19 win over Waitemata last weekend. But they feed off the work of underrated forwards, captain and hooker Mark Hooper, lock Ben Bacon and flanker Lio Kaihau. Like University, Ponsonby is missing five Auckland rep players - though Benson Stanley may play today.

University qualified third, and then edged Waitakere and Otahuhu in the playoffs, the latter a thrilling 23-21 extra time semifinal victory.

Though missing captain and hooker Francis Smith to Auckland, University can count on some in-form footballers, namely today's captain Brenton Helleur, a 2008 Auckland and Northland halfback. No 9 Dave Ormrod, who has been loaned to Taranaki but was surplus to the 22 which played the Makos on Thursday night, is on the bench.

Kickoff is at 2.45pm, unhappily clashing with Hawke's Bay v Auckland from Napier, and the 12.30pm curtainraiser features the Under 21 Arthur Bayliss Cup final between Ponsonby and Marist. Gates open at 12 noon and free seating is available in the ASB (North) Stand. Ben Skeen will take the whistle for the big one.