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
editSix different unions held the Ranfurly Shield between 1930 and 1939.
| Union | Won | Successful defences |
|---|---|---|
 Southland |
Held at beginning of decade | 3 |
 Wellington |
3 September 1930 | 1 |
 Canterbury |
22 August 1931 | 15 |
 Hawke's Bay |
21 July 1934 | 2 |
 Auckland |
8 September 1934 | 1 |
| Canterbury |
10 August 1935 | 4 |
 Otago |
21 September 1935 | 8 |
| Southland |
31 July 1937 | 0 |
| Otago |
30 July 1938 | 5 |
| Southland |
10 September 1938 | 6 |
Fixtures
edit1930
edit| 26 July 1930 |
| Southland | 19–0 |  Wanganui |
| Try: Bert Geddes (2), Thomas Metcalfe, Joseph Bell, G. Porter Con: Charlie Diack (2) |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: J.L. Oughton (Southland) |
| 6 August 1930 |
| Southland | 37–5 | Otago |
| Try: Bert Geddes (3), R.G. Webb (2). Charlie Diack, W.H. Southern, Hunter McKenzie, C.T. George Con: Charlie Diack (5) | Try: David Lindsay Con: David Lindsay |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: R.J.G. Collins (Canterbury) |
| 16 August 1930 |
| Southland | 9–6 | Hawke's Bay |
| Pen: Charlie Diack (3) | Try: Cyril Brownlie Pen: Bert Grenside |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: Alan Fleury (Otago) |
| 3 September 1930 |
| Southland | 3–12 | Wellington |
| Try: R.G. Webb | Try: Don Oliver (2), Hubert McLean, James Mackay |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: Alan Fleury (Otago) |
1931
edit| 22 July 1931 |
| Wellington | 36–13 | Southland |
| Try: Nelson Ball (2), E.F. Barry (2), Herb Lilburne (2), Hubert McLean, Angus Macdonald Con: Frank Kilby (3) | Try: D.U. Crosbie, Bert Geddes, D.G. Grant Con: G. Porter (2) |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: Alan Fleury (Otago) |
| 22 August 1931 |
| Wellington | 6–9 | Canterbury |
| Try: W.J. Huxtable, O.M. Price | Try: Gordon Innes, G.D. Day Con: A.W. Roberts |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: Joseph King (Taranaki) |
| 12 September 1931 |
| Canterbury | 17–6 | Otago |
| Try: W.J. Brown, R. Hazelhurst, Gordon Innes, W. Sweeney, N.A. Dunshea Con: A.W. Roberts | Try: Jack Robilliard Pen: Robert Souter |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Henry Leith (Wellington) |
1932
edit| 13 August 1932 |
| Canterbury | 11–5 |  South Canterbury |
| Try: Alan Andrews (2), Charlie Oliver Con: A.W. Roberts | Try: I.M. Caird Con: A.F. Gaffaney |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Joseph E. Moffitt (Wellington) |
| 20 August 1932 |
| Canterbury | 14–0 | Auckland |
| Try: George Hart, W.J. Brown, A.N. Boutrey Con: A.W. Roberts Pen: A.W. Roberts |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Samuel Hollander (Canterbury) |
| 27 August 1932 |
| Canterbury | 5–3 |  West Coast |
| Try: Anthony Cottrell Con: A.W. Roberts | Try: L.T. Martyn |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
| 3 September 1932 |
| Canterbury | 9–8 | Wellington |
| Try: Anthony Cottrell, A.N. Boutrey, R.K. King | Try: C.E. Robins, Angus Macdonald Con: J.R. Lamason |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Thomas McIntosh (West Coast) |
| 10 September 1932 |
| Canterbury | 13–0 | .png){kind=small} Buller |
| Try: R.K. King (2), W.J. Brown Drop: A.W. Roberts |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
| 24 September 1932 |
| Canterbury | 17–6 |  Waikato |
| Try: Jack Manchester, A.R. Bowes, W.J. Brown Con: A.W. Roberts Pen: A.W. Roberts (2) | Try: T. Thomson, G. Parker |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
1933
edit| 2 August 1933 |
