It's RANFURLY SHIELD time

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Young Lions to defend shield

By SAM WORTHINGTON - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Tuesday, 30 June 2009



DEFENCE: Wellington Lions will play the first game
of their 2009 Ranfurly Shield campaign on Thursday.
— JOHN SELKIRK/The Dominion Post.

The Wellington Lions insist they are not taking the Ranfurly Shield, nor their challengers, lightly, despite naming a virtual club team for their opening defence against Wairarapa-Bush on Thursday.

Wellington named a green XV last night to play the Heartland Championship minnows at Masterton's Memorial Park.

Wests openside flanker Scott Fuglistaller, 22, was named captain of a starting side that includes just one Hurricane, exciting wing David Smith.

Marist St Pat's backs Apoua Stewart, Fa'atonu Fili and Anthony Bradshaw, recovered from a horrific concussion last month, are the only experienced heads in a side full of club standouts and academy prospects.

Coach Jamie Joseph has given himself some insurance, however, with Ged Robinson, Anthony Perenise, Api Naikatini and Daniel Kirkpatrick all boasting Super 14 experience off the bench.

Tawa second five-eighth Shaun Treeby, impressive at the under-20 World Cup in Japan, is also named in the reserves and there will be particular interest in the performance of the starting midfield.

Northern United centre Alipati Leiua, who has scored club tries at will this season, partners new recruit Charlie Ngatai, who shifts in a spot from his usual role at Poneke.

"Charlie Ngatai at second five-eighth, he's come from Gisborne with a huge reputation," Lions backs coach Andre Bell said.

"He's done a lot of work and I'm really excited to have a look at him play. Alipati Leiua has played some top football top try-scorer in the club competition. So a young pairing in the midfield and we're certainly looking forward to seeing how they combine."

Bell said the Lions weren't taking the occasion lightly and the squad was well drilled after training for more than three months together.

"A lot of them have played some good club footy. It's a matter of rewarding these guys and giving them an opportunity to prove that they can play some first-class rugby.

"We gave them an introduction to the Ranfurly Shield in terms of the history of it and taking a few of them through the experience of winning the shield.

"We've got to make it an enjoyable occasion for them and we want to play some good rugby rather than close up and defend it."

Bell admitted he knew next to nothing about the Wairarapa-Bush side, other than the presence of Hutt Old Boys Marist halfback/first five-eighth Nick Risdon.

"But we've certainly warned the players that Wairarapa-Bush have nothing to lose," he said.

"So for us to come over the hill, they'll be chomping at the bit and saying, `let's do everything possible, we've got nothing to lose so let's try and spoil the occasion'."

Before their amalgamation, Wairarapa won the Ranfurly Shield in 1927, defending it for 11 games and again in 1950, losing their first defence to South Canterbury.

The Lions had a scare in their only shield defence since lifting it off Auckland at Eden Park last year, narrowly surviving the challenge of Tasman in a 26-22 win.

—————————————————————————

THE WELLINGTON TEAM

Jason Woodward, Apoua Stewart, Alipati Leiua, Charlie Ngatai, David Smith, Fa'atonu Fili, Anthony Bradshaw, Matthew Luamanu, Scott Fuglistaller (c), Kaipati Gaualofa, Mark Reddish, Chris Middleton, Arden David-Perrott, Motu Matu'u, Adrian Barone.

Reserves: Ged Robinson, Anthony Perenise, Api Naikatini, Masefau Leuluniu, Tomasi Palu, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Shaun Treeby.

—————————————————————————

THE SHIELD DEFENCE

Last season: v Tasman, won 26-20.

This season:

• Thursday v Wairarapa-Bush, Masterton.
• July 09 v Wanganui, Cooks Gardens, Wanganui.
• July 31 v Otago.
• August 22 v Auckland.
• August 29 v Canterbury.
• September 24 v Southland.
• October 03 v Manawatu.
• October 17 v North Harbour.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/local-sport/2550555/Young-Lions-to-defend-shield

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Shield challenge excites Wairarapa Bush

By WALT DICKSON - Wairarapa News | 10:51AM - Wednesday, 01 July 2009

Pitting Wairarapa-Bush against Wellington is nothing short of a David and Goliath match-up.

But unlike the biblical fable there will be no fairy-tale to this encounter.

