KEY POINTS:
Otago reasserted themselves in one of domestic sport's most enduring rivalries with a thrilling 25-23 Air NZ Cup rugby win over Southland today.
A raft of retirements and injuries have so depleted Otago's ranks that they entered a match against their fierce rivals in Invercargill widely considered
the underdogs for the first time in living memory.
Southland ended a 30-year winless drought against Otago in Dunedin last winter but the visitors prevailed today in what was the 229th meeting between the provinces since 1887.
They were made to earn the result, though, after what began as an unadventurous affair burst to life in the second half.
The outcome was not secured until the last act of the game when rookie first five-eighth Chris Noakes landed a 47m penalty after an 18-point haul from his Southland counterpart Blair Stewart seemed destined to deny Otago.
Otago fully deserved the win too, after scoring three tries to one.
They camped themselves inside Southland's half for large chunks of the first spell but went into halftime leading just 10-9.
Stewart kept Southland in touch with three penalties, each awarded on the few occasions that the home side broke out of their own territory.
The only try of the spell came via Otago hooker Jason Macdonald in the 16th minute when he scored in the left-hand corner after second five-eighth Aaron Bancroft thrust through only to be held up close to the line.
Noakes, 22, who had a more than tidy Air NZ Cup debut in the absence of the injured Daniel Bowden, landed the conversion from the sideline and later added a penalty.
Southland were much more assertive after the break, with big No 8 Noa Soqeta prominent as their forwards lifted the intensity and began to take the game to their opposites.
Some gaps started appearing after the tight first half and Southland edged in front 12 minutes into the second spell when quick ruck ball was swiftly ferried left where young lock Daniel Ramsay crashed over in the corner.
Southland almost immediately surged back on to attack from the kickoff as the game quickened in pace but it was Otago who scored next after lock Tom Donnelly effected a turnover at a midfield ruck.
Donnelly snapped the ball up before sharp handling by the Otago backs gave wing Lucky Mulipola the space he needed to score down the right flank.
Noakes again converted from the sideline to give his team a three-point lead which was cancelled out three minutes later when Stewart landed a dropped goal to level the scores at 17-17.
Sharp handling helped regain the lead for Otago as Donnelly and Bancroft transferred the ball at speed for centre Brett Mather to gallop inside some tiring defenders for a try in the 64th minute.
But yet again, Southland responded within minutes with a long range penalty from Stewart pulling the home side to within two points at 20-22 down with 13 minutes remaining.
Stewart struck again with another penalty with just four minutes left in the match when Otago were penalised 40m out in midfield after being caught offside at a ruck.
Then, with just 11 seconds of normal time on the clock, referee Chris Pollock penalised Southland for offside play as they trailed back to regather a kick.
Up stepped Noakes, who nervelessly delivered for his team.
- NZPA