Ranfurly Shield 1920–1929

The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition.^[1] 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. Hawkes Bay were the most successful team during this period with 24 successful defences which was, at that stage, a record.

Holders[]

Union	Won	Successful Defences
Wellington	Held at beginning of decade	10
Southland	15 September 1920	1
Wellington	10 September 1921	2
Hawke's Bay	9 August 1922	24
Wairarapa	3 June 1927	2
Manawhenua	6 August 1927	2
Canterbury	7 September 1927	1
Wairarapa	18 July 1928	8
Southland	31 August 1929	0

Fixtures[]

1920[]

	2 June 1920	Wellington	15–3	Canterbury	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: Jack Shearer, Beethoven Algar, A. Gilchrist Con: Edward Roberts (3)		Pen:	Referee: Henry Paton (Wellington)

	30 June 1920	Wellington	22–3	Bay of Plenty	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: George Aitken (2), N.A.J. Barker, A.D. Jackson, E.E. Hughes, S.J. Standen Con: E.E. Hughes Arthur Wilson		Try: Duncan Heather	Referee: A.W. Thompson (Manawatu)

	7 July 1920	Wellington	20–9	Taranaki	Showgrounds Oval, Hawera
		Try: George Aitken, Mark Nicholls, , Jack Shearer Con: Mark Nicholls Pen: Mark Nicholls Drop: Mark Nicholls		Try: F.S. McKenna Con: S.D. George Drop: D. Sykes	Referee: F.C. Atkinson (Wanganui)

	28 July 1920	Wellington	20–5	Hawke's Bay	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: James Ryan (2), R.J. Harkness, Umberto Calcinai, Fred Tilyard, N.A.J. Barker Con: Mark Nicholls		Try: James Mapu Con: E. Kuru	Referee: John L. Simpson (Wellington)

	7 August 1920	Wellington	23–20	Auckland	Auckland Domain, Auckland
		Try: Umberto Calcinai (2), Arthur Wilson, N.A.J. Barker, E.E. Hughes Con: Mark Nicholls (4)		Try: A.P. Singe, E. Earlly, R. Taylor Con: G.W. Murray, W.A. Laxon Pen: W.A. Laxon Drop: C.N. Kingstone	Attendance: 14,000 Referee: F.C. Atkinson (Wanganui)

	21 August 1920	Wellington	16–5	Taranaki	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: George Aitken (2), James Tilyard, Con: Edward Roberts (2)		Try: H.T. Wilkinson Con: R.W. Roberts	Referee: Charles Kitto (Wellington)

	28 August 1920	Wellington	20–14	Wanganui	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: N.A.J. Barker, James Tilyard, George Aitken, Mark Nicholls Con: Mark Nicholls (2) Drop: Edmond Ryan		Try: T. Sullivan, R. Scott, Kenneth Svenson Con: R. Cowie Pen: R. Cowie	Referee: John L. Simpson (Wellington)

	4 September 1920	Wellington	20–3	Auckland	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: , Umberto Calcinai, E.E. Hughes, James Tilyard Con: Mark Nicholls (2) Drop: Edward Roberts		Try: T. Campbell	Referee: Edward McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	9 September 1920	Wellington	32–16	South Canterbury	Caledonian Ground, Timaru
		Try: W. O'Sullivan (2), T. Price (2), Umberto Calcinai, Sydney Shearer, Arthur Wilson Con: Mark Nicholls (4) Pen: Mark Nicholls		Try: Phillippe Cabot, J.E. Cooke Con: A. Scott (2) Drop: A. Scott	Referee: R. McKenzie (Otago)

	11 September 1920	Wellington	16–5	Otago	Carisbrook, Dunedin
		Try: W. O'Sullivan (2) Con: Mark Nicholls Drop: Edward Roberts (2)		Try: William Fea Con: J. Turnbull	Referee: R. McKenzie (Otago)

	15 September 1920	Southland	17–6	Wellington	Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
		Try: N.F. Stead (2), G.A. Fortune, J.W. Holmes Con: I.H. Brown Pen: Andrew White		Try: J.W. McCabe Con: Mark Nicholls	Referee: John Stalker (Southland)

1921[]

