Northland 31 Counties Manukau 44 (ht 10-20): Don't be deceived by the score, it was more like Counties took their foot off the pedal towards the end allowing Northland in for a couple of consolation tries. Which at least gave the home supporters something to cheer about as the realisation
began to dawn this was going to be the absolutely last game of the season for the Taniwha.
In some ways the day was a triumph for rugby in the province. A terrible morning of blizzard winds and torrential rain changed into fine and windy afternoon in Whangarei to encourage a festive atmosphere. The Taniwha and Counties mascots bopped to the stadium beats (from dance tracks, Gangnam Style and Party Rocking, to AC/DC's Money Talks) which kept a large crowd featuring plenty of vocal Counties supporters and former All Black coach Graham Henry well entertained.
But after ball-girl Maia Subritzky from the Awanui under-7s JMB rippa rugby team (daughter of Awanui RFC stalwarts Glen 'Bubbles' and Tracey Subritzky) had plonked the matchball down on halfway, it soon became obvious any thrills for the home fans would be few and far between.
Northland recaptured from Ashley Moeke's kick-off into the heavily gusting wind (so strong that conversions and penalty attempts into it from anywhere but directly in front of the posts were nigh impossible) but soon found themselves back on their own line while Counties - featuring marquee star Tim Nanai Williams at fullback - showed why they are regarded as the form team in the lower tier ITM Cup championship competition.
The visitors were soon ahead by 20 points before Northland mustered some resistance and scored two tries to hint at a potential comeback. Both tries were manufactured by two players who have been consistently outstanding this season: captain Rene Ranger at second-five took matters into his own hands, began to split the visitors defence at will and fed on-form centre Mateo Malupo to run the razor's edge down the sideline - once having caught a Ranger slip-pass on the back of his hip - for both touchdowns.
The remote possibility of a Northland victory which existed at halftime was soon put into the realms of fantasy as the visitors dominated territory and possession for the majority of the second half right from kick-off.
Northland remained competent, competitive and unconvincing. Also notable beside Ranger and Malupo were Dan 'Conan' Pryor, and English speedster Dan Caprice whose taking of one ball in full mid-air flight early on proved a real shot in the arm for his side's confidence. But the villain ended up being fullback Eddie Paea with a performance of nightmare proportions including knock-ons and showing general indecisiveness under the high ball in the difficult swirling wind.
To be fair, he wasn't the sole culprit. That local supporters certainly knew what was at stake was in sharp contrast to the relaxed stance displayed throughout the game by some of Northland's 'finest'.
It was as though many were already consigned to their collective fate and simply waiting for the approaching darkness - signalling the end of another forgettable season - to engulf them.
This is the end ...
Northland finished their 2012 national provincial competition campaign in the lower tier ITM Cup championship competition in fifth spot, with three wins from 10 games - still two spots above the hapless North Harbour anchoring the very bottom.
Saturday's result in Whangarei would have left Southland rugby diehards smiling in the realisation their team finished fourth, thus progressing to the championship semi-finals this Saturday, vs Counties in Pukekohe at 2pm.
Meanwhile, having won last year's championship and promotion, the Hawke's Bay Magpies ended at the bottom of the ITM Cup premiership standings this year and were relegated back to the nether world, where they'll again rub shoulders with the Taniwha next season.