| Canterbury | 31–7 |  Ashburton County |
| Try: N.A. Dunshea (2), Charlie Oliver (2), J. Hattersley (2) Keith Mortlock Con: N.A. Dunshea (2) Pen: R. Hazelhurst | Pen: I.L. Behrnes Drop: A. Bradford |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Attendance: 6,000 Referee: C.G. Crawford (Canterbury) |
| 19 August 1933 |
| Canterbury | 21–3 | Southland |
| Try: Alan Andrews, G.J. Howell, Charlie Oliver, George Hart, Jack Manchester Con: G.T. Noland (3) | Try: A. McKay |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Joseph E. Moffitt (Wellington) |
| 26 August 1933 |
| Canterbury | 8–5 | Otago |
| Try: George Hart, Keith Mortlock Con: G.T. Nolan | Try: H. McSkimming Con: H. McSkimming |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Herbert McKenzie (Wairarapa) |
| 2 September 1933 |
| Canterbury | 23–14 | West Coast |
| Try: R. Hazelhurst (2), R.K. King, Anthony Cottrell, J. Hattersley Con: R. Hazelhurst (4) | Try: R.B. Scandrett, Ronald King Con: L.T. Martyn Pen: L.T. Martyn (2) |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: A. Thompson (Canterbury) |
| 9 September 1933 |
| Canterbury | 13–3 | Buller |
| Try: R.K. King, Alan Andrews, A.R. Bowes Con: F.T.J. French (2) | Pen: E.C. Holder |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
| 16 September 1933 |
| Canterbury | 15–15 |  Taranaki |
| Try: Alan Andrews, F.T.J. French Con: F.T.J. French Pen: F.T.J. French Drop: R. Hazelhurst | Try: Kenneth Fookes, Clifford Wills, J. Ross Con: J. Ross Drop: Arthur Collins |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: C.G. Crawford (Canterbury) |
| 23 September 1933 |
| Canterbury | 6–3 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Keith Mortlock Pen: F.T.J. French | Try: John Boys |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
| 30 September 1933 |
| Canterbury | 36–0 |  King Country |
| Try: N.A. Dunshea (2), Jack Manchester (2), Charlie Oliver (2), W.J. Brown, Alan Andrews Con: F.T.J. French (2), Jack Manchester, Charlie Oliver Drop: Alf Cobden |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
1934
edit| 21 July 1934 |
| Canterbury | 0–9 | Hawke's Bay |
| Try: Bill Collins, Charles Smith, Eddy Apsey |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Samuel Hollander (Canterbury) |
| 16 August 1934 |
| Hawke's Bay | 39–16 | Wanganui |
| Try: Eddy Apsey (3), Charles Smith (2), T.W.D. Ireland, H.L. Bradley, J.G. Gunn, C.H. Rolls, Colin Le Quesne, W.M. Miller Con: H.W. Sheriffs (3) | Try: George Thakambau, I.A. McIntyre, T.C. Chase, J.C. Buckley Con: T.C. Chase (2) |
| McLean Park, Napier Attendance: 4,000 Referee: E.D. Berry (Hawke's Bay) |
| 1 September 1934 |
| Hawke's Bay | 23–8 | Taranaki |
| Try: Dick Steere (2), Charles Smith, C.H. Rolls, H.L. Bradley, Tori Reid, C.E. Evans Con: C.E. Evans | Try: L.H. Edwards Con: Arthur Collins Pen: Arthur Collins |
| McLean Park, Napier Referee: Albert de Clifton (Wellington) |
| 8 September 1934 |
| Hawke's Bay | 14–18 | Auckland |
| Try: Tori Reid, C.H. Rolls, Charles Smith Con: H.L. Bradley Drop: Colin Le Quesne | Try: Harcourt Caughey, E.J. Hedge, Ronald Bush Con: Leo Heazlewood (3) Pen: Leo Heazlewood |
| McLean Park, Napier Attendance: 9,000 Referee: R.J. Paton (Wellington) |
1935
edit| 3 July 1935 |
| Auckland | 29–8 |  North Auckland |
| Try: Frank Solomon (2), David Solomon, Henry Brown, A.H. Brown, Hubert McLean, R. Currey Con: Ronald Bush (4) | Try: L.C. Cooney Con: S.R. Pickering Pen: S.R. Pickering |
| Eden Park, Auckland Referee: A.E. Austin (Auckland) |
| 10 August 1935 |
| Auckland | 13–16 | Canterbury |
