Ponsonby premiers won the Auckland club rugby championship on Saturday 24th July for record 7th time in row.  Urgent Couriers is proud supporters of Ponsonby this season and would like to congratulate them on their success.

Mark Hooper, captain of Ponsonby holds up the shield after winning the Gallaher Shield Final match between Ponsonby and Grammar Carlton at Eden Park on July 24, 2010

NZ Herald Article

A match-winning performance from 19-year-old first five-eighths Gareth Anscombe was the highlight as Ponsonby defeated a disappointing Grammar Carlton side 30-19 in the final of the Gallaher Shield at Eden Park.

Anscombe, son of Auckland coach Mark, scored two tries in an impressive haul of 20 points to secure Ponsonby a record seventh straight title.

Grammar Carlton had lost only once all season but were denied possession by a tigerish Ponsonby pack that dominated from the kick-off.

Ponsonby got off to a great start with Sale-bound winger Paul Williams scoring a scorcher from 40 metres out in just the second minute, before two sharply taken individual efforts from Anscombe gave his side a handy 19-3 lead.

Ash Moeke kicked three penalties to close the gap but missed with two long-range efforts to leave Ponsonby ahead 19-9 at the break.

Grammar Carlton's hopes were raised with another Moeke penalty but Ponsonby's dominant pack retained possession superbly and shut their opponents out of the game.

An Anscombe penalty made it 22-12 before tighthead prop Sione Mau scored a rare try after a 40-metre burst through the Grammar Carlton defence by Auckland rep Chris Lowrey. Lowrey had a fine game and was a stand-out on defence with a succession of big hits.

Anscombe dropped a goal to put the game beyond the round robin champions, who scored a consolation try to Scott Parkes after he waltzed through some rare weak Ponsonby defence.

But it was too little too late. In other finals, a brace from Brendan Ward helped College Rifles to a tense 27-20 win over Otahuhu in the Jubilee Trophy, while Teachers Eastern beat Suburbs 45-3 to win the Portola Cup.