But Southern will look back on its 3-2 loss on strokes to Auckland with pride, particularly after the second half appeared to drift away on the host side.
When Southern's Josh Smith converted a penalty corner in the 70th minute to bring the score to 3-3, Southern had somehow clawed back a chance of redemption after letting slip a 2-1 half-time lead.
Southern seemed the more adventurous of the two sides in the first half, but was caught out at the back when a slick pass found Jonty Keaney, whose angled run and shot to the left of the goalie gave Auckland a 1-0 lead after four minutes.
Southern found itself on its own line again in the 13th minute defending a penalty corner, but the resulting breakout from Southern down the right flank produced a sweeping cross which was finished off by Southern's Lawson Davison.
Southern was finding plenty of space through quick passing down either flank, although this approach did produce a few turnovers, but its enterprise was rewarded when Caleb Booth found the net after a flurry of shots in the circle after 22 minutes.
Southern held the 2-1 lead into half time, and seemed to have control in the second half, despite Auckland having a goal disallowed from a penalty corner after five minutes.
Keaney was proving dangerous with room to move, but it was his deft shot from an acute angle which evened the score at 2-2 after 19 minutes in the second spell.
Southern hearts sank when Auckland's Kalyan Jeran followed up on a penalty corner before Smith's late equaliser for Southern took the game to the shootout.
Central beat North Harbour 3-2 in the early men's game, and Canterbury scored a late winner to beat Midlands 4-3.
Auckland finished the stronger over Otago in the women's competition to win 3-2 after the teams were locked at 1-1 at halftime.
Southern's Annabel Girvan scored in the 29th minute to ensure her side went into the second spell level, but Auckland scored two goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half to wriggle clear
. Southern captain Maddi McLean clawed one back for her team in the 62nd minute, but Auckland held on for the last eight minutes to claim the win.
Midlands beat Canterbury 3-2 and North Harbour won 5-4 in a shootout over Central, after the teams were tied at 2-2 at fulltime.
