GTEC vs PONSONBY 29/05/2021 | This weeked our Premier team is in action at 1445pm at home against Ponsonby. The winners will take away a very important piece of silverware, which was introduced to acknowledge the strong sporting rivalry between the two clubs and also commemorate the year that Ponsonby and Grafton one of the Grammar TEC founding clubs joined forces to play in the Auckland Premier grade competition.In 1944 with many of the young men away at the Second World War both clubs were struggling to field a premier team, so it was agreed that they would put a combined team in for that one season. This maintained the two clubs unbroken history from their original first season in 1874 as two of the three founding Auckland clubs along with North shore.In 1914 Grammar Schools Old Boys Rugby Club joined the competition and it was up until 1981 when Grafton amalgamated with Cornwall to form Carlton that the three clubs competed in the Auckland Premier competition the Gallaher Shield. Carlton went on to form the current Grammar TEC rugby Club from Grammar Carlton & Teachers Eastern.

It is very important we maintain and celebrate these long term rivalries and associations, the Grafton Cup is a key date in our calendar for many years to come.

Between the Ponsonby and Grammar TEC founding clubs of Grafton, Grammar, Grammar Carton and Teachers Eastern the clubs have produced a staggering 114 All Blacks and won 64 Gallaher Shields #GTEC #THEGTECWAY

Article added: Friday 28 May 2021