lol, be an announcement soon i think dougie.
Saturday Cup games: Another Otago shield challenge, another year of heartbreak for the blue and golds.
It was a case of different year, same old story at Jade Stadium on Saturday night as Otago, who led 14-8 with 20 minutes left, saw another tilt at the hallowed Log o' Wood against Canterbury go agonisingly close, yet ultimately come up short of the glory they've waited nearly half a century to taste.
As Canterbury held on for a 22-17 victory, three tries to two, it not only kept the Red 'n' Blacks in with a shot at topping pool B of the Air New Zealand Cup, but continued the sad tale of Otago folly when it comes to challenging for the Ranfurly Shield.
It is now 49 years of shield misery for the blue and golds, with the barren run set to tick over past the half-century mark when next they get a tilt at the famous log.
But there could be little argument with the result, the Cantabs sending their little fullback Ben Blair off to Cardiff in style with a performance full of defensive character and their customary coolness under pressure.
Otago had their chances over the run home, with a Nick Evans penalty getting them within shotting distance nine minutes from time, but when they needed their composure most to mount one last attack, errors came at a shocking clip. Seilala Mapusua, in particular, would want to forget his fumble-fingered contribution to a poor finish by the challengers.
Otago would have been happy enough to take a surprise 7-5 lead into the sheds at the break.
Despite having much the better of the first half, Canterbury could only cash in once on a number of useful opportunities, No 8 Mose Tuiali'i powering over from a ruck soon after the first quarter as the home side built pressure through the phases.
That shot the Cantabs out to 5-0, which could have been double but for a try-saving tackle by Evans on Scott Hamilton eight minutes earlier that cut the winger down after he'd chipped, chased and gathered from a counter-attack.
Just short of the half-hour mark the challengers struck on a rare foray into Canterbury territory, 30-year-old rookie winger Greg Zampach slicing through direct from a well-worked scrum move.
It's not the first time Otago have used the slick move, nor is it the first time it's been rewarded with a try. Zampach ran beautifully on to a well-disguised inside ball thrown back over his shoulder by Evans and he had too much pace for the flummoxed defence.
The challengers briefly lost the lead early in the second spell to a Ben Blair penalty, but stormed back into a 14-8 advantage in the 13th minute when outstanding flanker Josh Blackie scored a pearler of a try.
Otago had forced a scrum tighthead moments earlier and then from excellent top-of-the-lineout possession Blackie came steaming up outside his centre Neil Brew to break the line and beat Hamilton and Blair in a run to the corner. Evans added the extras from a testing angle.
Canterbury regained the lead, 15-14, just after the third quarter when they rolled the dice with the lineout option from a penalty, and prop Campbell Johnstone obliged by peeling off from the drive for a crucial seven-pointer.
The margin was extended to eight five minutes later when Canterbury used width perfectly to put second five Cameron McIntyre over wide on the left, Blair's sideline conversion a crucial piece of insurance leaving the challengers needing to score twice. Once was all they could manage.
It wasn't a scintillating match, but it was an enthralling one, both teams putting plenty of vigour into yet another splendid shield contest. But as is the way in these things, it will only be remembered for being yet another night of "if onlys" for the blue and golds when the shield's been on the line.
Canterbury 22: Mose Tuiali'i, Campbell Johnstone, Cameron McIntyre tries; Ben Blair pen 2 con.
Otago 17: Greg Zampach, Josh Blackie tries; Nick Evans pen 2 con. Ht: 5-7.
STEAMERS HANG ON TO DENY MAKOS
Tasman let slip a glorious chance to gain the most significant scalp of their debut national provincial rugby season in Blenheim, the Makos paying the price for being unable to provide the finishing touches in a 17-23 defeat to Bay of Plenty.
It was two tries apiece, but the deadly boot of Steamers first five Mike Delany proved the difference as the Bay boys scored their second win of the pool A round-robin in the Air New Zealand Cup.
But Tasman had their chances in the second spell playing into the wind, and it summed up their afternoon when a late attacking foray as they searched for the seven-pointer they needed to win ended with a forward pass thrown while they were hot on attack.
