The feelgood story of the national provincial championship nearly got a whole lot cheerier but Southland managed to withstand an immense Ranfurly Shield rugby challenge from Counties Manukau in Invercargill tonight.
The holders clung on 13-9, aided by the game's only try, to hooker Jason Rutledge in his 99th match
for the southerners.
They never trailed, but equally they were never comfortable against a Counties Manukau side who threw everything into taking the Shield to a province that has never held it despite coming close on numerous occasions.
It was no different at a packed Rugby Park where Southland secured a fourth defence to follow another four-point thriller last weekend, when they held off Otago 16-12.
The scoreboard attendants were untroubled until Rutledge burrowed over from a maul in the 27th minute. It was converted by first five-eighth Robbie Robinson, who missed two early penalty attempts but was accurate with his remaining efforts, a 43rd minute dropped goal and 54th minute penalty.
Each time Southland scored, the challengers bounced back through a penalty to first five-eighth Baden Kerr but his three three-pointers weren't enough.
They couldn't conjure the breakout tries that have marked their wins over Otago and Wellington in the first two rounds of the domestic competition.
With former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga calling the shots as an assistant coach and at second five-eighth, Counties Manukau have been the surprise packets of 2010 after several years in the doldrums.
The massive improvement in their forward play was apparent as they took the game to a Highlanders-dominated Southland pack, winning the scrum battle and forcing several turnovers at the breakdown.
However, Southland were more assured at lineout time and more clinical with their options to dominate the possession and territory statistics.
The outcome of this clash of previously-unbeaten teams will see Southland leapfrog Counties Manukau to go top of the table provisionally.
- NZPA
