Bay ambush Auckland in huge Ranfurly Shield upset

By WYNNE GRAY

Bay of Plenty 33 - Auckland 28

Rugged No 8 Paul Tupai cried again at Eden Park yesterday as he hugged the Ranfurly Shield.

He did not care. Eight years ago he wept in frustration as Bay of Plenty blew a huge lead and lost their shield challenge against Auckland to a final-minute converted try.

That match has gone down in shield folklore, and so will yesterday's Bay victory, which has left North Harbour as the only first-division side never to have claimed the famous Log o' Wood.

Tupai was the only survivor from that abortive 1996 challenge and in an extraordinary piece of symmetry, was also playing his 100th game for his province.

"Oh mate, I was crying back then and I'm still crying today for the joy of it all," he said. "That piece of wood brings the best out of players."

It was perhaps appropriate that Auckland, with time up, were forced to concede the Ranfurly Shield and an opening NPC victory. They had played as a collection of individuals while the Bay were a concerted group.

Their individual stars were five-eighths Glen Jackson, who bagged 23 points in scoring four different ways, and skipper Wayne Ormond, the silent executioner in the pack.

When referee Kelvin Deaker signalled an Auckland penalty, he added that it was the last move of the match. Some wanted to run the penalty in a bid to get two bonus points for tries and a close defeat.

Captain Angus Macdonald overruled his team-mates but it took some persuasion.

"We had to be certain of one bonus point with a kick. It could be very important later in the season. I did not want it to haunt us," he said.

Once Macdonald made his choice and Deaker signalled a successful shot for Brent Ward, the Bay players saluted the heavens and their loyal supporters who had travelled to the ground for the challenge.

A fortnight ago there was extensive public debate about the future of the shield after Auckland churned through twin 100-point defences against Poverty Bay and Counties Manukau.

On the same Eden Park ground yesterday, a small crowd of 12,500 watched another absorbing chapter of shield history unfold.

The only shame was that once the Bay achieved their feat, their supporters were denied access to the ground and the players who had breathed new life into the nation's oldest rugby trophy.

Anyone who questioned the magnetism of the Ranfurly Shield should be shown footage of the unrestrained celebrations inside the BoP changing room.

They rivalled those of Waikato when they ended Auckland's record reign in 1993.

That day, five-eighths Ian Foster was at the head of the tactical assault on the holders and yesterday he watched another five-eighths, Jackson, turn the screws on the holders.

Jackson missed just one kick from seven attempts in often greasy conditions, including the telling sideline conversion of Anthony Tahana's late try. "I knew I had struck it down the pipe," he said, "I did give myself the double-fist pump."

Jackson sat on the bench for the challenge in 1996 and a year later was a reserve for Waikato as they defended the Log against BoP.

But yesterday he headed the cast who had upset Auckland last season in the NPC. This challenge was no ambush: Auckland had plenty of warning about the calibre of the Bay and had little answer. They scored three tries, with the pace of fullback Isa Nacewa very noticeable, but they also bombed at least three others. A few misses from Ward also hurt, and a crucial moment came 13 minutes from time with Auckland leading 25-23.

They were given a kickable penalty but the decision was reversed because hooker Nathan Kemp stomped an opponent after the whistle. Minutes later Jackson dropped a goal for the lead before Tahana ploughed in for the winner at the corner.

Auckland will learn from this experience and were already talking about another chance in a fortnight if Waikato were able to wrench the Shield from their Super 12 Chiefs cousins in Mt Maunganui on Sunday.

Injuries will cost Auckland their halfback, David Gibson, and utility back Iliesa Tanivula.

Bay coach Vern Cotter predicted a long and raucous bus trip home for his side.

"It was a great feeling to plan for something and accomplish it as well," the proud coach added.

"We effectively took the policy that we thought that Auckland had individual brilliance in their players but we backed our team to beat their team and that was the theme for the week."

Guys like electro-charged flanker Nili Latu, the crunching front row of Aleki Lutui, Taufa'ao Filise, Ben Castle, replacement Simms Davison and chirpy halfback Kevin Senio.

Cotter joked that his side had the shield at halftime with their 20-15 lead but then had to battle through nerves, anxiety, rain and the desperate holders in a tough second half.

Cotter imagined the victory would have a significant impact on the finances and administration of the province. However that was not his department.

"Certainly getting the team up for next week's challenge is, and that will be our focus. It will be an interesting week. If we can round the players up by Wednesday we will be doing okay."

Auckland's reign

2003: Challenged and beat Canterbury 40-31

2004: Beat Poverty Bay 116-3, beat Counties Manukau 100-15

Bay of Plenty

18 previous challenges