Rugby: Southland maintain unbeaten record

Robbie Robinson of Southland kicked seven penalties in his side's 21-16 win. Photo / Getty Images

Southland's discipline enabled them to preserve their unbeaten record in the ITM Cup tonight.

They notched their fifth successive win, 21-16 over a game Tasman side at Blenheim on the back of seven penalties from Robbie Robinson, after being held to 6-6 at halftime.

With a highly efficient scrum and lineout, Southland had the superior set piece although Tasman shaded them at the breakdown for a time when the home side's loose trio of Jonathan Poff, Joe Wheeler and Glen Gregory were particularly aggressive before being worn down after the break.

They forced 13 turnovers in the first half alone before Southland tied up their work in this phase after the interval and displayed the watertight defensive patterns that have been such a feature of their brief Ranfurly Shield reign.

The number of Tasman breakdown infringements grew in the second half and Robinson did not require a second invitation to efficiently kick his side to victory, landing seven of his eight attempts in a fine display.

Southland's defensive screens were finally broken down in the closing minutes when replacement back Blair Cook charged on to a short pass before the match ended with more penalties, Robinson's last and another to his Tasman opposite James Marshall in the 82nd minute which earned his team a bonus point.

Southland led for the first time four minutes into the second spell when young first five-eighth Robinson landed this third penalty before doubling the visitors' advantage with his fourth just before the game entered the final quarter.

Tasman asked plenty of questions but Southland had the answer everytime, even when hooker Francis Smith burrowed over the line in the 67th minute following a series of relentless forward drives.

But Australian referee Nathan Pearce disallowed the try and penalised Tasman for obstruction, relieving the mounting pressure on Southland.

Tries were not to be sighted in the first spell as Tasman halfback Steve Alfeld and Robinson traded two penalties apiece, with both teams reliant on tight defence to nullify any threats.

The best opportunity came in the 16th minute when smart work from Southland halfback Scott Cowan sent flanker Dion Bates down the short side from a ruck but Bates' in-pass to hooker Jason Rutledge was snaffled by Tasman lock Chris Jack, who had retreated smartly to suffocate the threat.

Southland 21 (Robbie Robinson 7 pen) Tasman 16 (Blair Cook try; Steve Alfeld 2 pen, James Marshall pen, con). Halftime: 6-6.

- NZPA