Wellington and Hawke’s Bay: A provincial rivalry steeped in tradition

Watch highlights of Hawke’s Bay’s 1960s Ranfurly Shield era, including footage of two epic matches against Wellington here 

As far as New Zealand provincial rivalries go, few top the one between Wellington and Hawke’s Bay.

The two unions resume their 13-decade rivalry this Wednesday night at Westpac Stadium, in a top-of-the-table ITM Cup Championship match.

Overall, this will be their 97th first-class meeting since their first in 1885. As it stands, Wellington has won 60, Hawke’s Bay 31 and there have been five draws.

The first match between Hawke’s Bay and Wellington, played on 29 August 1885 at Newtown Park in Wellington, this was Hawke’s Bay's first inter-union match and Wellington won 4-0 (two tries to nil) at Wellington.

Wellington had played its first two official matches in 1880, against the Auckland Provincial Clubs and the Combined Nelson Clubs.

Wellington had the upper hand over Hawke’s Bay in initial meetings between the sides, winning 19 and drawing two of their first 22 meetings. The draw was a 0-0 encounter in Wellington in 1887 while Hawke’s Bay’s sole win in this period was in 1890, 3-6 in Napier. This was the year that four-time defending club championship winners Poneke withdrew from the WRFU for the season owing to a dispute and thus denying many of the best players to the representative side.

Hawke’s Bay caused one of New Zealand rugby’s great boilovers by taking the Ranfurly Shield off Wellington in 1922.

Hawke's Bay weren't expected to pose too serious a threat, the Dominion in its preview commenting: "The visitors have a powerful set of forwards and the backs showed a fine combination [in their previous match] against Wairarapa. Although there are several unavailable for Wellington, an excellent side has been got together."

Four thousand spectators turned up on a nice day at Athletic Park to see the Hawke's Bay forwards, "led by the burly [Cyril] Brownlie, brother of the All Black," take it to Wellington and take a commanding 11-3 lead into halftime. Wellington edged closer early in the second half with a try to Udy, but a try to Hawke's Bay wing Jackie Blake gave them a 19-6 win and the Ranfurly Shield for the first time.

This was the start of their famous reign that lasted until 1927.

In 1925 Hawke’s Bay was confident enough in its powers to defend the Ranfurly Shield at Athletic Park, winning 20-11. No fewer than 12 of the Hawke’s Bay team were All Blacks during their careers.

Hawke’s Bay’s record score and margin date back to 1926, when Wellington received its heaviest defeat until 1988. Bert Grenside scored five tries for Hawke’s Bay, equalling the Shield record at the time and setting a mark against Wellington that remains unmatched.

When Hawke’s Bay beat Wellington 6-5 in 1965, the winning points were secured when Kel Tremain kicked a goal from a mark.

Wellington beat Hawke’s Bay 20-6 in 1966 when Hawke’s Bay was the Ranfurly Shield holder, although the match was not a challenge. This completed a remarkable sequence by Wellington, as they had previously beaten Auckland in a non-challenge and drawn with Waikato when they held the Shield.

This was the first time any union had beaten two holders in the same season without either being a challenge.

Hawke's Bay’s 1960s Shield era started with a 6-0 win over Waikato. They defended it 21 times between 1966-69, including twice against Wellington.

One of the most famous Ranfurly Shield matches of them all was on 30 September 1967 when Hawke's Bay saw off Wellington's challenge right on the final whistle courtesy of a last-gasp dropped goal to pivot Blair Furlong that saved the day with a 12-12 draw. Wellington had led 12-6 at halftime.

Furlong was indirectly involved in the key play of the Bay's 14-6 win over Wellington on 30 August 1969 with another dropped goal attempt. Only this one missed and it was then that the action unfolded. Wellington fullback Gerald Kember waited for the ball to bounce so he could safely snaffle it and dot down for a 22-metre re-start. But chasing up Furlong's dropped goal was Hawke's Bay flyer Bill Davis and he leapt high, re-gathered the ball and scored a try out of nothing.

In 1982, Wellington got one back on Hawke's Bay by beating them 13-12 in a Ranfurly Shield defence at Athletic Park. It seemed the shield was heading to Napier again when Hawke's Bay led 12-7 late in the contest. But wing Bernie Fraser slid over for the second of his two tries and fullback Allan Hewson saved the day with a sideline conversion.

Hawke’s Bay’s 8-6 win in 2007 was the lowest scoring championship match either side had been involved in since 1983, when a very different style of game was played.

Hawke’s Bay’s 35-24 win in the final round-robin match of 2013 was Wellington’s first loss of the season. Hawke’s Bay was in the Championship section and Wellington was in the Premiership.

Wellington did not beat its record score of 49, which was set in 1914, until 1995 when they won 67-36.

Wellington’s biggest score against Hawke’s Bay is 67 (67-36) in 1995 in a non-NPC match at Napier and their widest margin of victory is 53 points (49-5) in 1914, their 10 tries in that game also a record. Hawke’s Bay’s biggest win and widest margin of victory against Wellington is 58-8 in 1926 in a famous Ranfurly Shield defence at Napier.

There have been three instances of a Wellington player scoring three or more tries against Hawke’s Bay. These are F. A Muller in 1950, Ralph Caulton in 1960 and Murray Mexted in 1984.