	20 August 1921	Southland	10–8	Otago	Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
		Try: E.H. Diack, E.M. Gilmour Con: H. Agnew (2)		Try: E.B. Stewart Con: R.C. Bell Pen: R.C. Bell	Referee: J.F. Peake (Canterbury)

	10 September 1921	Wellington	28–13	Southland	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: E.W. King, C.J.M. Gair, F.C. Hutchinson, Sydney Shearer, Con: Mark Nicholls (2) Pen: Mark Nicholls (2) Drop: F.C. Hutchinson		Try: E.H. Diack, H.J. Brown, L.R. Lopdell Con: H. Agnew (2)	Referee: R. McKenzie (Otago)

	21 September 1921	Wellington	27–19	Auckland	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: A.D. Jackson (2), Doug Algar, Jack Shearer, Sydney Shearer, Mark Nicholls Con: Mark Nicholls Pen: Mark Nicholls Drop: Mark Nicholls		Try: Laurie Knight, L.C. Williams, , Karl Ifwersen Con: (2) Pen:	Referee: John L. Simpson (Wellington)

	24 September 1921	Wellington	13–8	Otago	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: E.W. King, James Duncan, Mark Nicholls Drop:		Try: G.L. Owles (2) Con: John Richardson	Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

1922[]

	9 August 1922	Hawke's Bay	19–9	Wellington	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: Jack Kirwan (2), J.H. Scott, Con: Gordon Yates (2) Pen: Gordon Yates		Try: Ward Udy, S.J. Standen, W.T. Ryan	Referee: Alfred Neilson (Wellington)

	2 September 1922	Hawke's Bay	17–16	Bay of Plenty	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: Cyril Brownlie, L.H. Hingston, Wattie Barclay, J.M. Blake Con: Gordon Yates Pen: Gordon Yates		Try: P. Wihapi, David Borell, Charles Montgomery, C. Alexander Con: A.L. McLean, Noel Boucher	Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	16 September 1922	Hawke's Bay	42–8	King Country	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Bert Grenside (3), U. Batchelor (2), R.F. O'Donoghue (2), Jack Kirwan, T. Daly Con: Gordon Yates (5), R.F. O'Donoghue Pen: Gordon Yates		Try: R.L. Harty Con: J.B. Macken Pen: J.B. Macken	Referee: Bill O'Neill (Hawke's Bay)

1923[]

	4 June 1923	Hawke's Bay	6–0	Wairarapa	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Percy Martin-Smith Pen: George Nēpia			Attendance: 5,000 Referee: John L. Simpson (Wellington)

	28 July 1923	Hawke's Bay	10–6	Wellington	McLean Park, Napier
		Pen: George Nēpia Drop: Gordon Yates, Alexander Kirkpatrick		Try: W.F.F. Faber, John Duncan	Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	11 August 1923	Hawke's Bay	15–0	Poverty Bay	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: N.L. Kivell, Cyril Brownlie, James Mapu, George Nēpia, Jimmy Mill			Referee: A.E. Freeman (Wairarapa)

	15 August 1923	Hawke's Bay	9–8	Canterbury	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: George Nēpia, Lui Paewai, Bert Grenside		Try: J.H. Parker Con: I.H. Brown Drop: I.H. Brown	Referee: F.C. Atkinson (Wanganui)

	8 September 1923	Hawke's Bay	38–11	Horowhenua-Kapiti	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Bert Grenside (3), Alby Falwasser, T. Daly, Sam Gemmell, Maurice Brownlie, J. Walker, William Irvine, George Nēpia Con: George Nēpia (3), Maurice Brownlie		Try: K. Kelly, Rewi Moynihan Con: Hohepa Jacob Pen: Hohepa Jacob	Attendance: 5,000 Referee: George Maddison (Hawke's Bay)

	22 September 1923	Hawke's Bay	20–5	Auckland	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Jimmy Mill (2), Lui Paewai, , J. Walker Con: George Nēpia Drop: George Nēpia		Try: Bert Cooke Con: Karl Ifwersen	Referee: Alfred Eckhold (Otago)

1924[]

	3 June 1924	Hawke's Bay	30–14	Wairarapa	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Bert Grenside (2), Jimmy Mill, J.M. Blake, J.W.D. Mardon, Alexander Kirkpatrick, Sam Gemmell, Alby Falwasser Con: N. McCarthy (3)		Try: Albert Desmond (2), H. Parker Con: J. Hiroti Pen: J. Hiroti	Referee: Charles Kitto (Wellington)

