Sorry shield record is no joke

By CHRIS RATTUE

Think of the classic British comedy series Fawlty Towers, and it's hard to go past the episode entitled "The Germans".

"Don't mention the war," a crazed and dazed Basil Fawlty yells, while failing dismally in his supposed intention of not offending German guests at his hotel.

It was such a great comic phrase that it became common language usage.

"Don't mention the Ranfurly Shield," is how you feel, tiptoeing around North Harbour players whenever they line up for a challenge, as they do tonight against Canterbury.

"Yes, mmmmm, thanks ... " says captain Mark Robinson when asked about his shield memories.

For the record, North Harbour have had nine shield challenges and lost the lot. This doesn't make them the champion Ranfurly runners-up in the first division, though. The much older union of Bay of Plenty has had 17 cracks at it without success.

Robinson has been in five challenges, including his NPC debut against Taranaki in 1996 which began a unique run of three Harbour challenges within six weeks.

Taranaki had taken the shield from Auckland when Robinson was called into a North Harbour team who had just lost to Otago.

"When we arrived by bus at the Bullring we got a real reception," remembers Robinson. "There was quite a bit of abuse from the crowd. It wasn't out of order - after all we were coming into their territory trying to take their pride and joy, which they so deserved, away from them.

"It was like someone breaking into your home and trying to take something. There was a lot of emotion.

"The one thing I really remember from the game is running out then standing in the huddle where [captain] Richard Turner said 'this is what it's all about - this is what you play rugby for.' I thought, 'holy shit'."

It was a Harbour heartbreaker as they went down by two points in maybe their best opportunity to win the shield.

Two weeks later Robinson and comrades were facing up to the clanging cowbells as they lost by three points against Waikato, with Robinson scoring a 50m try - his first NPC touchdown.

"Things opened up in front of me. I just kept going," remembers Robinson.

It was a different story a month later, though, at Eden Park, where the young halfback faced the likes of Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke for the first time. He scored his side's opening try, but Harbour were crushed by the mighty Auckland.

"I ran from corner to corner all day trying to make tackles," he says. " ... playing in one shield challenge is amazing. To have three in that space of time was something else.

"The thing is, it was each of those teams' first shield defence. All their senses were up. I remember being told that teams never lose their first defence. It made it that much harder for us."

History was against Harbour winning those games. The shield has been lost in the first defence on only nine occasions since 1904. And since the shortest tenure of seven days by Wellington in 1963, Auckland in 1972 are the only team to have failed first up.

North Harbour, who were formed in 1986, are still trying to get to the first defence stage.

Says Robinson: "It is still one of the great pieces of silverware you want to win and it would mean so much to our union. It unifies the community - that's the way I look at it and one of the really exciting things about the shield.

"You can never underestimate the meaning of the Ranfurly Shield. Otherwise you are losing out on a great experience.

"Imagine coming back with the shield then preparing for the defence. It would be a rallying cry for us.

"I definitely give ourselves a chance. You never write yourself off ... we'll have to go down there and make things happen."

Harbour's Shield record

1986 v Auckland lost 18-6

1988 v Auckland lost 39-12

1990 v Auckland lost 18-9

1992 v Auckland lost 25-16

1996 v Taranaki lost 13-11

v Waikato lost 17-14

v Auckland lost 69-27

1998 v Waikato lost 39-22

2000 v Waikato lost 24-11