The stunning, spectacular and the sentimental, nzherald.co.nz lists the top ten sporting matches of 2013.
Hawkes Bay 20 Otago 19
44 years is a long time. Obviously not as long as Otago's 56-year drought but long enough for Hawkes Bay fans to think if they'd ever get their hands back on the Ranfurly Shield. But as the Magpies flew down to Dunedin there was hope after the new holders only a week earlier ended their own Shield drought by beating Waikato to lift it for the first time since 1957.
That hope quickly turned into a strong possibility with 23 minutes left in the match.
Top matches of 2013
7: Drawn in the USA! Ferns make history
8: Bayern knock Barca off their perch
9: Great Scott! Aussie wins Masters
10: Murray wins Wimbledon
In a tense encounter helped by a vocal Dunedin crowd, first-five Ihaia West's individual try halfway through the second half pushed the score out to 20-9 and virtually shut the door on the home side. He run 55 metres untouched, cutting through two Otago players as Sky TV commentator Scotty Stevenson cried out "Ihaia West you are a freak".