KEY POINTS:
Despite looking vulnerable throughout, Auckland did enough to cling on to rugby's Ranfurly Shield with a 13-9 defeat of Southland in Auckland today.
Seeking to end some lengthy droughts in their rugby history, the southerners threw everything at the out-of-touch Auckland but a try to winger David Smith proved the difference in an error-ridden affair.
The scores were locked at 6-6 with a quarter of the match remaining before Smith crossed, against the run of play in a second half which Southland largely dominated.
They blew a number of chances, often with the last pass going askew when the Auckland defence was stretched to the limit.
The final two minutes of the game were the most gripping as the visitors launched a length-of-the-field attack that carried them to the tryline after the hooter before losing possession.
Had they crossed, victory would have come 49 years to the day since Southland last won the shield with a 23-6 defeat of Taranaki.
However, history was against them.
They had not won at Eden Park since 1939 and had not beaten Auckland anywhere since 1971.
Both teams were guilty of errors but Southland's were the most spectacular, helping Auckland to retain New Zealand domestic rugby's most prized possession for at least two more weeks.
Unbeaten Air NZ Cup leaders Wellington will provide the next challenge on September 20.
The game's scoring was mainly a battle of the boots between first five-eighths Lachie Munro and Blair Stewart.
Munro had Auckland in front with a 12th-minute penalty, Stewart responded 10min later but Munro established a 6-3 lead for his team just before the break.
Stewart levelled the scores with his second penalty in the 48th minute following a no-arms tackle by Jamie Helleur which saw the Auckland fullback sinbinned.
The match was arguably won over the next 10min as the 14-man hosts defended stoutly, with their line threatened on several occasions.
As soon as Helleur returned to the field it seemed to act as a spur for the game's only try through Smith, making his first appearance of the competition after recovering from injury.
A charge down by flanker Daniel Braid gave Auckland momentum and the ball was shifted left to Smith, who shrugged through a half tackle.
Munro, who kicked three from three shots at goal, landed the conversion.
The wind seemed to go out of Southland's sails when Stewart missed a penalty shot, not long after reserve halfback Scott Cowan was deemed to have knocked on when trying to ground the ball over the tryline.
Stewart slotted his third penalty with 90 seconds remaining to give them a chance of victory and spark a dramatic final passage.
Auckland 13 (David Smith try; Lachie Munro 2 pen, con) Southland 9 (Blair Stewart 3 pen). Halftime: 6-3.
- NZPA
