Auckland win Ranfurly Shield

This news is a few days old and gotten buried in the World Cup hoopla - Auckland defeated old foe Canterbury 26-15 in Christchurch on Saturday to win the Ranfurly Shield.

The Shield has been claimed this season by North Harbour, Waikato, Canterbury, and will now rest in Auckland for the remainder of the season. Older readers mmight recall my divided loyalties in the NPC and won't find me complaining too hard about the Ranfurly Shield returning to Eden Park.