The Wellington Lions will successfully defend the Ranfurly Shield in Masterton tomorrow, the question remains by what margin.

While the holders have named only one Super14 player (wing David Smith) in their starting XV a further four are on the bench and are expected to get some game time. The Jamie Joseph coached side also includes under-20 World Cup player Shaun Treeby (also on the bench) plus the capital's club standouts and academy prospects.

But realism aside, Wairarapa-Bush coach Kelvin Tantrum says he and his chargers can't help but be "very excited" about the challenge that awaits them. For grass-root rugby players, particularly in the modern era, the chance to play in a "Shield match" rarely, if ever, comes their way.

"Hopefully they can look back on it with a bit of fondness and say hey I played in a challenge for the Ranfurly Shield and I played pretty well," Tantrum says.

In that respect the score will be irrelevant. Tantrum says they will measure themselves by their own standards.

"The only expectation for us is to put a decent performance on the field. The public (and the players) have got to be realistic, I've seen the team that they have put up and it's a pretty bloody useful team so our expectation is that we have just got to put a good performance on the field."

The rugby public can not ask for anymore.

Wairarapa-Bush, who haven't won the famed "log o' wood" since 1950, last challenged for it in 2005 when they took on mighty Canterbury. While every bit the mis-match of tomorrow's encounter, Wairarapa-Bush, under Peter Russell, were Division Three Champions and primed for a successful campaign in the inaugural Heartland Championship. Tantrum on the other hand endured a disastrous debut with Wairarapa-Bush last season and to boot has lost a big contingent of his experienced personnel.

Of the XV to start tomorrow only seven have experience at Heartland level. Tantrum says the lack of experience is not ideal however he has every confidence in the squad.

"At this stage we are a very young team and really it is a case of seeing what they can do. Admittedly we will be under the hammer a fair bit but I'm happy with what I've seen so far . . . we are just trying to work on the basics and get hold of the ball and hang onto it for as long as we can when we do have it."

—————————————————————————

WAIRARAPA SQUAD: 1 Nick Beavon, 2 Willie Leota, 3 Kurt Simmonds, 4 Andrew McLean, 5 Brandon Young, 6 Joss Tua-Davidson, 7 Jared Hawkins, 8 Duncan Law, 9 Zeb Aporo, 10 Byron Karaitiana, 11 Jordan Watene, 12 Sam Mitchell, 13 Heemi Tupaea, 14 Nick Olson, 15 Jason Kjestrup.

Reserves: - Richard Puddy, Brett Rudman, Nathan Rolls, Joe Feast, Nick Risdon, Tommy Harmon, Rupeni Temani.

MATCH: Wairarapa-Bush v Wellington Lions, Thursday 02 July 3pm Trust House Memorial Park Masterton.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/communities/wairarapa-news/2553421/Shield-challenge-excites-Wairarapa-Bush

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

City or the Bush?

By TANYA KATTERNS - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Thursday, 02 July 2009



HORI THOMPSON: The youngest player in Wairarapa's 1950 shield-winning team.
“Anything is possible, isn't it? I'll be backing Wararapa-Bush, no question about that.”
— PHIL REID/The Dominion Post.

It has been 59 years between drinks but the drought has not dampened shield fever as Wairarapa-Bush embark on a stoic challenge to regain the country's most well-known sporting trophy.

At least 5000 heartland supporters will flock to Masterton's Memorial Park today as Wairarapa-Bush battle to snatch the Log o' Wood from Wellington. Kickoff is at 3.05pm.

If the betting odds are anything to go by, however, Wairarapa go into the game as underdogs. TAB bookies have the team at $100 to win or draw and Wellington at $5 to win by 50 to 80 points, and $6 to win by 111-plus.

Not since 1950 has Ranfurly Shield fever reached such fervour in Wairarapa. Then the local team captured the shield with a 3-0 drop-goal win over Canterbury.

One of that team's star performers and captain on the day, former All Black Alan "Kiwi" Blake, said they were the heady days of Wairarapa rugby.

"It was such a great win for us because not only were we playing in Canterbury's turf but we were not expected to be any challenge to them at all."

The day was so special that the boots of fullback Alf Mahupuku, whose drop goal sealed the match, are kept for posterity at Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union headquarters.

