North Otaga Come Close to Victory against Southland

Rugby Park in Invercargill last night. Photo by NZPA.

North Otago first five-eighth Ben Patston gets the ball away during his team's Ranfurly Shield Challenge against Southland at Rugby Park in Invercargill last night. Photo by NZPA.

They call it the sound of silence, and for 40 marvellous minutes last night, it was sweet music to North Otago's ears.

There was no miracle. North Otago isn't returning to Oamaru today with the Ranfurly Shield, but there was an inspiring, gritty performance from a tiny union that has long punched above its weight.

As the temperature plummeted and the steam started pouring off the players, about 8500 fans at Rugby Park were left rubbing their eyes at halftime.

The scoreboard was broken, surely. Could Southland, jam-packed with Super 14 players, really only be leading a bunch of amateurs 10-3?

There was no mistake. North Otago belied its almost complete lack of preparation and its status to stay in the game through 40 minutes of sheer guts.

Guided by the booming left boot of new first five Ben Patston, the Old Golds forced the Stags back into their half time and time again.

In the set phases, facing a pack containing seven professional players, the visitors yielded no ground.

And when the Southland backs tried to give the ball some air, there always seemed to be a gold-clad defender in the way.

Workhorse loose forwards Ross Hay and Ryan Long never stopped tackling, locks Eric Duff and Dave Simpson produced yeomanlike efforts, and prop Pieter van der Merwe showed his strength in the tight.

Beyond the mightily impressive Patston, captain Luke Herden barrelled through what gaps he could find and Ofa Fatai went looking for work.

Ross Hay cradled one treasure in his arms but could not quite grasp the Ranfurly Shield last night.
Hay and young son Charlie had to be satisfied with looking at New Zealand rugby's most famous trophy as they grabbed a quiet moment under the Rugby Park grandstand.
"Bones" had, as usual, expended every last drop of energy from his wiry frame for the North Otago cause, and the openside flanker reflected on a more than respectable challenge for the Shield.

"That was good. It felt like we went out there and took it to them in the first half," Hay said. "We didn't have much ball but our defence was quite good.

"Overall, we're pretty happy with that. I thought we matched it with them well, especially in the first half."

North Otago had no proper warm-up for the challenge but Hay said the side had been training well for weeks.

"We have actually been putting in a bit of hard work, and I think we performed reasonably well as a result."

North Otago coach Barry Matthews was more than satisfied after his first game in charge.

"We knew Southland would be tough but I thought the boys defended outstandingly for large parts of the game.

"I can't fault the work ethic of the players. I thought we scrummed well. Our technique at the breakdown was good and our forwards
were outstanding. "Everyone tried their best against a team containing 12 or 13 Super 14 players. To compete with them was pretty good." Matthews revealed Highlanders coach Glenn Moore had pitched in to help his former side prepare for its game.

"He's been to a few trainings and he's been very good."