Mid Canterbury claimed a maiden Meads Cup win after beating North Otago 26-20 in Ashburton today.
A howling nor-wester was blowing down the ground and the Hammers had first use of the conditions to build a solid 23-7 lead at halftime, before producing a strong defensive effort to hold on to the lead.
North Otago put the first points on the board in the first half with a try to second five J'ndre Liebenberg and fullback Ed Keohane landed the conversion.
Mid Canterbury responded through centre Dwayne Burrows and first five Murray Williams added the extras before landing a 62m penalty goal to take the lead.
Then the unbelievable happened as Keohane's kick-off not only failed to go the required 10 metres, but was picked up by the wind and carried over his own dead ball line.
After a second Williams penalty the captain Jon Dampney went over and Williams converted before landing a third penalty to make it 23-7.
North Otago started the second half with two penalties to Keohane as they launched their comeback.
Mid Canterbury then looked to have landed the decisive blow when flanker Kody Nordqvist appeared to have scored against the upright, but referee Brendon Pickerill didn't opt to go to the TMO and instead went back for the penalty, which Williams duly knocked over.
North Otago constantly had Mid Canterbury pinned in their own quarter but the hosts were resilient both on attack and defence.
The visitors eventually broke through in the 74th minute through winger Alex Brown and Keohane slotted the conversion from the side-line for a six point ball game.
There was an intense final few minutes, however, the Hammers held on to become Meads Cup champions.
It was Mid Canterbury's first win in their third Meads Cup final, and first national provincial silverware since 1998, while it was North Otago's first defeat in the Heartland Championship showpiece after wins in 2007 and 2010.
Mid Canterbury 26 (Dwayne Burrows, Jon Dampney tries; Murray Williams 2 conv. 3 pens.)
North Otago 20 (J'ndre Liebenberg, Alex Brown tries; Ed Keohane 2 conv. 2 pen)
Halftime: 23-7
Jonathan Leask of the Ashburton Guardian
