Anyone heard of the Heimlich manoeuvre?  Clearly when it comes to choking, we in the BoP would rival any of the sporting greats.

To be fair that is not altogether true, but when it comes to Ranfurly Shield challenges we have had more than our fair share of heart break. To be able to understand the BoP supporter, you must be able to relate to their pain, so this is a summary of the BoP’s (pain) Ranfurly Shield history.

The BoP has now challenged for the Shield 18 times for 18 defeats, which ties BoP with King Country for having the most defeats without winning the shield. Counties Manakau have the worst record, playing 19 without a win, but they have had 2 draws as a challenger.

1920 saw the first challenge for the Bay of Plenty and unfortunately it wasn’t one of our more memorable games going down to Wellington 22-3, but a new union has to start somewhere.

It was in 1922, where we established ourselves in shield folklore for the team that defines the words “all but”, with the first defence for Hawke's Bay. This was to be a Shield reign that would last until 1927, but one that could have lasted only one game. Hawkes Bay (more recently known to BoP supporters as the team we play at the end of the year) had the better of us this day according to the scoresheet, but in the last minute of this arm wrestle in Hastings, Bay of Plenty scored under the posts, making the score16-17, with the kick to come. Unfortunately a very jubilant BoP decided to break protocol and instead of the usual kicker, the captain was given the ball and he consequently missed the simple kick. Cleary the lesson learnt for future generations of rugby players...”its not over til its over”.

Bay of Plenty was then to wait 29 years before their next challenge, providing stern opposition for North Auckland, but again tasting defeat in a close fought 16-12.

1976 saw BoP win the inaugural National Provincial Championship and was clearly the most successful year for the union on record. Auckland had just survived close matches against Southland and Wanganui and was to play Manawatu and Bay of Plenty for their remaining matches. Unfortunately for the BoP, no one showed Manawatu the script and they usurped the shield from Auckland the week before BoP was meant to challenge! For the record BoP beat Auckland that year.

The "Peter Kennedy try" that never was. That was the most memorable thing about this 1984 Canterbury victory over the BoP, although replays show he scored close to the posts, with the kick to come to beat Canterbury, the try was not given and yet another chance of victory escaped us.

In 1996 there was a disaster of epic proportions, an event that shaped world history no less. Considering the world clearly revolves around BoP rugby, then this has to be true. On an overcast day where the BoP was written off as not even a chance, they marched on to the field and played the best 72 minute game, they had put together for some time. This supporter then witnessed first hand, that it is humanly possible to lead 29-11 with 8 minutes to go and......lose. To make things worse one of our own brethren, Matt Carrington scored in the corner for Auckland, after the BoP conceded a tighthead in injury time. Then in front of the remaining Auckland fans and the stunned BoP fans kicked the conversion from the touchline and sealed Bay of Plenty’s fate.  This was a game that gave the makers of Prozac a whole province of potential profit.

The Gods of rugby weren’t content with tearing and stomping on Bay hearts that decade, in 1998 two years later, BoP travelled to Waikato and looked likely to receive their first taste of Shield victory.  However BoP still managed to concede a lucky try (at best), late in the game and a following penalty blew the score out to 25-18.

In 2001, a year that marked BoP’s return to First Division rugby, BoP travelled to Canterbury after beating Wellington and having a narrow loss to Auckland (once again denied by the lack of television officials). Canterbury was not in a forgiving mood this day and former BoP boy Caleb Ralph was one of the stars that thumped BoP 72-3.

Finally 2003, a confident BoP with a victory over North Harbour and a generous sponsor again tried to lift the shield from Canterbury. With most of the All Blacks away, this was a great chance to get the monkey off the back.  After a quick Canterbury start, the BoP clawed their way back into the game, and with minutes remaining had a forward pass ruled from Aleki Lutui to Alan Bunting that would have given BoP the game. Instead the final score was 31-26.

Prescriptions and white coats aside, BoP Ranfurly shield challenges are all generally tight affairs, which leads me to the conclusion that one day a victory must surely come or so my tea leaves tell me...

Results of all Bay of Plenty Ranfurly Shield challenges:
1920     Wellington 22 vs Bay Of Plenty 3                        Wellington
1922     Hawkes Bay 17 vs Bay Of Plenty 16                    Hastings
1951     Nth Auckland 16 vs Bay Of Plenty 12                  Whangarei
1951     Waikato 32 vs Bay Of Plenty 10                         Hamilton
1953     Waikato 19 vs Bay Of Plenty 3                           Hamilton
1960     Auckland 9 vs Bay Of Plenty 6                           Auckland
1962     Auckland 29 vs Bay Of Plenty 6                          Auckland
1968     Hawkes Bay 14 vs Bay Of Plenty 0                     Napier
1972     Nth Auckland 22 vs Bay Of Plenty 6                    Whangarei
1981     Waikato 13 vs Bay Of Plenty 3                            Hamilton
1984     Canterbury 18 vs Bay Of Plenty 13                      Christchurch
1987     Auckland 43 vs Bay Of Plenty 3                          Auckland
1989     Auckland 34 vs Bay Of Plenty 21                        Auckland
1991     Auckland 29 vs Bay Of Plenty 18                        Auckland
1996     Auckland 30 vs Bay Of Plenty 29                        Auckland
1998     Waikato 25 vs Bay Of Plenty 18                          Hamilton
2001     Canterbury 72 vs Bay Of Plenty 3                        Christchurch
2003     Canterbury 31 vs Bay Of Plenty 26                      Christchurch