Southland steal win over Taranaki with late try

Southland 33 Taranaki 28

Taranaki's NPC division one rugby season is fast unfolding as a horror story.

They wrote the latest chapter at Yarrow Stadium today, with Southland adding to the list of heartbreaks and last-minute agonies for the amber and blacks.

This time it was an intercept try by Southland winger Watisoni Lotawa that drove the stake into Taranaki hearts.

Lotawa plucked a floating pass from replacement Taranaki midfielder Andrew Suniula and raced 75m to score under the crossbar, giving his side a 33-28 win and four valuable competition points.

It is a result that might force Kieran Crowley to become more counsellor than coach this week as his players try and get their heads around the loss, particularly on the back of their narrow Ranfurly Shield loss to Canterbury a week earlier.

"The first half was terrible . . . woeful," Crowley said.

Captain Paul Tito was more succinct when asked if it was frustrating to lose again.

"That's an understatement. That's three weeks in a row ... I don't know what to say."

Taranaki's tactical kicking, particularly in the second half with the wind behind them, was poor, with far too many kicks slammed aimlessly down field, mostly into the arms of Southland fullback James Wilson.

Taranaki initially made good use of the wind, going from a 3-6 halftime deficit to a 17-6 lead eight minutes into the second spell.

Southland hit back but a try to winger Scott Ireland and penalty to Sam Young appeared to make the game safe at 28-20.

However, two penalties from Southland first five-eighth Richard Apanui got the visitors within sight before Lotawa delivered the fatal blow.

- NZPA