	21 June 1924	Hawke's Bay	46–10	Poverty Bay	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Bert Grenside (4), (2), Cyril Brownlie (2), Alby Falwasser, Jack Ormond, N.L. Kivell Con: George Nēpia (2), Jimmy Mill (2), William Irvine Pen: George Nēpia		Try: Robert Whaitiri, J.H. Scott Con: P. Tureia (2)	Attendance: 4,500 Referee: George Madison (Hawke's Bay)

	16 August 1924	Hawke's Bay	35–3	Nelson	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: Alby Falwasser (4), J.M. Blake (2), C.C. Hingston, J. Hebberley Con: J.W.D. Mardon Pen: Gordon Yates (2), L.A. Miller		Try: C.H.A. Kinzett	Referee: E.D. Berry (Hawke's Bay)

	23 August 1924	Hawke's Bay	23–6	Auckland	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Bert Grenside (2), Jack Ormond, Alby Falwasser, J.M. Blake Con: Gordon Yates Pen: Gordon Yates Drop: Tommy Corkill		Try: Neil Ifwersen Drop: J. Kirwan	Referee: Bill O'Neill (Hawke's Bay)

	30 August 1924	Hawke's Bay	31–5	Manawatu	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: Tommy Corkill (3), Alby Falwasser (3), J.W.D. Mardon (2), C.C. Hingston Con: Gordon Yates, L.A. Miller		Try: J. McDonald Con: L.J. Mullins	Referee: George Madison (Hawke's Bay)

1925[]

	3 June 1925	Hawke's Bay	22–3	Wairarapa	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Bert Grenside (2), Jimmy Mill, Cyril Brownlie, M. Mahoney Con: George Nēpia, L.A. Miller Drop: H.H. Wylie		Pen: Frank Booth	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: F.C. Atkinson (Wanganui)

	5 August 1925	Hawke's Bay	24–18	Canterbury	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Maurice Brownlie, Bert Grenside, J.M. Blake, Jimmy Mill, Alby Falwasser Con: William Irvine (3) Pen: William Irvine		Try: S. Baird, Alan Robilliard, W.A. Ford, C.J. Oliver Con: D.C. Nixon (3)	Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	8 August 1925	Hawke's Bay	31–12	Southland	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Sam Gemmell (2), Tommy Corkill, Maurice Brownlie, Alexander Kirkpatrick, J.M. Blake, Alby Falwasser, Bert Grenside, J. Walker Con: William Irvine (2)		Try: W.E. Hazlett, E.I. Ottrey Con: Frank Kilby Drop: Frank Kilby	Referee: W.J. Meredith (Auckland)

	22 August 1925	Hawke's Bay	28–3	Taranaki	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: Wattie Barclay (2), J.M. Blake (2), H.H. Wylie, Maurice Brownlie, Bert Grenside Con: William Irvine, H.H. Wylie Pen: Jimmy Mill		Try: Wallace R. Robinson	Referee: Wm. O'Neill (Hawke's Bay)

	5 September 1925	Hawke's Bay	20–11	Wellington	Athletic Park, Wellington
		Try: John Swain (2), Alby Falwasser, Tommy Corkill, J.M. Blake, Maurice Brownlie Con: William Irvine		Try: Kenneth Svenson Con: Mark Nicholls Pen: Mark Nicholls Drop: Kenneth Svenson	Referee: F.C. Atkinson (Wanganui)

	9 September 1925	Hawke's Bay	34–14	Otago	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: J.M. Blake (3), Jack Ormond, Alby Falwasser, J. Walker, Jimmy Mill, Cyril Brownlie Con: Bert Grenside (3), Gordon Yates (2)		Try: R.G. Webb (2) Con: F. Donnelly Pen: F. Donnelly Drop: L.G.T. Townsend	Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

1926[]

	3 June 1926	Hawke's Bay	77–14	Wairarapa	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: J.M. Blake (5), Maurice Brownlie (3), Bert Cooke (3), Tommy Corkill (2), E.S. Craven, G. Tait, Bert Grenside, Cyril Brownlie Con: Bert Grenside (8), Maurice Brownlie (5)		Try: Randall Booth, K.G. Fairbrother Con: Frederick Fuller Pen: Frederick Fuller (2)	Referee: George Madison (Hawke's Bay)