However, Wairarapa's hold on the shield was shortlived.

The youngest player at the time, Hori Thompson, said most players thought the season had ended so left the region for shearing work.

"The coach turned up on a Thursday at work and said, ‘You guys are playing this weekend’. Most of the lads had been drunk for two weeks since the win ... and no one had been training." Wairarapa went down 17-14 to South Canterbury in the first defence.

Today's tussle would be a showdown between the power of a city side and the more laidback form of country lads, Wairarapa-Bush chief executive Phil Taylor said.

"We are the gumboot boys and they are the briefcase lot. We train two or three times a week while they train maybe every day. All we want to do is perform to our best."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/2557233/City-or-the-Bush

[Lovelee]

OOO Yeh Wire Wrapper Bush - I reckon Dad will be rolling round watching it from somewhere above, however, a young side with room in front of them, they will loose 

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Wellington Lions dominate Ranfurly Shield challengers

By SAM WORTHINGTON - The Dominion Post | 3:52PM - Thursday, 02 July 2009

It took just three minutes for Wellington to quell any thought of a Wairarapa-Bush uprising, swamping the Ranfurly Shield challengers 45-7 at halftime at Masterton's Memorial Park this afternoon.

The gulf in class between the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship sides was yawning, despite Wellington sending a B-team over the hill.

The Lions were completely dominant in all areas, the minutes on the clock struggling to keep up with the first half points scoring, six Wellington tries to one.

Wairarapa-Bush haven't held the Ranfurly Shield since 1950 and it didn't take long for the floodgates to open, Hurricanes wing David Smith crossing in just the third minute.

Smith was the benefactor of second-five Charlie Ngatai's midfield bust, Ngatai linking with impressive New Zealand under-20 centre Shaun Treeby who found his flying wing in support.

Rookie fullback Jason Woodward was next to cross, supporting right wing Alipati Leiua, whose pace and footwork rival Smith's.

Then it was the forwards' turn to get in on the act, No 8 Matt Luamanu and hooker Motu Matu'u both handling in lock Mark Reddish's try.

Halfback Anthony Bradshaw then scooted clear from a ruck to give Wellington a 31-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

Wellington's other lock, Chris Middleton, continued the onslaught with another five-pointer after the Lions shunted the Bush scrum backwards.

Bradshaw then crossed for a brace, backing up a Treeby counter-attack.

Wellington captain Scott Fuglistaller at least gave the colourful home crowd of about 5000 something to cheer about when he bombed a first half try-scoring chance by passing to the touch judge.

Bush No 8 Duncan Law later ensured he wouldn't be paying for a drink this year, skipping through some flimsy defence off the back of the scrum to open the home side's account.

It is Wellington's second defence of the shield after edging Tasman 26-20 last year.

The Lions made one change to their starting side before kick-off, Treeby replacing Apoua Stewart, with Leiua moved from centre to the wing.

A minute's silence was observed before kick-off to mark the recent passing of Robert Guildford, father of Hurricane Zac Guildford.

Halftime Scoreboard: Wellington 45 (David Smith, Jason Woodward, Mark Reddish, Anthony Bradshaw 2, Chris Middleton tries; Fa'atonu Fili penalty, 6 conversions); Wairarapa-Bush 7 (Duncan Law try; Byron Karaitiana conversion).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/local-sport/2559916/Wellington-Lions-dominate-Ranfurly-Shield-challengers

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Ranfurly Shield: Lions' record try haul

By SAM WORTHINGTON - The Dominion Post | 4:49PM - Thursday, 02 July 2009



SCORE: Wellington's David Smith heads for the try-line.
— MAARTEN HOLL/The Dominion Post.

It took just three minutes for Wellington to quell any thought of a Wairarapa-Bush uprising, swamping the Ranfurly Shield challengers 90-19 at Masterton's Memorial Park this afternoon.

The gulf in class between the Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship sides was yawning, despite Wellington sending a B-team over the hill.

The slick Lions were completely dominant in all areas, the minutes on the clock struggling to keep up with the points scoring, 13 Wellington tries to three.

That broke a 56-year Wellington record for most tries scored in a shield game, eclipsing the 10 scored against East Coast in 1953.

