North Harbour make history as shield heads north

North Harbour celebrate with the Ranfurly Sheild. Simon Fergusson / Getty Images

North Harbour 21 Canterbury 17

In their 21st year as a provincial rugby union, North Harbour finally won the Ranfurly Shield by beating Canterbury 21-17 in Christchurch today.

The celebrations at Jade Stadium started in earnest after Luke McAlister booted the ball into touch at the end of an energy-sapping rearguard action by North Harbour.

They held their composure - and possession - as Canterbury launched a forlorn, error-ridden attempt to deflect the 15th challenge on a tenure which started in 2004.

Regardless of being outmuscled in the scrums, and left to survive on scraps of possession for most of the game, North Harbour hung on grimly to toast a victory Canterbury played a huge part in effecting.

Canterbury captain Corey Flynn acknowledged his team were not on song today.

"We've been scraping through all season with silly mistakes and unfortunately we haven't been able to get through tonight.

"It's about time we gave ourselves a kick up the arse," Flynn said.

Two gift-wrapped intercept tries in the opening half enabled North Harbour to keep in touch with a Canterbury side left to rue a catalogue of chances that got away.

North Harbour's 11th challenge began promisingly when Vili Waqaseduadua grabbed a floated cutout pass from Cameron McIntyre inside the opening minute to sprint 70m to the tryline.

Canterbury's opening try to Scott Hamilton in the 31st minute was also the product of an intercept pass by prop Adrian Donald.

Mose Tuiali'i pounced on the errant pass and although the move broke down as Canterbury encroached deep into North Harbour territory Aaron Mauger managed to find Hamilton before his fellow All Black crossed the tryline beside the goalposts.

Donald's indiscretion was at the lower end of the scale in the context of what was to follow five minutes later.

In a move that encapsulated Canterbury's glaring inability to finish off a glut of opportunities, a six-on-two overlap culminated in Rua Tipoki grabbing a forward flick pass from Caleb Ralph, the North Harbour skipper barely believing his luck as he followed Waqaseduadua's long-range path to the goalposts.

Canterbury regained the lead on halftime when McIntyre atoned for his earlier glitch, escaping the clutches of halfback James Rodley to glide over the tryline following a 5m scrum.

He nailed the conversion, and that was it for Canterbury as the second half followed a frustratingly similar script for the home side.

Canterbury enjoyed a lion's share of possession and territory, reigned at the breakdown, the scrum continued to hold up -- yet the unforced error toll continued to mount.

Chance after chance went begging: Crockett threw a pass to a player in touch, Tuiali'i spilled a Mauger grubber with the line open.

Casey Laulala's hands also let him down at least twice after Waqaseduadua scored his second try-- the momentum shifter - with 13 minutes remaining.

Waqaseduadua surged down the right-hand touch line after McAlister doubled around Tipoki and still had plenty to do - evading Ralph and Hamilton before diving over.

Crucially, McAlister, who had a flaky day with the boot in general play, made the difficult conversion to ensure Canterbury had to score more than a penalty to keep the shield.

With plenty of time remaining Canterbury turned down a string of kickable penalties, decisions they may look back on with regret.

Tipoki also lifted the shield as Bay of Plenty skipper against Auckland in 2004.

"It's a hard enough job beating Canterbury on any day let alone a shield challenge," he said.

"You guys have won championships, the Ranfurly Shield, Super 12s and 14s. For a lot of us this is going to be the biggest game of out lives.

"It's something we'll remember for ever."

North Harbour can lock the shield away for the summer when they play their final top six match away at Waikato next weekend. Canterbury host Auckland.

- NZPA