- Hanan Shield
The Hanan Shield is one of the most prestigious trophies in
New Zealand 's domesticrugby union competition. First played for in1946 , the Hanan Shield is based on a challenge system played between North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury. The holding union must defend the Shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.The Hanan Shield is currently held by Mid Canterbury, who beat North Otago 25-22 on 6 October 2007, to reclaim the Shield for the first time since 1998. In a fiercely-contested clash in front of a record crowd at Oamaru's Centennial Arena, Mid Canterbury made the decisive break thanks to two stunning solo tries to young winger Brenton Connell, then hung on grimly in the final 20 minutes despite losing star midfielder Jack Umaga to a broken jaw. The match is generally considered to be among the most memorable clashes in the history of New Zealand domestic rugby.
Hanan Shield Overall Record (1946-2006)
* Draw goes down as a win to the holders
Hanan Shield 2008
August 9 saw Mid Canterbury make there first Hanan Shield defence of 2008 when they ran out onto the Ashburton Showgrounds to play South Canterbury. It was to be the first Hanan Shield match contested under the new Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), and it was South Canterbury who put on the early pressure with prop Timaru Tafa crossing in the 6th minute. Mid Canterbury’s reply was simply a piece of brilliance as 19-year-old wing Brenton Connell sliced through a midfield gap on his own 10 metre line, broke a tackle and sprinted away down the left-hand flank to score in the corner. In the 29th minute, loose forward Jon Dampney showed his strength in shrugging off a tackler to score in the corner. Connell made it two for the afternoon when Dampney took a quick throw, which saw the ball spread to the opposite sideline into the hands of Connell who crossed the line and scored. South Canterbury started the second half strong, and scored two tries in the first 10 minutes, to loose forward Eric Smith and Tafa got his second. Mid Canterbury were trailing 19-18 but were not about to give up. A try to second five-eighth Richard Fridd pulled them back into the game, while two more tries were scored by first five-eighth Dan Maw and Dampney who scored his second. Mid Canterbury 37 (Brenton Connell 2, Jon Dampney 2, Richard Fridd, Dan Maw tries; Dan Maw pen, two con) South Canterbury 19 (Timaru Tafa 2, Eric Smith tries; Luke Reihana two con), HT: 18-5.
References
*Asburton Guardian
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