Wairarapa-Bush haven't held the shield since 1950 and it didn't take long for the floodgates to open, Hurricanes wing David Smith crossing in just the third minute.

Smith was the benefactor of second-five Charlie Ngatai's midfield bust, Ngatai linking with impressive New Zealand under-20 centre Shaun Treeby who found his flying wing in support.

Rookie fullback Jason Woodward was next to cross, supporting right wing Alipati Leiua, whose pace and footwork rival Smith's.

Then it was the forwards' turn to get in on the act, No 8 Matt Luamanu and hooker Motu Matu'u both handling in lock Mark Reddish's try.

Halfback Anthony Bradshaw then scooted clear from a ruck to give Wellington a 31-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

Wellington's other lock, Chris Middleton, continued the onslaught with another five-pointer after the Lions shunted the Bush scrum backwards.

Bradshaw then crossed for a brace, backing up a Treeby counter-attack.

Wellington captain Scott Fuglistaller at least gave the colourful home crowd of about 5000 something to cheer about when he bombed a first half try-scoring chance by passing to the touch judge.

Bush No 8 Duncan Law later ensured he wouldn't be paying for a drink this year, skipping through some flimsy defence off the back of the scrum to open the home side's account for a 45-7 halftime score.

But the Lions were back to business early in the second stanza, the giant Luamanu and replacement forward Api Naikitini strolling over after scrum turnovers.

Woodward grabbed his second off a well-worked lineout move and Smith did the same from yet another scrum turnover.

Fuglistaller then atoned for his earlier blunder by crossing the chalk.

Replacement Joe Feast scored Bush's second try, looming in support after Wellington replacement pivot Daniel Kirkpatrick's clearing kick was charged down.

Substitiute Wellington wing Marika Kau — a late call-up to the bench — and Ngatai inflicted more misery on the Bush with tries.

Ad Feedback Wairarapa wing Nick Olsen scored Wairarapa's third try as the clock ticked away.

It was Wellington's second defence of the shield after edging Tasman 26-20 last year.

The Lions made one change to their starting side before kick-off, Treeby replacing Apoua Stewart, with Leiua moved from centre to the wing.

It was hard to pick a standout Lion, but Oriental-Rongotai rake Matu'u caught the eye with several bone-jarring tackles.

Wellington's next shield defence is away to another Heartland side, Wanganui, at Cooks Gardens next Thursday.

A minute's silence was observed before kick-off to mark the recent passing of Robert Guildford, father of Hurricane Zac Guildford.

THE SCOREBOARD

Wellington: 90 — David Smith 2, Jason Woodward 2, Mark Reddish, Anthony Bradshaw 2, Chris Middleton, Matt Luamanu, Api Naikitini, Scott Fuglistaller, Marika Kau, Charlie Ngatai tries; Fa'atonu Fili penalty, 9 conversions; Daniel Kirkpatrick 2 conversions.

Wairarapa-Bush: 19 — Duncan Law, Joe Feast, Nick Olsen tries; Byron Karaitiana 2 conversions.

Halftime Score: 45-7.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/local-sport/2559916/Ranfurly-Shield-Lions-record-try-haul

[Lovelee]

 

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Wellington Lions too strong for spirited Wanganui

Eight tries in successful Shield defence

By TOBY ROBSON in Wanganui - The Dominion Post | 5:00PM - Thursday, 09 July 2009



POINT MAN: Wellington first five eighths Daniel Kirkpatrick
goes over for a try. — MAARTEN HOLL/The Dominion Post.

Wellington overcame a bout of poor handling and a brave Wanganui challenge to comfortably secure the Ranfurly Shield with a 61-6 win at Cooks Gardens today.

The Lions scored eight tries in extending their Shield tenure to three matches, but it was far from a vintage performance in front of about 4500 fans.

Wanganui's Shield drought stretched to 26 matches, but the 2009 side did the province proud with a spirited challenge and for large parts of the match the second division champions more than held their own.

Wellington led 23-3 at halftime - with first-five Dan Kirkpatrick scoring all of his 18 points before the break - before inflating the margin with three tries in the final five minutes of the match.

However, it took the holders 20 minutes to cross Wanganui's line and their performance was marked by too many basic handling errors.

In the end though there was only going to be one winner and the Wellington defence was simply too strong for Wanganui to breach.

