Southland Stags' emotional roller-coaster is open for another season
There was plenty of positivity and enthusiasm within the Stags camp leading into the competition opener before Southland found themselves like a dazed boxer minutes into the season.
Boy, the Southland Stags know how to play with your emotions.
At 26-3 down after half an hour in its round one National Provincial Championship opener against Waikato there were some real concerns as to where this game might end up for Southland.
There was plenty of positivity and enthusiasm within the Stags camp leading into the competition opener before Southland found themselves like a dazed boxer minutes into the season.
Waikato scored two tries in five minutes to go up 12-0 and when it got to 26-3 at the 30-minute mark there were some alarm bells ringing in the ears of the Stags faithful.
While Waikato was rushing Southland in defence, potentially somewhat illegally at times, the Stags felt like they were sitting on their heels and Waikato was able to cross the advantage line with relative ease.
But then came the upward route on that emotional roller-coaster that you ride as a Southland Stags fan.
Through prolific try-scorer Michael Manson on the left-wing Southland crossed in a rare first-half trip into Waikato’s 22m territory.
Greg Dyer also landed a penalty and the first-half damage wasn’t as bad as initially expected at 26-11 down.
And that was the beginning of the Stags’ impressive comeback.
Wing Viliame Fine scored in the 44th minute and when Dyer landed his third penalty of the afternoon all of a sudden Southland had scored 18 unanswered points.
The home team went from starring at a potential cricket score to well and truly in the hunt for victory at the 55min mark.
At 26-21 the game was there for the taking and Southland put itself in a position to snatch the lead and potential victory.
But a few key moments proved costly.
One coming at the 71st-minute mark when replacement first five-eighth Marty Banks made a hash of a penalty kick to the corner.
In an attempt to set up a five-minute lineout Banks kicked the ball dead and eased the pressure for Waikato.
To add a little salt to the wound, with the Stags still 26-21 down with time pretty much up in the game, Waikato landed a penalty to push the margin out to 29-21 and deny Southland a bonus point.
The good news is Southland showed some grit to claw its way back into the game.
The not-so-good news is the Stags were well short of where they needed to be early in the game which ultimately was what decided this game.
The Stags missed 24 tackles in the first half which if we are blunt about is atrocious.
Unfortunately, Southland also picked up some injuries.
Replacement halfback Liam Howley tore his bicep and is set for a lengthy stint on the sideline.
Hooker Jacob Payne also left the field with a nasty-looking knee injury.