	5 June 1926	Hawke's Bay	36–3	Wanganui	Nelson Park, Hastings
		Try: Bert Cooke (3), Bert Grenside (2), John Swain (2), G. Tait, William Irvine, Alexander Kirkpatrick Con: Bert Grenside (2), Jimmy Mill		Pen: Dudley Cameron	Referee: E.D. Berry (Hawke's Bay)

	14 August 1926	Hawke's Bay	58–8	Wellington	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: Bert Grenside (5), Alexander Kirkpatrick (2), J.M. Blake, Cyril Brownlie, Bert Cooke, L.M. Johnson, Edward Single, John Swain Con: George Nēpia (7), Bert Grenside Pen: George Nēpia		Try: E.F. Barry Con: Mark Nicholls Pen: Mark Nicholls	Referee: Alfred Eckhold (Otago)

	21 August 1926	Hawke's Bay	41–11	Auckland	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: J.M. Blake (3), Bert Cooke (2), Maurice Brownlie, Cyril Brownlie, J.P. Swain, M. Mahoney Con: George Nēpia (2), Bert Grenside (2) Pen: George Nēpia (2)		Try: Neil Ifwersen, F.W. Lucas Con: R.G. McWilliams Drop: L. Freeman	Referee: R.J. Paton (Wellington)

	18 September 1926	Hawke's Bay	17–15	Canterbury	Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch
		Try: Bert Grenside (2), William Irvine, Bert Cooke, Maurice Brownlie Con: Bert Grenside		Try: Alan Robilliard, N. Dorreen Con: Herb Lilburne Pen: S.R. Carleton Drop: Herb Lilburne	Referee: Alfred Eckhold (Otago)

1927[]

	3 June 1927	Hawke's Bay	11–15	Wairarapa	McLean Park, Napier
		Try: J.P. Swain Con: Bert Grenside Pen: Bert Grenside (2)		Try: W. Yates Pen: Rawi Cundy (4)	Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	2 July 1927	Wairarapa	53–3	Bush	Cameron and Soldiers Memorial Park, Masterton
		Try: Bert Cooke (3), Clinton Stringfellow (2), W. Yates (2), Randall Booth (2), Rawi Cundy, W.B. Reside, I.H. Harvey, Quentin Donald Con: Bert Cooke (5), Rawi Cundy (3)		Pen: C.B. Udy	Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	9 July 1927	Wairarapa	10–21[nb 1]	Hawke's Bay	Solway Showgrounds Oval, Masterton
		Try: L. Roach, Bert Cooke Con: Rawi Cundy (2)		Try: W.J. Huxtable (2), Wattie Barclay, J.P. Swain Con: Bert Grenside (3) Pen: Bert Grenside	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	6 August 1927	Wairarapa	16–18	Manawhenua	Showgrounds Oval, Carterton
		Try: I.H. Harvey, Bert Cooke, Con: Rawi Cundy (2) Pen: Rawi Cundy		Try: T. Parsons, G. Persson, C. Hunt, Hone McDonald Con: K.D. Brophy (2), Hohepa Jacob	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Charles Kitto (Wellington)

	31 August 1927	Manawhenua	9–3	Taranaki	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Try: M. Tremewan, E. Anderson Pen: Hohepa Jacob		Try: R. O'Keeffe	Referee: F.E. Sutherland (Auckland)

	3 September 1927	Manawhenua	25–6	Wanganui	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Try: Hone McDonald (3), T. Parsons, M. Tremewan, Hohepa Jacob Con: Hohepa Jacob (2) Pen: Hohepa Jacob		Try: J. Johnston Pen: F. Leahy	Referee: D.A. Clark (Canterbury)

	7 September 1927	Manawhenua	6–17	Canterbury	Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North
		Try: W. Parata Pen: Hohepa Jacob		Try: Alan Robilliard (2), W.C. Dalley Con: Herb Lilburne Pen: S.R. Carleton Drop: W.C. Dalley	Attendance: 8,000 Referee: F.C. Atkinson (Wanganui)

1928[]