Just a few minutes earlier they'd built splendid pressure and field position while a man up, but again conceded a crucial turnover just when they looked set to break down the Bay defence.
Much the best rugby in this absorbing, if not high-quality, clash was played in the first 40 minutes when both sides bagged a brace of tries and ended the spell locked at 14-14.
The Steamers would have been happy enough to have achieved parity playing into the stiff breeze, a sniping chip and chase from halfback Jamie Nutbrown and a nice effort from wing Anthony Tahana running on to a grubber answering touchdowns from Makos import Ben Gollings and hard-running second five Aaron Kimura.View larger image
But there was one shocking piece of keystone cops slapstick late in the spell when No 8 Colin Bourke was taken out over the deadball line and coughed up a certain try that would have had the Steamers, well, steamed at the break.
Still they came out in the second 40 and played exactly the sort of football they needed to with the wind at the backs. Whenever they were caught deep, they hoofed it upfield and spent as much time as they could at the right end of the field.
And as a result Delany was able to land three second-half penalties from four attempts to establish the advantage that, in the end, was just enough.
Bourke didn't have a good match, being sinbinned with 16 minutes remaining for one offence too many, and when Tim Taylor goaled the penalty to lock the scores at 17-17 it looked ominous for the Steamers.
But they rallied effectively a man down and soaked up the pressure when it came, and when Delany was able to add one penalty while Bourke cooled his heels and another soon after his return it was yet another win for the big boys over the newcomers.
Tasman offered plenty in yet another competitive showing and if they could just work on that accuracy at the end of their moves, that first scalp over an established side surely won't be far away.
The Steamers did enough, but would not have been happy with their efforts. They hinted at dominance up front, but couldn't make it pay the dividends they would have wanted. They'll know they have to lift their game dramtically if they hope to progress to the quarter-final stage later in the season.
Tasaman 17: Ben Gollings Aaron Kimura tries; Gollings con, Kimura con, Tim Taylor pen.
Bay of Plenty 23: Jamie Nutbrown, Anthony Tahana tries; Mike Delany 2 con 3 pen. Ht: 14-14.
WOBBLY WELLINGTON EDGE TURBOS
This wasn't one that will go on the Wellington highlight reel. In fact the sooner Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and co forget about this uninspiring 11-3 Air New Zealand Cup victory over Manawatu in Palmerston North, probably the better.
It was ordinary fare pretty much throughout from the Lions who struggled to repel a fired up and much-improved Turbos outfit who offered plenty in a performance that spoke volumes for their commitment and character.
In fact, all things considered this was one of those moral victories for Manawatu who will take plenty from the fact they kept opposition of Wellington's pedigree to just one try in 80 minutes of football.
It's hard to put your finger on what's gone wrong with the Lions, but they're badly off key at present and have completely lost their try-scoring touch.
For all the ball they had, and all the field position too, to cross just once, when Smith crashed over in the right corner midway through the second spell, speaks volumes for the quality of rugby produced by the visitors.
Manawatu, with the wind at their backs, led 3-0 at the break. Wellington had their chances, Lome Fa'atau spurning one try early on when he was forced out in the corner and No 8 Scott Waldrom also just inches out when he combined well with Ben Herring in a surging run from deep.
But the Turbos held firm, made something like 82 tackles to Wellington's 29 through the first stanza, and gave themselves at least a sniff of an upset over the run home.
It wasn't to be, of course, with Wellington doing just enough. Just.
Ellison knocked over a couple of penalties to wrest the initiative and then Smith's try -- off turnover ball and set up by a thunderign run from Joe McDonnell -- ensured the Lions would take, if not glory, at least the competition points to take them into the top six for phase two of this competition.
Smith and Nonu had their moments on attack for the Lions, as did Herring and Waldrom, while the second-half move to golden oldies scrums probably didn't help their cause any.
But it was a day, really, when the men in green deserved all the plaudits. From flamboyant Argentine Francisco Bosch at the back to shaven-headed hooker Nathan Kemp up front, they gave this contest their all. They've come a long way in a short time already in this competition.
Manawatu 3: Graham Smith pen.
Wellington 11: Conrad Smith try; Tamati Ellison 2 pen. Ht: 3-0.
