Hundreds of Otago rugby players have tried and failed to win the Ranfurly Shield, but the group of successful challengers includes some of the province's greats. Hayden Meikle picks out some Otago shield heroes.
Dave Trevathan
The drop goal king. Trevathan was a master of the ''pot'' in an era when a kick from open play was worth four points. Yes, more than a try. He dropped a goal in 1935, when Otago won the shield for the first time, against Canterbury.
He landed another in the first defence, against Southland, two in the defence against South Canterbury, one against North Auckland, one against West Coast, one in the loss to Southland, one in the immediate reclamation of the shield from Southland, one against Canterbury, two against South Canterbury, one against Hawkes Bay, and one against Taranaki.
He and Southern clubmate Harry Simon formed a great inside back combination.
Jim Watt
The pacy (second-quickest in New Zealand over 440 yards) winger went on a bit of a try-scoring tear in the mid 1930s. Scored one of three tries to help Otago take the shield from Canterbury at the end of 1935, then crossed the line against Southland (twice), Manawatu, South Canterbury, Wellington and West Coast.
Ron Elvidge
Otago's midfield prince was the superstar in a glorious Ranfurly Shield era. The John McGlashan old boy was powerfully built and utterly courageous. Captained Otago - and scored two tries - when the shield was taken from Southland in 1947, and was again a key player in the magnificent 1948 season.
Bill Meates
Joined Otago in 1948 when he took up a teaching post in the province, and was immediately adopted. The winger, who had toured with the Kiwis army team after the war, certainly knew his way to the line. Scored three tries in his first shield game, a 25-0 demolition of Southland, and added another hat trick against Wanganui. Then scored five tries - an Otago record - against South Canterbury.
Vic Cavanagh jun
Widely regarded as Otago rugby's greatest coach, Cavanagh masterminded one of the great Ranfurly Shield eras. The 1947-50 Otago reign helped ''Young Vic'' become a legend, and his coaching methods and principles inspired generations. In a nutshell, he preached the values of ruthless forward play and accurate decision-making by the backs. Some called it dull, but Cavanagh didn't care. He had a gift for man management, and a near-photographic memory that helped him build successful game plans.
Tuppy Diack
Ernest Sinclair Diack, who earned his nickname as a young boy when his father lamented the fact ''Tuppence'' didn't have a catchy name. Was Otago's first centurion and has been a huge contributor to the game for well over half a century.
His shield highlight was in 1957, when he scored a try and kicked three goals to lead Otago to a 19-11 win over Wellington. The shield would slip away a month later, and not be seen in these parts again for 56 years. Tuppy Diack was as chuffed as anyone to get it back.
Paul Grant, Gareth Evans, Hayden Parker, TJ Ioane, Peter Br . . . OK, all of them
To a man, the Otago rugby team marched into immortality last Friday night. Now their challenge is to make it a lasting reign.
