In a display based on guts and total commitment, Southland, in the final challenge of the season, wrested the shield from Canterbury, winning 9-3 in Christchurch last night.
It has been 50 years since Southland last held the Log o' Wood - not quite as long as the 52-year drought endured by Otago - but it will sit in Invercargill for the summer.
"I can't believe this - it hasn't really sunk in yet," Southland skipper Jamie Mackintosh told Sky Sport.
"There are people over in the crowd crying . . . I don't think we understand what we've done here but it's pretty special."
The sides were locked 3-all at the break after Canterbury had all the field possession and territory in the first half.
But solid tackling and organised defence from the Southland side - with seven former Otago players in its ranks - kept Canterbury out in that first half.
The visiting side came back into the game in the second half, with two penalties from Southland youngster Robbie Robinson giving Southland the win.
There were scenes of jubilation and ecstasy at the end, as Southland players, management and fans finally realised the dream had materialised.
No-one was prouder than Southland manager Leicester Rutledge, who had been through a bucketful of unsuccessful challenges as a player, as a coach and as a manager.
The team returns to Invercargill today, arriving about 11am.
With the win, Southland qualified for the semifinals of the Air New Zealand Cup.
The silver lining for Otago fans is the side will, in all likelihood, get a challenge next year, its third in two seasons.
