The Log o’ Wood changes hands and heads to the very top of the North Island.
The Log o’ Wood changes hands and heads to the very top of the North Island. Northland beat Canterbury 36-12 on Thursday night at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch to take the Ranfurly Shield, the oldest challenge trophy in New Zealand rugby. The province had not held it since 1978, back when it was still called North Auckland.
Twelve points down, then twenty-nine conceded
Canterbury did lead, though. Hooker James Mullan opened the scoring in the fifth minute off a maul, but the holders hit back through Tahlor Cahill and then Jone Rova within four minutes to go ahead 12-7.
That was the last time they scored. Marcel Renata levelled, Sam Nock made the difference with a solo run, and Northland went in at half-time nine points up. In the second half, Rob Rush, the All Blacks Sevens wing, scored twice. Rivez Reihana landed four conversions and a penalty without missing one.
The NPC’s best attack and best defence
The result is not a one-off. After four rounds, Northland top the points difference, with the highest points scored and the lowest points conceded in the competition.
| Team | P | W-L | For | Against | Diff. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | 4 | 3-1 | 149 | 60 | +89 |
| North Harbour | 3 | 2-1 | 135 | 57 | +78 |
| Hawke’s Bay | 3 | 3-0 | 146 | 83 | +63 |
| Otago | 3 | 2-1 | 85 | 60 | +25 |
| Canterbury | 4 | 3-1 | 102 | 110 | -8 |
Sixty points conceded in four games, including a 42-0 win over Taranaki the week before: the Taniwha’s only defeat remains the 31-34 loss away to Bay of Plenty in Round 2.
Canterbury, for their part, have come through a month of back-to-back challenges. The province took the Shield from Otago in Round 2 and defended it against Bay of Plenty (33-28) the following week, before losing it at the third challenge.
Northland will put it on the line in the very next round, at home to Tasman.
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