Lions wing Alipate Leiua was the most impressive back on the field, scoring two tries to continue his prolific nose for the line this season.

Kirkpatrick looked assured, while Scott Fuglistaller was a presence around the field all day.

Kirkpatrick, David Smith, Charlie Ngatai, Shaun Treeby, Frae Wilson and Brendan Watt were the other try scorers.

Wanganui's best period came in the 15 minutes after the break and they were unlucky not to score before Wellington's superior fitness and size began to tell.

Wing Sam Scown shone on the right wing for the home side and there were useful efforts from big centre Fa'apulou Soolefai and lock Mike Fitzgerald.

The spirited local side took the game to the holders from the kickoff spinning it wide and keeping Wellington try less for the opening 20 minutes.

However, Kirkpatrick kept the scoreboard ticking over with three penalties before providing a perfectly weighted cross kick for wing Leiua to score the first try of the match.

Kirkpatrick crossed himself five minutes later after a midfield break by hooker Ged Robinson for a 23-0 lead.

Wanganui halfback Denning Tyrell kicked a deserved penalty near halftime and another after the break, but Wellington's defence ensured a number of promising moves came to nothing.

In the second half Wellington's passes began to stick. Ngatai laid on a try for Smith then scored himself as the score began to mount mid way through the second half.

Treeby scored after a Leiua break with 12 minutes to go before Leuia, replacement halfback Wilson and wing Watt inflated the scoreline before fulltime.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/local-sport/2580003/Wellington-Lions-too-strong-for-spirited-Wanganui

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Wellington hang on to keep shield

NZPA | 8:16PM - Saturday, 22 August 2009



DOTTING DOWN: Hosea Gear beats Paul Williams to score for Wellington. — Photosport.

Auckland produced their best performance of a flat Air NZ Cup campaign but it still wasn't enough to lift the Ranfurly Shield off Wellington.

Wellington retained the shield with a gripping 16-15 win in the capital, a result which owed everything to their willingness to graft for every metre gained.

Auckland looked the more promising with ball in hand but Wellington were better at the basics after leading 8-3 at halftime in a tight contest.

Wellington's third win in four outings this term came on the back of tries to prop John Schwalger and wing Hosea Gear, with Schwalger's effort in the 44th minute decisive.

It came after Gear attacked down the left flank before the ball was ferried to the far right where Schwalger found himself with enough open space to swan dive over the line.

Auckland enjoyed their best patch of the match in the next 15 minutes but had nothing to show for it outside of a try to substitute first five-eighth Daniel Bowden.

An initial thrust from wing Paul Williams in the 51st minute was built on by quickly recycled ball, which presented Bowden with a hole big enough to squeeze through.

Wellington first five-eighth Fa'atonu Fili landed a neat dropped goal 12 minutes later which extended his team's advantage to eight points and forced Auckland to make the play.

Make it they did, with replacement halfback Taniela Moa starting and finishing a 60m attack down the short side for Bowden to convert and slash the deficit to one point with 9min still on the clock.

The major talking point of the first half centred on referee Chris Pollock's decision to deny the well performed Fili a legitimate try in the 35th minute.

Fili latched on to a loose ball, toed ahead and regather before grounding it over the tryline but Pollock and his two touch judges were unsighted.

Pollock almost apologetically told Wellington captain that because the three officials were unsighted that he had no option other than to award the home side the feed to a 5m scrum.

With Westpac Stadium screen replays showing a try, the crowd was far from impressed but Pollock's hands were tied because competition rules do not allow match officials to review television footage.

As it was Wellington had to content themselves with just the one first-half try, scored by left wing Gear in the sixth minute.

Gear tiptoed down the touchline after rookie blindside flanker Mark Reddish hauled in a cross kick from Fili before drawing the last defender.

Highlights were few and far between in the opening 40 minutes, with the only other scoring coming from a Fili penalty and the same from his opposite Ash Moeke.

Wellington: 16 (Hosea Gear, John Schwalger tries; Fa'atonu Fili penalty, dropped goal).

Auckland: 15 (Daniel Bowden, Taniela Moa tries; Ash Moeke penalty, Bowden conversion).

Halftime: 8-3.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/2778370/Wellington-hang-on-to-keep-shield