Southland 16
Canterbury 26
It was bitter-sweet, even for newly-elected Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt as, with heavy hearts, Southlanders farewelled the Ranfurly Shield last night.
Re-elected yesterday for a sixth term, Shadbolt had correctly predicted earlier this season Southland would beat Auckland 9-6 but his forecast the Stags would beat Canterbury 17-14 last night was, sadly, astray.
The Stags fought with every fibre but this was a bridge too far against more polished opposition.
It was a humdinger of a match, a shield classic.
It was no disgrace for Southland. Canterbury were simply too good, as they usually are at the business end of the season.
There were heroes aplenty on both sides. For Canterbury, Colin Slade, who contributed 21 points and controlled play so coolly; composed halfback and captain Andy Ellis; hard-running centre Robbie Fruean; the inimitable Sonny Bill Williams; and forwards like Nasi Manu and Matt Todd.
For Southland, the front rowers Jamie Mackintosh and Jason Rutledge; the workaholic flankers John Hardie and Tim Boys; and hard-running three-quarter, Tony Koonwaiyou. But it's a cruel world. There was not even a bonus point for all that endeavour.
"It's been one hell of a ride," Mackintosh said as he handed over the log of wood, and no one would disagree.
It was 13 days short of a year since Southland beat Canterbury 9-3 to take the shield and, in the course of it defending it six times this year, the Stags had formed an impenetrable defensive barrier.
They had conceded just three tries in those matches but, conversely, their attacking momentum had stalled. They had scored just one try, by the injured Kenny Lynn, and not reached double figures in their last three games.
Of their eight wins in the championship this season, six had been by five points or less. They had lived on the edge, sustained by their physical endurance and their indomitable spirit.
Canterbury were fuelled by revenge and bolstered by players with international experience in Sam Whitelock, Wyatt Crockett, Isaac Ross, Ellis, Slade and All Black-in-waiting Williams.
Canterbury went into the match with momentum and with a proud shield challenging record.
They had won the shield 13 times before, including four times since 2000 and, understandably, they began as favourites. They had lost just twice to Southland since 1981.
Canterbury had first use of a cool, southerly breeze on an overcast evening in front of an almost capacity crowd of more than 14,500 but there was early encouragement for Southland when Robinson kicked an angled 35m penalty after Canterbury infringed at a scrum. Slade soon cancelled that out with a penalty for Canterbury.
Shield matches are won and lost on mistakes and James Wilson made a howler midway through the way. His timid chip was blocked by Williams who gathered, drew in the defence and wing Telusa Veauinu sprinted 25m for the try and a 10-3 lead.
There was a controversial moment three minutes before halftime when Southland flanker John Hardie touched down after taking an in-pass from Koonwaiyou but, after an interminable delay, television match official Doug Rodgers ruled Koonwaiyou had put a foot out before he delivered the pass.
But the Stags' persistence paid off as Koonwaiyou ran off Jimmy Cowan and No 8 Kane Thompson scored by the posts. Robinson's conversion made it 16-13 as the crowd and players caught their breaths at the break.
Southland had 62 per cent territory and 72 per cent possession in the first half, dominated the breakdowns 65-26 and would possibly have been disappointed not to have been in front. But they would also have been encouraged to be just three points behind after trailing 3-16 after 30 minutes.
The pivotal moment arrived 11 minutes into the second spell when Whitelock won a lineout on halfway, Fruean burst through midfield and, from the ensuing ruck, Slade scampered 20m down the blindside to score and convert and increase Canterbury's lead to 23-13.
It was a double whammy for Southland for Robinson was injured in making the tackle on Fruean and had to leave the field. Two minutes later, James Wilson kicked an angled penalty and the Stags, at 16-23, were still not without hope.
Southland twice turned down kickable penalties but Canterbury turned the ball over and Williams almost scored 100m downfield, just beaten to the touch by Pehi Te Whare.
Five minutes from the end Slade kicked his fourth penalty and Canterbury had a 10-point buffer.
Southland 16 (K. Thompson try, R. Robinson con, 2 pens, J. Wilson pen); Canterbury 26 (T. Veauinu, C. Slade tries, C. Slade 2 cons, 4 pens). Halftime: Canterbury, 16-13.
