Men in black and white save the night

It wasn’t pretty but the Hawke’s Bay Magpies rugby team locked the Ranfurly Shield away for the summer when first five-eighth Ihaia West kicked an 80th minute dropped goal to secure a 20-all draw with Southland at Napier’s McLean Park on Saturday night. This was the Hawke’s Bay union’s 51st defence of the shield and saw the Magpies move up to third equal place with Waikato in tenure wins. Photographer Duncan Brown was among the 11,500 spectators.

L-R: Leanne Frehner, Napier, Michael Ching, Havelock North, Tony Lamborn - Hawke's Bay Magpies drew 20-20 against Southland Stags to retain the Ranfurly Shield for the summer, rugby at McLean Park, Na

Image 1 of 12: L-R: Leanne Frehner, Napier, Michael Ching, Havelock North, Tony Lamborn - Hawke's Bay Magpies drew 20-20 against Southland Stags to retain the Ranfurly Shield for the summer, rugby at McLean Park, Na