When the ‘Log’ turns rotten
Sometimes the search for rugby’s finest treasure ends in acrimony, and sometimes it starts that way.
It probably comes as no surprise to learn that in its 116-year history, rugby’s treasured Ranfurly Shield has on occasion been an object of outright acrimony.
Its biggest controversy happened nearly a century ago, when the dominant province of the 1920s, (and record holder of the time for challenges resisted at 24), Hawke’s Bay lost to Wairarapa 11-15 in the first challenge of 1927, only five weeks later to go at the Solway Showgrounds to Masterton and win the ‘Log’ back. Or so they thought.
In 1926, when Wairarapa had also challenged the Magpies, they lost 77-14 in a 17 tries to two mauling. But come 1927, Wairarapa had secured the services of legendary All Black back Bert Cooke and one of the stand-out forwards of the 1924-25 All Black Invincibles tour to Britain, William ‘Bull’ Irvine.
Wairarapa also had another great forward, Quentin Donald. And all three had switched from Hawke’s Bay.
Hawke’s Bay would win the second 1927 match 27-10. Not long after the final whistle everything turned turtle. A protest was lodged by Wairarapa.
It concerned the eligibility of Wattie Barclay, who had been in Auckland some time before and had played two club games.
The problem wasn’t so much Barclay’s eligibility; the main ruckus was about an apparent gentlemen’s agreement being broken. A few days before the match both unions had agreed that Barclay could play, as he had returned to the Bay from his Auckland sojourn by the time of the cut-off date for eligibility, which was thought to be 14 days prior to kickoff. Neither union had properly done its homework; for Shield matches the criteria was 21 days.
When the Solway Park match ended, a pot-stirring New Zealand Rugby Football Union official whispered to a Wairarapa colleague that Barclay had not returned in time to his province under the 21-day exclusion rule in place for Shield games.
After much protest and counter-protest, Hawke’s Bay were stripped of the Log o’ Wood and it returned to Masterton. It remains the only time the Shield has been removed from a province on a technicality.
Due to some spite in the match, the events in its aftermath, the whole affair became known as The Battle of Solway.
Bitter battles: Wellington v Canterbury
What is considered to be most bitter provincial rivalry in New Zealand rugby is not the most traditional by design. It’s not even derby-related as in Auckland-Waikato or Otago-Southland.
No, the most enduring feud could well be that between Wellington and Canterbury, which heated up in 1954 with the Ranfurly Shield.
In 1953 Canterbury had gone to Athletic Park to challenge, and were far too good in winning 24-3. There was no argument about the result. The problems leading to 1954 began with the speeches afterwards.
No doubt in high-spirits and feeling very charitable , Canterbury president Bill Dalley announced the Shield would be at stake when Wellington went to Christchurch for the first of their annual two home and away fixtures.
The Wellingtonians present took Dalley at his word. The summer passed, but when club rugby reconvened in Christchurch it was put to the Canterbury rugby board in no uncertain terms there would be no matches at stake for the Shield before the club season was complete.
With Wellington affected, a phone call was put through to the capital and all hell broke loose. Acrimony was so bad, the home and away series of 1954 was cancelled.
Two years later, after a tenure of 23 challenges resisted – one short of Hawke’s Bay’s record of the 1920s – Canterbury were defeated by their old friends, now bitter rivals, 8-0.
A small section of the home fans didn’t take kindly to the celebrations of the Wellington team. In a scene akin to some bad behaviour at a jumble sale, the team was assaulted with handbags and umbrellas. One player reportedly received a cut lip from a swinging brolly.
In 1982, festering wounds re-opened when Canterbury, with their coach Alex Wyllie, rehearsed a victory TV commercial with juice company Fresh Up before playing and beating Wellington 16-12 at Athletic Park.
One year on, Wellingtonians were irate when their dominant lineout ball-winner Murray Pierce was king-hit from behind and had his jaw fractured. Canterbury prevailed in a genuine Shield classic, 20-16.
In 2001, Wellington challenged and moved out to a 29-12 lead early into the second half. But Canterbury began starving the capital men of the ball. The penalty count began to mount, but there were none at all for Wellington. Commentator Keith Quinn would define the penalty-laden half as ‘‘a concerto for whistle and orchestra.’’
With time up, Wellington were grimly hanging on at 29-24. An extended injurytime allowed Canterbury fullback Ben Blair to cross for a try near the corner. The score of 29-29 was enough to keep the Log, but the conversion was landed and Canterbury had won 31-29. It’s safe to conclude that the equation of Canterbury plus the Ranfurly Shield equals almost nothing but misery for those from the capital city!