Ranfurly Shield 1904–1909

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

Only 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

1904

6 August 1904
Match 1
Auckland 3–6 Wellington
Try: Henry KiernanTry: 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

16 August 1905
Wellington 3–3 Wairarapa
Try: William James HardhamTry: 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

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

13 July 1907
Auckland 21–0 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

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

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

  1. ^ "Wellington Match". Papers Past. Auckland Star. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ^ "A Win For The Local Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  3. ^ "An Interesting Match". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ^ "A Drawn Game". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Auckland's Team The Winners". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 28 August 1905. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Latter Hopelessly Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 13 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Match Won By The Northern Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 20 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Latter Severely Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 27 August 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Win For The Northerners". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 3 September 1906. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Fine, Fast Open Game". Papers Past. New Zealand Herald. 12 August 1907. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Win For The Northern Team". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 16 September 1907. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  12. ^ "An Interesting Game". Papers Past. Marlborough Express. 10 August 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Wellington Team Badly Beaten". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Taranaki Beaten By Auckland". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 31 August 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Otago Beaten By Auckland". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 14 September 1908. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Auckland Defeats Taranaki". Papers Past. New Zealand Times. 13 September 1909. Retrieved 15 September 2023.

References

  • 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.