Rugby: Taranaki get hands back on Shield

Taranaki's Jayden Hayward lines up James Wilson of Southland in Invercargill last night. Photo / Getty Images

Taranaki 15
Southland 12

Northland 43
Hawkes Bay 34

Taranaki wrestled the Ranfurly Shield away from Southland in a double dose of disappointment for the Stags.

A brilliant 80th minute Taranaki scrum ended Southland's hopes of snatching a late draw through a drop goal. The result also left Southland rooted to the bottom of the provincial rugby premiership table and in major danger of automatic relegation.

Going into the last round, when they play Bay of Plenty in Invercargill, the Stags are one point adrift of Wellington in a two-team duel to stay in the top division of the ITM Cup next year.

The match was a double celebration for Taranaki, who not only secured the shield but kicked clear of relegation danger. They defend the shield against Hawkes Bay on Sunday. Southland's reign is over, having lifted the log from Canterbury in a memorable match, before clinging on against Counties Manukau and North Harbour.

Only a 70th minute run at the line from Southland halfback Scott Cowan seriously threatened to interrupt the penalty shootout in Invercargill last night. With the home crowd finding voice, Southland kicked a late penalty but fell short of completing the deal.

A fight broke out but rugby had trouble doing the same in the first half. The scuffle, on the half hour mark, indicated the intent in the game but there had been nothing in the way of thrilling rugby to match.

Taranaki did smash in on the Southland line for a short while, while the holders could not launch a serious attack to match their first half territorial advantage.

Instead, they found themselves down 9-6 at the break after a penalty shootout between James Wilson and Beauden Barrett.

Taranaki 15 (Beauden Barrett 5 pen)

Southland 12 (James Wilson 4 pen). HT: Taranaki 9-6.

* Northland gave Hawkes Bay a taste of their own medicine as they beat the promotion contenders in Whangarei last night.

The Magpies are known for a power forward pack but they were steamrolled three times for tries by the Northlanders.

Hawkes Bay will almost certainly play against Manawatu in the championship final with the winner promoted to the premiership. They will see last night's match as a serious form hiccup and they also lost captain Mike Coman, who was carted off with a knee injury late in the match and is believed to be out for the season.

Northland started with two lineout drive tries to prop Matt Wallis and a third to Simon Munro, who raced away from the Hawkes Bay defenders after his fellow wing Bryce Heem ran strongly from inside his own half.

Hawkes Bay conceded a territorial advantage in the first half, but when they did test the Northland defence the visitors made immediate headway.

The Magpies started making comeback noises at 17-3 down when lock Brodie Retallick scored. They finished the half with a couple of Andrew Horrell penalties, and then a Horrell try when Tu Umaga-Marshall sparked Hawkes Bay's best attacking work.

ITM Cup newcomer, 26-year-old centre Warren Dunn, put on a nice step to cut through disorganised Hawkes Bay defence for Northland's fifth try.

Northland 43 (Matt Wallis 2, Simon Munro 2, Danny Mason, Warren Dunn tries; Lachie Munro 5 con, pen)

Hawkes Bay 34 (Brodie Retallick, Andrew Horrell, Richard Buckman tries; Horrell 5 pen, 2 con). HT: Northland 24-21.