There were nine fabulous days at the end of winter last year. Otago reclaimed the Ranfurly Shield after a 56-year wait. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn walks down memory lane to relive those days, ahead of another challenge this Saturday.Hamilton is too flat, is nowhere near the sea, and has not always been kind to the Otago rugby team.
So, there was not a huge amount of confidence as Otago headed north a year ago to try to win the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 1957.
But this was an Otago side fresh off a win, with a solid core of experience and some X-factor players, and Waikato was a shadow of its Super rugby-winning big brother franchise, the Chiefs.
Otago started well, Hayden Parker scoring a couple of penalties and then a try after a nice cross kick.
Waikato came back and Tim Mikkelson scored. Crucially, just before halftime, Waikato had a try ruled out because of a marginal forward pass.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Otago No8 Paul Grant drove from the back of a 5m scrum.
He was held up but managed to get the ball back. Rampaging bull TJ Ioane picked the ball up and charged over the line.
That put the challenger up 26-19. Otago was just 600 seconds away from ending 56 years of pain.
Fingers and toes were crossed. The Otago defence stood tall. At the death, Otago forced a turnover, Parker kicked it out and the game was won.
You beauty!
There were scenes of joy in every corner of Otago.
A fan who had flown up from Strath Taieri cried in the stands at Waikato Stadium.
Beers were sprayed, backs were slapped.
It was a special night.
And for many, it went well into the morning.
Otago's return to Dunedin was delayed by the Waikato fog the next morning.
The side arrived at the airport later in the afternoon to a hero's welcome.
The fans got to touch the shield.
The chants went up.
Coach Tony Brown was mobbed.
David Latta, the hooker who was cruelly denied the shield in 1994, got to finally have a touch of the revered trophy.
The team continued to sample a few more of the sponsor's products and the next day the shield was given another public airing at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Next, and most importantly, ''Otago'' was etched on the trophy.
The shield then travelled to seemingly every nook and cranny of Otago over the next few days.
It headed to Balclutha, up the Manuherikia Valley, over to the Remarkables.
It ended up in schools, malls, rugby clubs, offices and even the odd pub.
But the team's celebrations were well over.
They had a job to do.
Hawkes Bay was coming down with its guns blazing.
The Magpies had a shield drought of their own - 44 years.
Normally, a match like this on a late Sunday afternoon would struggle to get 3000 through the gate.
The Otago union was hoping for more than that. And it got it. More than 18,000 turned up for the game.
Otago started well but could not convert pressure into points. Hawkes Bay led 13-9 at halftime and when Ihaia West ran 60m to score, the Magpies had one hand on the shield.
The inevitable comeback arrived from Otago. Grant made a big run that ended with a try to Jayden Spence.
The electric Buxton Popoali'i scored but Parker just missed the conversion.
Otago was one point behind and the clock was ticking.
Otago surged back on to attack and Hawkes Bay prop Ben Franks ended up on the Otago side of a breakdown near the end.
Surely, it was a penalty. But referee Mike Fraser turned a blind eye and the game went on.
Otago set up for a dropped goal but it was never going to happen. The dream was over. It was time for Hawkes Bay to party.
Otago had ended the long drought but it was a fleeting stay. A long courtship only to end after the first date.
But all that courting was worth it. A one-night stand with your dream date.
This Saturday, the chance to win the big prize is on again. Otago will challenge for the Shield, against Counties-Manukau, exactly one year to the day since its Hamilton victory.
Can it do it?
Can it be a one-year drought instead of 56 years?After taking 20,000 odd days to win it once, winning it twice in 366 days is surely not too much to ask.