| Try: R.K. Anderson Pen: Ronald Bush (2) Drop: Ronald Bush | Try: J.G. Rankin, Horace Deavoll, Geoff Parsons, G.W. Thompson Con: Horace Deavoll (2) |
| Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 10,000 Referee: C.F. Paull (Auckland) |
| 24 August 1935 |
| Canterbury | 27–16 |  Wairarapa |
| Try: Clement McPhail (2), J.G. Polson (2), R.R.M. Innes, W. Sweeney, J.G. Rankin Con: Horace Deavoll (3) | Try: M.W. Devine, P. Ward, H.L. de C. Martelli Con: Frederick Fuller (2) Pen: Frederick Fuller |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: A. Thompson (Canterbury) |
| 31 August 1935 |
| Canterbury | 8–3 | Southland |
| Try: N.A. Dunshea, J.G. Rankin Con: Horace Deavoll | Try: H.W. Southern |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: R.W. Blazey (Canterbury) |
| 7 September 1935 |
| Canterbury | 16–11 | West Coast |
| Try: J.G. Rankin (2), Clement McPhail, R.R.M. Innes Con: Horace Deavoll (2) | Try: E. Pfahlert, W. Mann, C. Schroder Con: W.H. Vincent |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
| 14 September 1935 |
| Canterbury | 12–11 | South Canterbury |
| Try: R. Brown, J.O. Hattersley Pen: Horace Deavoll | Try: Gordon King, J.T. Strang Con: L.T. Martyn Pen: L.T. Martyn |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Referee: R.W. Blazey (Canterbury) |
| 21 September 1935 |
| Canterbury | 6–15 | Otago |
| Pen: Horace Deavoll, J.J. McAuliffe | Try: Jim Watt, F.J. Green, Charles Quaid Con: David Trevathan Drop: David Trevathan |
| Lancaster Park Oval, Christchurch Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
1936
edit| 1 August 1936 |
| Otago | 16–3 | Southland |
| Try: Jim Watt (2) Pen: David Trevathan (2) Drop: David Trevathan | Try: Johnny Purdue |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Leonard Morton Wright (Otago) |
| 5 August 1936 |
| Otago | 14–5 | Auckland |
| Try: A.E. Valentine, Colin Gillies Con: David Trevathan Pen: David Trevathan (2) | Try: A.H. Brown Con: Ronald Bush |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 28,000 Referee: Lyndon Macassey (Otago) |
| 12 August 1936 |
| Otago | 11–5 |  Manawatu |
| Try: Jim Watt Con: Jack Taylor Pen: Jack Taylor (2) | Try: R.M. Gillespie Con: W.G. Powell |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Leonard Morton Wright (Otago) |
| 26 August 1936 |
| Otago | 26–3 | South Canterbury |
| Try: John Hore (2), David Trevathan, Jim Watt Con: David Trevathan (3) Drop: David Trevathan (2) | Pen: Tom Morrison |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Samuel Hollander (Canterbury) |
| 29 August 1936 |
| Otago | 16–0 | Canterbury |
| Try: Frederick Vorrath, Bill Laney, Harold Simon Con: David Trevathan (2) Pen: David Trevathan |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: N.D. Tilley (Otago) |
| 5 September 1936 |
| Otago | 30–0 | North Auckland |
| Try: T.G. Gold (2), Bill Laney, Harold Simon, R. McSkimming Con: David Trevathan (4) Drop: David Trevathan |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: N. Reardon (Otago) |
| 19 September 1936 |
| Otago | 16–3 | Wellington |
| Try: Jim Watt, David Trevathan, Harold Fookes Con: David Trevathan (2) Pen: David Trevathan | Try: E.R. Nees |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Samuel Hollander (Canterbury) |
| 26 September 1936 |
| Otago | 30–0 | West Coast |
| Try: W.A. Black (4), Jim Watt, Harold Simon Con: David Trevathan (2) Drop: David Trevathan, Jack Taylor |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Leonard Morton Wright (Otago) |
1937
edit| 31 July 1937 |
| Otago | 7–12 | Southland |
