Counties Manukau have pulled off an historic upset this afternoon beating Northland 22-19 to claim the Ranfurly Shield in the penultimate round of this year's NPC regular season.
The Taniwha entered the match as heavy favourites, having already defended the Log o' Wood this year against Tasman and Waikato but the Steelers finally put together a gritty performance they've been searching for in an otherwise tough season.
On a wet day in the Far North, Northland centurion Sam Nock opened the scoring with a darting run from a ruck near the line.
Counties responded with some creativity of their own - a chipped box kick chased down by Sione Molia to score in the left corner.
But from there, the hosts looked to assert their dominance, forging a significant advantage in territory and possession over the visitors and converting it into a 14-5 lead at halftime with James Ramm dotting down before halftime.
But the Steelers wouldn't fall away.
After the break, Counties midfielder Gibson Popoali'i showed his strength to close the gap once more, taking a tap penalty five metres from the line and muscling his way over despite the efforts of four Northland defenders.
But once again Northland found a response with Corey Evans using the momentum of his side's dominant scrum to score out wide but the missed conversion by Rivez Reihana meant it was just a seven point margin.
Counties got their chance soon after. A wayward clearing kick giving them a lineout just outside Northland's 22 and after a composed 14 phases of attack, found the chalk out wide with a floated pass to fullback Adam Morrison.
A composed AJ Alatimu slotted the conversion from out wide to level the scores, then sealed a historic result minutes later with a penalty in the 79th minute.
Northland desperately chased one last response - even at times looking as though they hoped to nab a penalty of their own to send the match to golden point - but in the end a handling error ended the match, silencing Semenoff Stadium besides the roar of the triumphant.
The successful challenge marks the first time Counties has held the shield since 2013 and is just the second time in the province's history they've now held it.
Captain Jimmy Tupou, who was part of the 2013 squad, said after the match today's result was "extra special".
"I was probably a bit young and naïve [last time] and we had a pretty star studded team," Tupou recalled of the Tana Umaga-coached squad.
"To come back in the end part of my career and give these boys the experience of what it does... she's been a tough old season and for us this was our final."
But they'll have another final to worry about now with table-toppers Hawke's Bay now getting a shot next week in the final round of the season.
That match will be next Saturday at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe at 5pm.
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