North Otago has a proud (albeit unsuccessful) history of challenging for the Ranfurly Shield which will continue when it meets Otago at Whitestone Contracting Stadium on Friday.
It is just Otago's second defence in more than 60 years so it probably has more to lose in the encounter.
North Otago's first challenge was in 1938 when it was beaten by Otago 12-0.
North Otago met Otago again in 1947 when the blue and golds, containing many All Blacks, were in the midst of a great Shield era.
North Otago warmed up with a game against New Zealand Maori on September 20, drawing 12-12.
A week later, Otago defeated North Otago 42-3, scoring 11 tries.
Mort Fountain, a speedy winger and master at Waitaki Boys' High School, touched down in the first half for North Otago.
North Otago had to wait 24 years for its next challenge. It came against Canterbury in 1971 when, in a gutsy performance, the Old Golds went down 14-0.
Duncan Hales scored two tries for Canterbury and Fergie McCormick added a try, penalty goal and a conversion.
Two years later after Marlborough had caused a boilover in taking the Shield from Canterbury 12-6 after winger Brian Ford scored a brilliant try, North Otago headed to Blenheim for its fourth Ranfurly Shield challenge.
North Otago could not break the Marlborough defence and went down 26-9.
Paddy Ford kicked two penalties and Jeff Gardiner one for the challenger.
South Canterbury took the shield off Marlborough late in that season and, the following year, North Otago lined up for its fifth Ranfurly Shield challenge on August 31.
In a game in which just one try was scored, South Canterbury held on to the shield 9-3.
Gene Thomson scored a try and Dave Nicol kicked a penalty for the holder while Ford kicked a penalty for North Otago.
North Otago's next challenge was in 1983 against Canterbury.
North Otago could not field its strongest team with at least three of its most experienced players unavailable. Canterbury won 88-0.
Canterbury scored 17 tries and Robbie Deans added 10 conversions.
North Otago went big time in 1993 when it challenged Auckland in Oamaru.
North Otago scored the first points when, from a penalty close to the Auckland line, left winger Hayden Hunt put North Otago into a 5-0 lead.
But that was to be all for the day as Auckland added 139 unanswered points.
Auckland had all its stars, such as John Kirwan, while North Otago struggled to get its hands on the ball.
At the turn of the century, Waikato brought the Shield south and lined up against North Otago in July, having beaten West Coast in Greymouth four days previously 99-3, scoring 15 tries.
North Otago did slightly better in Oamaru, conceding 15 tries as Waikato marched to a 95-17 win.
Simon Porter kicked four penalties and winger Dean Paterson scored a try.
Further challenges were against Canterbury in 2003 and Auckland in 2008.
In 2010, Southland beat the Old Golds 48-3 in Invercargill, scoring seven tries to a Ben Patston penalty.
-By Terry O'Neill