How man Ulstermen have played in a Ranfurly Shield challenge? … Coast’s Cowboy makes Ranfurly Shield history – The Team Included John Semple from Drumsurn

RUGBY – BRENT “Cowboy” Ingram wrote himself into Ngati Porou East Coast and New Zealand rugby history when he scored a try in yesterday’s Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato.

The Sky Blues lost 63-10 at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria but that did not matter to the majority of the 2000-strong crowd who got what they wanted . . . the Coast’s first try in a Shield challenge.

In six previous challenges dating back to 1953, the Coast’s only points came from two Nigel Ormsby penalties in a 115-6 loss to Auckland in 1997 and two Mano Flutey penalties in a 51-6 defeat by Canterbury in 2009…….

The real heroes, though, were Coast player-coach Ngarimu Simpkins and his team. Simpkins led by example and received tremendous support from lock Everard Reid, prop Lloyd Gabriel, fullback Semple, centre TK Moeke and Parata…… CLICK HERE for the full story