Southland 9
Auckland 6
Southland have given the people of the embattled province some much-needed cheer with a rousing Ranfurly Shield defence against Auckland in a national provincial championship (NPC) rugby match Invercargill tonight.
Southland prevailed 9-6 in a cliffhanger to end a torrid week for the province, which started when the roof of their beloved Stadium Southland caved in because of heavy snow, and compounded when southern farmers started losing stock in the treacherous weather conditions.
The match doubled as a battle for top spot in the NPC and Southland, with 34 points, now move six points clear of second-placed Auckland, but tonight's match was all about keeping the shield for Southland and they did it through sheer determination in a dogfight which was not pretty, but will go down as a classic tussle.
"It's pretty surreal," Southland captain Jamie Mackintosh told Sky Sport.
"This was our big test and, no doubt it wouldn't have been pretty to watch, but it was certainly hard to play in.
"To hang on for a win is special for the province because it's been a tough week.
"I'm from a farm and to see my old man lose hundreds of stock, it's tough. I'm just so happy our boys could make the province proud and hopefully a few farmers are happier."
Ironically, it was 51 years to the day since Auckland beat Southland to claim the shield, the beginning of a 50-year shield drought for the southern men, but they ensured history would not repeat with their first win over Auckland in 39 years.
It was only their eighth victory against the blue and whites from 51 attempts.
Auckland will feel slightly aggrieved as they dominated the match with their close-to-the-fringes approach, but made costly mistakes under pressure.
Southland, led by inspirational hooker Jason Rutledge, who was outstanding on defence, offered little on attack but defended with passion, showing they will take some beating in Invercargill.
Auckland dominated everything but the scoreboard in the first half befitting the competition's two stingiest defences.
Playing into the wind they had a 70 per cent share of territory and 60 per cent of possession, but Southland were ferocious when Auckland approached their line.
Midway through the half Rutledge effected a crucial turnover on his own line, and the home team went the length of the field to open the scoring through a Robbie Robinson penalty.
Auckland's onslaught continued, however, and flanker Onosai'i Auva'a claimed a try four minutes before the break when he crashed over the line from close range, but the television match official ruled there was insufficient evidence to award the try.
They had to settle for a Matt Berquist penalty to level the scores at 3-3 on the stroke of halftime.
Robinson and Berquist traded penalties early in the second half but there was a sense Southland would find a way to win, however, and they did, through their outstanding defence and pure desperation and emotion.
They repelled wave after wave of Auckland attack - the visitors spent close to 20 minutes inside Southland's 22 - and Robinson nailed the match winning penalty in the 70th minute.
- NZPA
