Toby Morland of Otago attacks during the game played at Carisbrook. Photo / Getty Images
Otago and Southland contrived a C-grade thriller in the Deep South that will have done nothing to ease fears that the Highlanders are facing a period of considerable Super 14 doom.
Southland won the sixth round Air New Zealand Cup game before a vibrant if sparsely populated Carisbrook.
It was a jubilant Southland's first win in Dunedin for 30 years, and leaves these two lightweight sides mid-table.
This was a game of spills and thrills plus a high incidence of cramp. The dubious entertainment value will likely have escaped new Highlanders coach Glenn Moore, who may have felt a few uncomfortable spasms himself.
Moore might even have glanced at the Super 14 player pool before remembering that he is not, apparently, allowed to fish there.
From the moment the Otago halfback Toby Morland spilled the opening kickoff, leading to a Southland try to Lamoni Tongotongo, this was a local derby mishmash.
Moore, who initially joined the Highlanders as a defence coach, must have cringed as the Otago flanker Alando Soakai dismissed feeble defence to collect a high ball and charge away for a late first half try.
And it was hard to spot any defence at all when Otago put on a standard lineout move in the 15th minute which sent centre Brett Mather charging through.
The second half began with a ponderous Southland backline move which was put out of its misery by wing Alesana Muliaina, who slapped the ball into the ground while apparently trying to catch it.
The winner came in the 67th minute, when Southland smashed at the Otago line and centre Jason Kawau twisted over for a try.
Southland 26 (L. Tongotongo, J. Kawau tries; B. Stewart 3 pen, dropped goal, con; J. Wilson con).
Otago 20 (B. Mather, A. Soakai tries; C. Hore pen, 2 con; C. Bruce pen). HT: 16-17.