	14 July 1928	Canterbury	29–9	South Canterbury	Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch
		Try: C.D. Chesley (2), G.F. Hart (2), C.J. Oliver, S.F. Fookes, D.G. Grant Con: C.D. Chesley (4)		Try: T. Manning Pen: D.G. Fairbrother, E.M. Halsteed	Referee: Alfred Eckhold (Otago)

	18 July 1928	Canterbury	7–8	Wairarapa	Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch
		Try: A.E. Cooke, R. Jury Con: A.E. Cooke		Pen: C.D. Chesley Drop: C.J. Oliver	Attendance: 20,000 Referee: R. Herd (Otago)

	11 August 1928	Wairarapa	57–11	Bush	Cameron and Soldiers Memorial Park, Masteron
		Try: W. Yates (2), M.J. Parker (2), Bert Cooke (2), Clinton Stringfellow, Stanley Willoughby, I.A. Hart, N. McGregor, K.G. Fairbrother Con: Rawi Cundy (9) Pen: Rawi Cundy (2)		Try: G. Harris (2), L. Bartosh Con: C.B. Udy	Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	18 August 1928	Wairarapa	26–8	Marlborough	Showgrounds Oval, Carterton
		Try: W. Yates (2), Clinton Stringfellow, R. Jury, K.G. Fairbrother, J.T. Walker Con: Rawi Cundy (3), W. Yates		Try: F. Barclay, L. Hounsell Con: G. Isherwood	Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	22 August 1928	Wairarapa	9–3	Wellington	Showgrounds Oval, Carterton
		Try: Quentin Donald, G.R. Sharp Pen: W. Pates		Pen: F.S. Ramson	Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa)

	15 September 1928	Wairarapa	31–10	Manawhenua	Showgrounds Oval, Carterton
		Try: J.G. Donald (2), M.J. Parker (2), R. Jury, Clinton Stringfellow, Rawi Cundy Con: Rawi Cundy (3) Drop: L. Roach		Try: D.Tatana, T. Parsons Drop: W. Gleeson	Referee: Joseph King (Wanganui)

1929[]

	20 July 1929	Wairarapa	10–6	Hawke's Bay	Cameron and Soldiers Memorial Park, Masteron
		Try: Randall Booth, A.V. Jury Con: Frederick Fuller (2)		Try: L.F. South Pen: Jack Ruru	Attendance: 12,000 Referee: Joseph Moffitt (Wellington)

	10 August 1929	Wairarapa	17–14	Auckland	Showgrounds Oval, Carterton
		Try: W.R. Irvine Con: Frederick Fuller Pen: Frederick Fuller (4)		Try: K.D. Anderson, L.S. Hook, F.S. Lucas, P.C. Minns Con: Ronald Bush	Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Hugh Whittington (Taranaki)

	17 August 1929	Wairarapa	37–16	Manawhenua	Cameron and Soldiers Memorial Park, Masteron
		Try: Bert Cooke (2), Jimmy Mill, Rawi Cundy, Frederick Fuller, Clinton Stringfellow, Tommy Corkill, J.G. Donald Con: Rawi Cundy (3), Frederick Fuller (2) Pen: Rawi Cundy		Try: W. Parata, T. Parata, T.J. Miles Con: Eric Fletcher (2) Pen: Eric Fletcher	Referee: T.A. Fletcher (Wellington)

	28 August 1929	Wairarapa	17–12	Canterbury	Cameron and Soldiers Memorial Park, Masteron
		Try: Stanley Willougby, W.R. Irvine, Rawi Cundy Con: Rawi Cundy, Frederick Fuller Drop: Bert Cooke		Try: J.T. Robinson, G.F. Hart Con: Herb Lilburne Drop: D.M. Hay	Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Joseph Moffitt (Wellington)

	31 August 1929	Wairarapa	16–19	Southland	Showgrounds Oval, Carterton
		Try: Clinton Stringfellow (2) Pen: Rawi Cundy, Frederick Fuller Drop: Frederick Fuller		Try: B.A. Mahoney, R.M. Bird Pen: G. Porter (2) Drop: G. Porter (2)	Referee: T.A. Fletcher (Wellington)

Table footnotes[]

References[]

https://web.archive.org/web/20100525103211/http://www.scrum.co.nz/Ranfurly_Shield_1920-1929.asp

External links[]

• Ranfurly Shield at nzrugby.com