Ranfurly Shield

The most prized possession in NZ rugby is heading to the capital for the first time since 2008, after Wellington fought past Hawke's Bay 19-12 to lift the ...

But Morgan squandered a golden opportunity to drive a nail into the Hawke's Bay coffin, spraying his shot on goal wide. In fact, Hawke's Bay's most promising opportunity may have been at a 5m lineout with time almost expired. The Lions won't have long to soak up their celebrations, with their first defence looming against Waikato in just seven days' time, where a win would lock the Shield away for the summer.

Wellington scored the only try of the game to halfback TJ Perenara, while first five Aiden Morgan kicked four penalties and a conversion. Lincoln McClutchie ...

So I'm really proud of the boys." That's something we haven't done right in the last few weeks - grind out a game and finish it off. "It's an awesome thing in New Zealand rugby - playing for a piece of silverware like this is a bloody brilliant thing.

Captain Du Plessis Kirifi says a lot of his teammates don't quite understand the magnitude of their win. Wellington face a tough first Shield defence against ...

Wellington scored the only try of the game to halfback TJ Perenara, while first five Aiden Morgan kicked four penalties and a conversion. Lincoln McClutchie ...

That’s something we haven’t done right in the last few weeks – grind out a game and finish it off. Wellington has taken the Ranfurly Shield off Hawke’s Bay with a 19-12 victory in Napier. “It means a lot,” victorious captain Du’Plessis Kirifi told Sky Sport.

Hawke's Bay's third-longest Ranfurly Shield reign came to an end on Saturday night with a 12-19 loss to Wellington at McLean Park. Over 8000 Magpies fans ...

Hawke's Bay won a midfield penalty for holding on just before the hooter sounded so threw to an attacking lineout on the 22 metre line. The former All Black winger was pinged for holding on with ten minutes to play and McClutchie nailed the penalty goal to make it a one-score game. The game and the Ranfurly Shield looked to be slipping away from the Magpies before they won a scrum penalty on the hour mark and launched a lineout drive inside the 22 metre line. A scrum penalty against Wellington allowed McClutchie to nudge Hawke's Bay back in front with his third penalty goal just before halftime. More breakdown ill-discipline from Wellington saw McClutchie restore the three-point lead with a penalty goal on the quarter-hour mark. Consecutive penalties conceded by Wellington gave Hawke's Bay the first attacking possession of the game and they took the lead inside 10 minutes thanks to Lincoln McClutchie's boot.

Wellington 19Hawke's Bay 12 Wellington will hold the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 2009, ending Hawke's Bay's impressive defence with some inspi.

The Lions - who moved above Hawke's Bay and into second behind Waikato with their win - can lock away the Shield for the year if they win that match. After Morgan shanked a straightforward kick that would have sealed the game, the Magpies had one last chance deep in Wellington territory. So I'm really proud of the boys." That's something we haven't done right in the last few weeks - grind out a game and finish it off. "It's an awesome thing in New Zealand rugby - playing for a piece of silverware like this is a bloody brilliant thing. But repel them they did, ending the Magpies' reign at 14 and sparking wild celebrations among the visitors.

Wellington forward, Du'Plessis Kirifi was thrilled that his side could bring the shield home for the region. “There's a lot of history on that log of wood. I ...

It brings a lot of energy to the rugby community in the provinces, so hopefully, it does the same for us," Kirifi said. “There’s a lot of history on that log of wood. Du’Plessis said, “I grew up in Taranaki and dad worked for the rugby union so they were lucky enough to win it a few times when I was 8."

"It was the first Shield challenge for me so to be able to bring it home, to have it in Porirua as its first stop, is pretty special for me," said halfback TJ ...

"It's not guaranteed, and for many years we haven't had an opportunity. In a vintage shield clash, a try-less first half saw the scores locked at 9 all at the break, before Perenara broke the game open. "It was the first Shield challenge for me so to be able to bring it home, to have it in Porirua as its first stop, is pretty special for me," said halfback TJ Perenara.