Northland has made history down south, defeating Canterbury on home turf to end their 48-year wait for the Ranfurly Shield.
The visitors were first on the board at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch, with James Mullan defying early pressure from the home team to break past two defenders and score the opening try. Rivez Reihana converted, putting the vistors up 0-7.
The Taniwha's joy was short-lived, though, with Canterbury's fast hands quickly setting up a try in the left corner for lock Tahlor Cahill. A missed conversion left them sitting on 5-7.
Moments later Canterbury pulled ahead, with Jone Rova capitalising on a bold behind-the-back pass to run it in. Andrew Knewstubb converted to put the home side up 12-7.
Northland wasn't taking that sitting down though. Keeping the pressure up through messy scrums and tough defence, the Taniwha scored from close range and converted to take the lead, 12-14.
Halfback Sam Nock quickly followed that up with his side's second try in four minutes, deflecting challenges and charging through Canterbury's line to put the visitors even further ahead. Another Reihana conversion put them up to 12-21.
As halftime approached the home side ramped up the pressure, attempting to close the gap off multiple penalties. Centre Hudson Creighton dashed those dreams though, with a monster tackle on Knewstubb knocking the ball free and sending the teams to the sheds with Canterbury trailing by double digits.
Rob Rush kept the momentum going in the opening minutes of the second half, powering through a strong Canterbury defence to pull even further ahead. Another Reihana conversion saw Northland increase their lead to 12-28.
As the teams traded possession, the nerves set in for Canterbury, with some messy play and handling errors culminating in a penalty to Northland. Rivez Reihana slotted it in from 40 metres out and put the Taniwha up 12-31.
With the clock ticking, Canterbury attempted to mount a comeback off a penalty. Northland forced the maul though, and took back possession.
In the final 10 minutes Canterbury put their foot down, attempting to cut through Northland's defence over and over again in a last-ditch effort to close the gap. They couldn't do it, though, with the visitors repeatedly kicking the ball clear as the clock counted down.
Northland finished with a flourish in the dying moments of the match, with Rush getting across the line in the 80th minute to put his side up 12-36 - officially claiming the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 1978.
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