There was no miracle. North Otago isn't returning to Oamaru today with the Ranfurly Shield, but there was an inspiring, gritty performance from a tiny union that has long punched above its weight.
As the temperature plummeted and the steam started pouring off the players, about 8500 fans at Rugby Park were left rubbing their eyes at halftime.
The scoreboard was broken, surely. Could Southland, jam-packed with Super 14 players, really only be leading a bunch of amateurs 10-3?
There was no mistake. North Otago belied its almost complete lack of preparation and its status to stay in the game through 40 minutes of sheer guts.
Guided by the booming left boot of new first five Ben Patston, the Old Golds forced the Stags back into their half time and time again.
In the set phases, facing a pack containing seven professional players, the visitors yielded no ground.
And when the Southland backs tried to give the ball some air, there always seemed to be a gold-clad defender in the way.
Workhorse loose forwards Ross Hay and Ryan Long never stopped tackling, locks Eric Duff and Dave Simpson produced yeomanlike efforts, and prop Pieter van der Merwe showed his strength in the tight.
Beyond the mightily impressive Patston, captain Luke Herden barrelled through what gaps he could find and Ofa Fatai went looking for work.
Patston and James Wilson exchanged early penalties, and it took 24 minutes for the first try when Wilson crossed the line. But that was the scoring for the half.
The Stags breathed life back into the Log o' Wood when they claimed it for the first time in 50 years last year.
But the air and the atmosphere was sucked out of Rugby Park last night. The ground might have been packed for the first Shield defence, but the only chant of the first half was "Let's go, gold".
It was an insipid first 40 minutes from Southland, hence the dead atmosphere at the ground.
You can excuse early-season rust but there is only so much latitude to be given to a formidable top-tier side that has forgotten how to pass.
The Stags have one more challenge against a smaller union, Wanganui, before the mouth-watering clash with old foe Otago on August 7. They will need to use that game to find some spark and some accuracy.
Eventually, of course, the sheer pace and strength of the Stags prevailed last night.
They piled on 38 points in the second half, finally giving the Arctic terrace something to cheer about. Wilson was particularly impressive at first five, while big Joe Tuineau showed some of his unique skills.
North Otago ran out of puff but it certainly did not run out of inspiration.
The province has had two defining moments in the last eight years, winning national titles in 2002 and 2007. Last night's gutsy first half is as good as anything else.
• Gore High School beat Central Southland College 58-0 in the Highlanders First XV curtain-raiser.
THE SCORES
• Southland...48 - James Wilson, Joe Tuineau, James Patterson, Elliot Dixon, Mark Wells, Jamie Mackintosh, Glen Horton tries; Wilson pen, 5 con
• North Otago...3 - Ben Patston pen
• Halftime: Southland 10-3
