It was sinking in yesterday that Southland has lost its best opportunity in nearly 50 years to take the Ranfurly Shield south, co-coach David Henderson said yesterday.
Auckland defeated Southland 13-9 on Saturday afternoon at Eden Park to hold on to the log o' wood, but only after defending its line gamely in the dying minutes.
Southland had a try disallowed for losing the ball when replacement halfback Scott Cowan made a dart beside a ruck with about 10 mins left, but it was ruled he did not have full control of the ball when trying to force it.
The southerners also had players unmarked with the line wide open late on but wayward passes cost it any chance.
Southland last had the log o' wood in 1959 and though Auckland was far from its best, it held on, just, to keep the shield for another couple of weeks at least.
Henderson said yesterday it was slowly sinking in what an opportunity had been lost but that was what happened when chances were not taken.
He said there were two golden opportunities in the dying minutes. One involved a four-man overlap but when a solid pass was needed, it rolled along the ground.
The lack of finishing told on the Southland side, but that came down to inexperience, and not knowing how to finish.
He said teams such as Canterbury did not throw loose passes or display poor handling when scoring opportunities come about.
Henderson said Cowan felt he had scored, but those decisions happened, and had to be accepted.
The dressing room was like a morgue after the game, as the loss and the manner of losing hit.
But it simply had to get back on the horse and look at beating North Harbour in Invercargill next Saturday, Henderson said.
Injuries were starting to hit Southland.
Halfback Dane Shelford was concussed while centre Kenny Lynn has an sternum injury, winger Peri Te Whare had an ankle problem while No 8 Hua Tamariki had an Achilles niggle.
Auckland may have just held off Southland, but face a daunting task in two weeks, facing top-of-the-table Wellington.