| Try: Frederick Vorrath Drop: David Trevathan | Try: Arthur Wesney Con: Arthur Wesney Pen: Arthur Wesney Drop: Alexander Sutherland |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 35,000 Referee: N.D. Tilley (Otago) |
1938
edit| 30 July 1938 |
| Southland | 6–7 | Otago |
| Pen: R. Barnett (2) | Try: W.A. Black Drop: David Trevathan |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 16,000 Referee: C.C. Kenward (Southland) |
| 10 August 1938 |
| Otago | 16–7 | Canterbury |
| Try: S. McCartney, Frederick Vorrath Pen: W.I. Perriam, David Trevathan Drop: David Trevathan | Pen: D.P. White Drop: D.P. White |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Lyndon Macassey (Otago) |
| 24 August 1938 |
| Otago | 27–16 | South Canterbury |
| Try: W.S. McLelland, A.A. Parkhill, Jack Taylor Con: David Trevathan, J.R. Taylor Pen: Jack Taylor (2) Drop: David Trevathan (2) | Pen: Tom Morrison (4) Drop: Tom Morrison |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 10,000 Referee: D. MacKay (Otago) |
| 27 August 1938 |
| Otago | 12–0 |  North Otago |
| Try: S. McCartney (2), G.R. McDonald Pen: Jack Taylor |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: J.M. Briggs (Otago) |
| 31 August 1938 |
| Otago | 4–0 | Hawke's Bay |
| Drop: David Trevathan |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Ernie A. Empson (Canterbury) |
| 3 September 1938 |
| Otago | 24–3 | Taranaki |
| Try: L. Werner (3) Con: Jack Taylor Pen: Jack Taylor (3) Drop: David Trevathan | Pen: J.L. Mueli |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 6,000 Referee: J.M. Briggs (Otago) |
| 10 September 1938 |
| Otago | 5–10 | Southland |
| Try: W.A. Black Con: Jack Taylor | Try: G.H. Graham, M.P. Grace Con: J.M. Ballantyne (2) |
| Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 28,000 Referee: J.B. Burton (Otago) |
| 14 September 1938 |
| Southland | 10–3 | Wellington |
| Try: M.P. Grace, Alexander Sutherland Drop: M.P. Grace | Try: J.P. Eastwood |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 7,000 Referee: J.B. Burton (Otago) |
| 24 September 1938 |
| Southland | 20–16 | Ashburton County |
| Try: Doug Herron (2), Thomas Metcalfe, G.H. Graham Con: Doug Herron Pen: Doug Herron, M.P. Grace | Try: D.G. Brooker, R.B. Lilley, P.C. Bradley Con: I.L. Behrnes (2) Pen: I.L. Behrnes |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: W.O. Ward (Southland) |
1939
edit| 5 September 1939 |
| Southland | 23–4 | Otago |
| Try: Ron Ward (2), Charles Saxton, Johnny Purdue Con: Arthur Wesney Pen: Arthur Wesney (3) | Drop: David Trevathan |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 18,000 Referee: R.W. Murray (Southland) |
| 12 August 1939 |
| Southland | 17–3 | Manawatu |
| Try: Alexander Sutherland (2), Charles Saxton, Ron Ward Con: Arthur Wesney Pen: Ron Ward | Pen: Jack Finlay |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Ivan H. Dillon (Southland) |
| 16 August 1939 |
| Southland | 38–0 |  Bush |
| Try: R.P. Gibb (3), Ray Mahony (3), Charles Saxton, Alexander Sutherland, Ron Ward, G.H. Graham Con: J.W. Fleming (3), F.H. McEwan |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: R.W. Murray (Southland) |
| 26 August 1939 |
| Southland | 50–0 | Ashburton County |
| Try: Alexander Sutherland (4), Johnny Purdue (2), Syd Purdue, Ron Ward, Charles Saxton, Arthur Wesney, Ray Mahony Con: Arthur Wesney (7) Pen: Arthur Wesney |
| Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 9,000 Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland) |
References
editKnight, Lindsay (1980). Shield Fever. Rugby Press. ISBN 0-9597553-8-1.