Stags win North versus South battle

Jimmy Cowan: Puts his body on the line for Southland

Southland put in an impressive second-half comeback to gain a deserved 24-16 win over Northland in the Air New Zealand Cup clash in Invercargill on Friday.

The Stags roared back from a 6-16 deficit with two tries in the last quarter and some excellent goal-kicking by full-back James Wilson in a match that the home team had to win to stand any chance of succeeding in the latter part of the season.

Besides Southland recording only their second win of the season, it was also a case of sweet revenge for the Stags who went down 12-19 to Northland in Whangarei last year.

Northland were by far the better team in the first half but, once the Southland pack began to roll in the second spell, it surrendered the initiative.

The Taniwhas struck first with a beautifully-executed try in the ninth minute thanks to some good vision from fly-half Daniel Bowden who stabbed through a grubber kick from a set scrum.

Outside centre Josh Levi gathered well and unselfishly handed the ball over to wing Fetuu Vainokolo who had a clear run to the line. Bowden converted expertly from near touch to make it 7-0.

Southland regrouped with a penalty by kicking ace Blair Stewart and almost stole the lead soon after that if it hadn't been for a TMO decision ruling against Pehi Te Whare's try. The winger was adjudged to have put a foot in touch before he forced the ball over the line.

Northland restored their lead to seven points at the end of the first quarter when, after a series of forward rumbles, Bowden kicked a penalty from in front to make it 10-3.

Southland chipped away at the visitors' lead with Stewart's second penalty but Bowden was equally up to the task from 38 metres out to make it 13-6 after 31 minutes.

That remained the score at half-time, Northland deserving its lead despite trailing in territory and possession because it dominated the turnovers.

Bowden kicked his third penalty to extend the lead to 16-6 in the second spell when, after just two minutes, lock Daniel Ramsay was penalised.

The Stags attempt at taking on their visitors with their backline did not work out as they would have hoped when a legitimate wide pass was ruled forward.

However, the Northland defence was finally broken 16 minutes into the spell after the visitors were left scrambling from a charge down off a scrum. Play was switched to the right and hooker Matt Holloway crashed over in the corner.

Stewart missed the conversion but Southland had closed the gap to 11-16.

The Stags began to increase the tempo and their front row, anchored by Clarke Dermody, began to gain some ascendancy.

The deficit was reduced to just two points when Southland full-back James Wilson landed a long-distance penalty goal after 21 minutes to take the score to 14-16.

The home team finally took the lead for the first time 12 minutes from the end when Wilson kicked another penalty from an awkward penalty to give the Stags the lead, 17-16.

Jimmy Cowan kicked Southland back to attack and, from the ensuing line-out, Hoani MacDonald was thrown out in the corner.

But Northland's line-out throw was not straight and, from the subsequent scrum, Southland drove on and prop Jamie Mackintosh smashed over by the posts for the decisive try.

Wilson converted to make it 24-16 with four minutes to play and the Southland crowd left with a good start to their weekend.

The scorers:

For Southland:

Tries: Holloway, Mackintosh

Con: Wilson

Pens: Stewart 2, Wilson 2

For Northland:

Try: Vainikolo

Con: Bowden

Pens: Bowden 3

The teams:

Southland: 15 James Wilson, 14 Alesana Muliaina, 13 Jason Kawau, 12 Lamoni Tongotongo, 11 Pehi Te Whare, 10 Blair Stewart, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Iona Sipa, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Hoani Macdonald, 5 Daniel Ramsay, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clarke Dermody, 2 Matt Holloway, 1 Jamie Mackintosh

Replacements: 16 Fai Mika, 17 Jayden Murch, 18 Hua Tamariki, 19 Dion Bates, 20 Phil Dawson, 21 Willie Rickards, 22 Mark Wells

Northland: 15 Hayden Taylor/Mike Davis, 14 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 13 Josh Levi, 12 Daniel Bowden, 11 Tony Koonwaiyou, 10 David Holwell, 9Corey Tamou, 8 Jake Paringatai, 7 Joel McKenty, 6 Justin Collins (c), 5 Brad Taylor, 4 Dan Goodwin, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Tim Dow, 1 Tony Coughlan

Replacements: 16 Justin Davies, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Steve Baker, 19 John Cocker, 20 Rhyan Caine, 21 Leo Taliu, 22 Glen Martin/Mike Davis

Referee: Josh Noonan

Television match official: Shane McDermott

Assessor: Colin Hawke