The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is arguably the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition.[citation needed][dubious – discuss] First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the Shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.
Holders
editOnly two teams held the Ranfurly Shield from 1904 to 1909:
| Union | Won | Successful defences |
|---|---|---|
 Auckland |
Awarded in 1902 | 0 |
 Wellington |
6 August 1904 | 4 |
| Auckland |
26 August 1905 | 12 |
Fixtures
edit1904
edit| 6 August 1904 Match 1 |
| Auckland | 3–6 | Wellington |
| Try: Henry Kiernan | Try: Donaldson Gray, Duncan McGregor |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 9,000[1] Referee: W. Pitts (Auckland) |
| 20 August 1904 Match 2 |
| Wellington | 6–3 |  Canterbury |
| Try: Billy Wallace (2) | Try: P.J. Burns |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 2,000[2] Referee: Alfred Norris (Wellington) |
| 10 September 1904 |
| Wellington | 15–13 |  Otago |
| Try: Duncan McGregor (2), Billy Wallace Con: Duncan McGregor Goal from mark: Duncan McGregor | Try: James Duncan King, W.J. Munro, Colin Gilray Con: Ernest Booth (2) |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 1,500[3] Referee: Francis Evans (Canterbury) |
1905
edit| 16 August 1905 |
| Wellington | 3–3 |  Wairarapa |
| Try: William James Hardham | Try: R. Spackman |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 850[4] Referee: G.A. Howe (Wellington) |
| 23 August 1905 |
| Wellington | 11–3 |  Hawke's Bay |
| Try: John Spencer, J.P. Blacklock, P.A. Anderson Con: George Spencer | Try: M. McCarthy |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: G.A. Howe (Wellington) |
| 26 August 1905 |
| Wellington | 6–10 | Auckland |
| Pen: George Spencer (2) | Try: Richard Wynyard, William Tyler Drop: Arthur Francis |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Attendance: 6,000[5] Referee: J.F. Manning (Manawatu) |
1906
edit| 11 August 1906 |
| Auckland | 29–6 | Canterbury |
| Try: Richard Wynyard (2), William Hay-MacKenzie, George Nicholson, Charlie Seeling Con: John Henry Dufty (4) Pen: John Henry Dufty Drop: John Henry Dufty | Pen: Donald Fraser Drop: Donald Fraser |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 7,000[6] Referee: G.A. Howe (Wellington) |
| 18 August 1906 |
| Auckland | 18–5 |  Taranaki |
| Try: George Gillett, Charlie Seeling, R.B. Magee Con: John Henry Dufty (3) Drop: John Henry Dufty | Try: Donald Cameron Con: Arthur Hardgrave |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 9,000[7] Referee: G.A. Howe (Wellington) |
| 25 August 1906 |
| Auckland | 48–12 |  Southland |
| Try: George Nicholson (3), George Smith (2), William Hay-MacKenzie (2), William Tyler, Henry Kiernan, Frank Wilson Con: John Henry Dufty (7) Drop: John Henry Dufty | Try: T.A. Clark Con: Donald Cameron Hamilton Pen: Donald Cameron Hamilton Drop: E.E. Hughes |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 6,000[8] Referee: F.A. Laws (Auckland) |
| 1 September 1906 |
| Auckland | 11–5 | Wellington |
| Try: Richard Wynyard Con: John Henry Dufty Pen: John Henry Dufty Drop: John Henry Dufty | Try: Hector Thomson Con: Billy Wallace |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 13,000[9] Referee: Peter Mackie (Auckland) |
1907
edit| 13 July 1907 |
| Auckland | 21–0 | .png){kind=small} Buller |
| Try: G.W. Murray (3), Richard Wynyard (3), C. Dillamore |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Referee: Angus Campbell (Auckland) |
| 10 August 1907 |
| Auckland | 12–3 | Hawke's Bay |
| Try: Harold Hayward, G.W. Murray, J.H. Hall, William Wynyard | Try: T. McIntyre |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 4,000[10] Referee: G. Hopkins (Taranaki) |
| 14 September 1907 |
| Auckland | 6–5 |  Wanganui |
| Try: Albert Asher, J.H. Hall | Try: Albert Carroll Con: L.L. Hitchings |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 6,000[11] Referee: Angus Campbell (Auckland) |
1908
edit| 8 August 1908 |
| Auckland | 32–0 |  Marlborough |
| Try: E. Coote (2), Frank Wilson, R.B. Magee, Arthur Francis, G.W. Murray, Charlie Seeling Con: R.B. Magee (4) Drop: R.B. Magee |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 4,000[12] Referee: N. A'Court (Taranaki) |
| 15 August 1908 |
| Auckland | 24–3 | Wellington |
| Try: George Bater (2), G.W. Murray (2), George Nicholson Con: R.B. Magee (3) Drop: R.B. Magee | Try: W.C. Alexander |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 12,000[13] Referee: J. Williams (Otago) |
| 29 August 1908 |
| Auckland | 9–0 | Taranaki |
| Try: George Gillett, C.W. Murray Pen: George Gillett |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 8,000[14] Referee: J. Williams (Otago) |
| 12 September 1908 |
| Auckland | 11–5 | Otago |
| Try: George Bater, Frank Morse, G.W. Murray Con: R.B. Magee | Try: Alex McDonald Con: Harry Paton |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 3,000[15] Referee: G.A. Howe (Wellington) |
1909
edit| 11 September 1909 |
| Auckland | 18–5 | Taranaki |
| Try: Dougie McGregor (2), George Sellars, G.W. Murray, Harold Hayward, Joe O'Leary | Try: Donald Cameron Con: Ernest Dive |
| Alexandra Park, Auckland Attendance: 6,000[16] Referee: J. Williams (Auckland) |
Notes
edit- ^ "Wellington Match". Papers Past. Auckland Star. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "A Win For The Local Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "An Interesting Match". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "A Drawn Game". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Auckland's Team The Winners". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 28 August 1905. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Latter Hopelessly Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 13 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Match Won By The Northern Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 20 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Latter Severely Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 27 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Win For The Northerners". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 3 September 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Fine, Fast Open Game". Papers Past. New Zealand Herald. 12 August 1907. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Win For The Northern Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 16 September 1907. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "An Interesting Game". Papers Past. Marlborough Express. 10 August 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Wellington Team Badly Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Taranaki Beaten By Auckland". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 31 August 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Otago Beaten By Auckland". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 14 September 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "Auckland Defeats Taranaki". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 13 September 1909. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
References
edit- Knight, Lindsay (1980). Shield Fever. Auckland, New Zealand: Rugby Press. ISBN 0-9597553-8-1.
- Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Ron, Palenski (1987). The Encyclopedia Of New Zealand Rugby. Auckland, New Zealand: MOA Publications. p. 267. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
- Knight, Lindsay (2002). The Shield. Auckland, New Zealand: Celebrity Books. ISBN 1-877252-13-1.
- Carman, Arthur (1967). Ranfurly Shield Rugby. A.H. and A.W. Reed Ltd.
- Swan, Arthur (1960). The Log O' Wood. Christchurch, New Zealand: Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd.
- "Ranfurly Shield". Rugby Heartland. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2023.