Otago beat Southland 33-22 in Invercargill on Saturday, grabbing southern bragging rights and also winning back the Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy.
Otago secured the win on a strong defensive effort and an ability to score points just when it mattered.
The match was in the balance about 15 minutes into the second half but Otago then scored a timely try and held out a Southland side which lose a bit of shape as the game went on.
Otago lock Tom Franklin, who had another storming game and was also forced to cool his heels in the second half, said it was a match which went as expected.
''It was a typical game for an Otago-Southland match. We knew they would come out and hit us hard,'' Franklin said.
''They always try and be the dominant team up front and try and beat us up. We knew what was coming and we had to have the right mental attitude. It is always a big game, as big as the Ranfurly Shield, and they would try and give it to us.''
Otago gave as good as it got in a rugged encounter which lost its way in the second half as both teams tried to go route one but more than once pulled out an error at just the wrong time.
The visiting side got off to a poor start, conceding two tries in the first 10 minutes but bounced back to lead 23-14 at the break.
Franklin said the side did not panic when it was standing behind the posts twice in quick time.
''We just had to back our systems and one of them [tries] was an intercept, which can happen. But you have to just stick to playing footy and we knew we would get back into the game.''
Though Otago scored the first points with a Parker penalty, it then coughed up that intercept try after five minutes.
Fullback Trent Renata threw a wide pass and Southland second five-eighth Willis Halaholo swooped in to run 50m to score.
Just over five minutes later, Southland was in again when Halaholo broke the Otago midfield and kicked the ball on for winger Mark Jackman to score.
Otago though came back into the game with two tries inside five minutes midway through the first half.
Renata chipped the ball in behind down the blindside and then the ball went through the hands to see Tei Walden score his first try for Otago.
Michael Collins then ran 80m after he intercepted the ball when Southland was on attack and was quick enough to beat the Southland defence.
The second half drifted along some what and the two sides traded penalties before Otago scored its vital try.
It swept on to attack and Walden got in behind the defence. From the resulting ruck near the line, halfback Josh Renton wriggled over to score.
That put Otago up by 16 points and it would have been a mug side if it had let it slip from there.
Franklin and Southland No 8 Elliot Dixon were yellow-carded with a quarter of the game left for a bit of push and shove. Their absence rather upset the structure of both teams.
Franklin admitted later he was wrong to throw an elbow as he tried to combat some Southland niggle.
Southland managed to score through flanker John Hardie straight after Franklin left the field but neither side showed much cohesion as the fog swept the ground in the dying minutes.
Walden and Collins played well in the midfield for Otago, Renata showed glimpses of his class while front rowers Liam Coltman and Aki Seiuli got through some work.
Otago v Southland
The scores
Otago 33
Tei Walden, Michael Collins, Josh Renton tries; Hayden Parker 3 con, 4 pen
Southland 22
Willis Halaholo, Mark Jackman, John Hardie tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, pen
Halftime: 23-14
Crowd: 8000
