The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. 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

Two different unions held the Ranfurly Shield between 1940 and 1949. Due to the outbreak of World War 2, however, no matches were played between 1940 and 1945.

Union Won Successful
defences
SouthlandHeld at beginning of decade5
Otago2 August 194717

Fixtures

1946

3 August 1946 Southland 3–0 Otago Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill  
Pen: Tom Webster Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
24 August 1946 Southland 11–3 Canterbury Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill  
Try: E.D. Calder
Con: Tom Webster
Pen: Tom Webster (2)
Try: W.P. McHugh Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
31 August 1946 Southland 35–9 South Canterbury Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill  
Try: A.S. Chandler (4),
Alexander Sutherland (2),
R.H. Hazlett,
N.J. Bennett,
R.F. Waldron
Con: Tom Webster (2)
Drop: R.F. Waldron
Try: P.G. Fitzgerald
Con: R.G. Prattley
Drop: G.W. Pratt
Attendance: 7,000[1]
Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
7 September 1946 Southland 12–3 Wairarapa Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill  
Try: R.H. Hazlett
Pen: Tom Webster (2),
R.J. Campbell
Pen: M.P. Hurley Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
28 September 1946 Southland 15–3 North Otago Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill  
Try: Alexander Sutherland (2),
J.J. Prendiville,
R.H. Hazlett
Pen: Tom Webster
Pen: E.V. Wright Referee: J.J. North (Southland)

1947

2 August 1947 Southland 11–17 Otago Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill  
Try: G.S. Kennedy,
G.H. Spittle
Con: L.F. Ward
Pen: L.F. Ward
Try: Ron Elvidge (2),
Ian Botting,
John Tanner
Con: Rex Orr
Pen: Rex Orr
Attendance: 21,000[2]
Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
9 August 1947 Otago 31–12 North Auckland Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: John Tanner,
L.S. Woodhouse,
Graham Moore,
Jim Kearney
Con: Rex Orr (3)
Pen: Rex Orr (3)
Drop: Jim Kearney
Try: Doc Paewai
Pen: Nau Cherrington (3)
Attendance: 25,000[3]
Referee: J.J. North (Southland)
20 August 1947 Otago 18–12 Auckland Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: John Tanner,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Laurie Haig
Pen: Laurie Haig (2)
Drop: Jim Kearney
Try: Les Deas (2)
Con: Bob Scott
Drop: D.J. Ewert
Referee: Leslie Walsh (Canterbury)
13 September 1947 Otago 8–0 Southland Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Kevin O'Connor
Con: Jim Kearney
Pen: Jim Kearney
Referee: J.G.G. Fitzpatrick (Wellington)
27 September 1947 Otago 42–3 North Otago Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Ron Elvidge (2),
Kevin O'Connor (2),
John Tanner,
Ian Botting,
Graham Moore,
D.H. Hamilton,
Jim Kearney,
Jack McNab,
L.S. Woodhouse
Con: Rex Orr
Pen: Rex Orr
Drop: Jim Kearney
Try: M.D. Fountain Attendance: 12,300[4]
Referee: L.K. Murray (South Canterbury)

1948

31 July 1948 Otago 25–0 Southland Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Bill Meates (3),
Ian Botting (2),
Ray Dalton,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Laurie Haig,
Graham Moore
Attendance: 30,000[5]
Referee: Arthur Fong (West Coast)
18 August 1948 Otago 31–0 Canterbury Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Jim Kearney (2),
Bill Meates,
L.S. Woodhouse,
Ian Botting
Laurie Haig,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Jim Kearney,
Laurie Haig
Pen: Laurie Haig (2)
Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
21 August 1948 Otago 20–3 Wanganui Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Bill Meates (3),
L.S. Woodhouse,
Laurie Haig
Con: Laurie Haig
Drop: Jim Kearney
Try: Don Beard Referee: L.K. Murray (South Canterbury)
28 August 1948 Otago 12–6 Hawke's Bay Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Ian Botting
Pen: Laurie Haig (2),
Graham Moore
Pen: Barney Wishnowsky (2) Referee: Bill Firmin (Wellington)
4 September 1948 Otago 40–0 Poverty Bay Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Jim Kearney (3),
Kevin O'Connor (2),
Ian Botting (2),
Bill Meates,
Laurie Haig
L.S. Woodhouse,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Laurie Haig (2)
Pen: Graham Moore
Attendance: 9,000[6]
Referee: Robert Pratt (Buller)
8 September 1948 Otago 36–6 South Canterbury Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Bill Meates (5),
Laurie Haig,
Ron Elvidge,
Jim Kearney
Con: Laurie Haig (3)
Pen: Laurie Haig (2)
Try: J.L. Taylor
Pen: R.G. Prattley
Referee: J.G.G. Fitzpatrick (Wellington)
25 September 1948 Otago 11–0 Wellington Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Ian Botting,
Peter Johnstone
Con: Laurie Haig
Drop: Jim Kearney
Referee: George Sullivan (Taranaki)

1949

30 July 1949 Otago 6–6 Buller Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: N.M. McKenzie
Pen: Graham Moore
Try: R.P. Hawes,
W.M. Cunniffe
Referee: Leslie Walsh (Canterbury)
6 August 1949 Otago 22–3 Manawatu Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Bill Lunn,
Kevin O'Connor,
Ray Bell,
C.J. MacDonald
Con: Ray Bell,
Willis Perriam
Pen: Ray Bell,
Willis Perriam
Pen: H.D. Harkness Referee: T.V. Cahill (North Otago)
13 August 1949 Otago 6–3 Southland Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Pen: Ray Bell
Drop: L.S. Woodhouse
Pen: Tom Webster Referee: Bill Firmin (Wellington)
17 August 1949 Otago 27–5 Waikato Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: Graham Moore (2),
Willis Perriam,
R.F. Waldron,
Bill Lunn
Con: Willis Perriam (2),
Ray Bell
Pen: Willis Perriam,
Ray Bell
Try: B.A.C. Cowley
Con: G.R. Brunskill
Referee: W. Bruce Mitchell (Southland)
17 September 1949 Otago 6–5 Taranaki Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: N.M. McKenzie
Pen: Ray Bell
Try: Roy Roper
Con: M.S. Cockerill
Referee: C.G. Wallace (Waikato)
28 September 1949 Otago 16–5 Auckland Carisbrook, Dunedin  
Try: C.R. Moore,
Ray Bell,
Ross Wightman,
L.S. Woodhouse
Con: Ray Bell (2)
Try: Ivan Versalko
Con: R.G. Sorenson
Referee: George Sullivan (Taranaki)

References

  1. "Shield Not In Danger". Otago Daily Times. 2 September 1946. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. "Thrilling Finish". Otago Daily Times. 4 August 1947. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. "Otago Plays Brilliant Rugby". Otago Daily Times. 11 August 1947. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. "Otago's Field Day". Otago Daily Times. 29 September 1947. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  5. "Fine Team Work Retains Ranfurly Shield". Otago Daily Times. 2 August 1948. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  6. "Poverty Bay Outclassed". Gisborne Herald. 6 September 1948. Retrieved 6 August 2021.

Sources

  • "Ranfurly Shield". Rugby Redefined. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  • Knight, Lindsay (1980). Shield Fever. Rugby Press. ISBN 0-9597553-8-1.
  • Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.
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