# Ranfurly Shield 1940–1949

The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the Shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.

## Holders

Two different unions held the Ranfurly Shield between 1940 and 1949. Due to the outbreak of World War 2, however, no matches were played between 1940 and 1945.
| Union | Won | Successful defences |
| Southland | Held at beginning of decade | 5 |
| Otago | 2 August 1947 | 17 |

## Fixtures
### 1946

* 3 August 1946
| Southland | 3–0 | Otago |
| Pen: Tom Webster | | |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
* 24 August 1946
| Southland | 11–3 | Canterbury |
| Try: E.D. Calder Con: Tom Webster Pen: Tom Webster (2) | | Try: W.P. McHugh |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
* 31 August 1946
| Southland | 35–9 | South Canterbury |
| Try: A.S. Chandler (4), Alexander Sutherland (2), R.H. Hazlett, N.J. Bennett, R.F. Waldron Con: Tom Webster (2) Drop: R.F. Waldron | | Try: P.G. Fitzgerald Con: R.G. Prattley Drop: G.W. Pratt |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 7,000 Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
* 7 September 1946
| Southland | 12–3 | Wairarapa |
| Try: R.H. Hazlett Pen: Tom Webster (2), R.J. Campbell | | Pen: M.P. Hurley |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
* 28 September 1946
| Southland | 15–3 | North Otago |
| Try: Alexander Sutherland (2), J.J. Prendiville, R.H. Hazlett Pen: Tom Webster | | Pen: E.V. Wright |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Referee: J.J. North (Southland)

### 1947

* 2 August 1947
| Southland | 11–17 | Otago |
| Try: G.S. Kennedy, G.H. Spittle Con: L.F. Ward Pen: L.F. Ward | | Try: Ron Elvidge (2), Ian Botting, John Tanner Con: Rex Orr Pen: Rex Orr |
* Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill Attendance: 21,000 Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
* 9 August 1947
| Otago | 31–12 | North Auckland |
| Try: John Tanner, L.S. Woodhouse, Graham Moore, Jim Kearney Con: Rex Orr (3) Pen: Rex Orr (3) Drop: Jim Kearney | | Try: Doc Paewai Pen: Nau Cherrington (3) |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 25,000 Referee: J.J. North (Southland)
* 20 August 1947
| Otago | 18–12 | Auckland |
| Try: John Tanner, Ron Elvidge Con: Laurie Haig Pen: Laurie Haig (2) Drop: Jim Kearney | | Try: Les Deas (2) Con: Bob Scott Drop: D.J. Ewert |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Leslie Walsh (Canterbury)
* 13 September 1947
| Otago | 8–0 | Southland |
| Try: Kevin O'Connor Con: Jim Kearney Pen: Jim Kearney | | |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: J.G.G. Fitzpatrick (Wellington)
* 27 September 1947
| Otago | 42–3 | North Otago |
| Try: Ron Elvidge (2), Kevin O'Connor (2), John Tanner, Ian Botting, Graham Moore, D.H. Hamilton, Jim Kearney, Jack McNab, L.S. Woodhouse Con: Rex Orr Pen: Rex Orr Drop: Jim Kearney | | Try: M.D. Fountain |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 12,300 Referee: L.K. Murray (South Canterbury)

### 1948

* 31 July 1948
| Otago | 25–0 | Southland |
| Try: Bill Meates (3), Ian Botting (2), Ray Dalton, Ron Elvidge Con: Laurie Haig, Graham Moore | | |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 30,000 Referee: Arthur Fong (West Coast)
* 18 August 1948
| Otago | 31–0 | Canterbury |
| Try: Jim Kearney (2), Bill Meates, L.S. Woodhouse, Ian Botting Laurie Haig, Ron Elvidge Con: Jim Kearney, Laurie Haig Pen: Laurie Haig (2) | | |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
* 21 August 1948
| Otago | 20–3 | Wanganui |
| Try: Bill Meates (3), L.S. Woodhouse, Laurie Haig Con: Laurie Haig Drop: Jim Kearney | | Try: Don Beard |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: L.K. Murray (South Canterbury)
* 28 August 1948
| Otago | 12–6 | Hawke's Bay |
| Try: Ian Botting Pen: Laurie Haig (2), Graham Moore | | Pen: Barney Wishnowsky (2) |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Bill Firmin (Wellington)
* 4 September 1948
| Otago | 40–0 | Poverty Bay |
| Try: Jim Kearney (3), Kevin O'Connor (2), Ian Botting (2), Bill Meates, Laurie Haig L.S. Woodhouse, Ron Elvidge Con: Laurie Haig (2) Pen: Graham Moore | | |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Attendance: 9,000 Referee: Robert Pratt (Buller)
* 8 September 1948
| Otago | 36–6 | South Canterbury |
| Try: Bill Meates (5), Laurie Haig, Ron Elvidge, Jim Kearney Con: Laurie Haig (3) Pen: Laurie Haig (2) | | Try: J.L. Taylor Pen: R.G. Prattley |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: J.G.G. Fitzpatrick (Wellington)
* 25 September 1948
| Otago | 11–0 | Wellington |
| Try: Ian Botting, Peter Johnstone Con: Laurie Haig Drop: Jim Kearney | | |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: George Sullivan (Taranaki)

### 1949

* 30 July 1949
| Otago | 6–6 | Buller |
| Try: N.M. McKenzie Pen: Graham Moore | | Try: R.P. Hawes, W.M. Cunniffe |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Leslie Walsh (Canterbury)
* 6 August 1949
| Otago | 22–3 | Manawatu |
| Try: Bert Lunn, Kevin O'Connor, Ray Bell, C.J. MacDonald Con: Ray Bell, Willis Perriam Pen: Ray Bell, Willis Perriam | | Pen: H.D. Harkness |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: T.V. Cahill (North Otago)
* 13 August 1949
| Otago | 6–3 | Southland |
| Pen: Ray Bell Drop: L.S. Woodhouse | | Pen: Tom Webster |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Bill Firmin (Wellington)
* 17 August 1949
| Otago | 27–5 | Waikato |
| Try: Graham Moore (2), Willis Perriam, R.F. Waldron, Bert Lunn Con: Willis Perriam (2), Ray Bell Pen: Willis Perriam, Ray Bell | | Try: B.A.C. Cowley Con: G.R. Brunskill |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: W. Bruce Mitchell (Southland)
* 17 September 1949
| Otago | 6–5 | Taranaki |
| Try: N.M. McKenzie Pen: Ray Bell | | Try: Roy Roper Con: M.S. Cockerill |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: C.G. Wallace (Waikato)
* 28 September 1949
| Otago | 16–5 | Auckland |
| Try: C.R. Moore, Ray Bell, Ross Wightman, L.S. Woodhouse Con: Ray Bell (2) | | Try: Ivan Versalko Con: R.G. Sorenson |
* Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: George Sullivan (Taranaki)