Southland had not won at Eden Park since 1939 but they dared to dream after a stirring second-half comeback against Auckland yesterday.
They closed to within five points of Auckland with 15 minutes to play before fading just a little and slipping to a 27-19 loss.
It means the Stags stay 13th in the NPC with two wins from eight games, their path to a place in the playoffs now looking close to impossible.
On the basis of a good chunk of the second half yesterday, they are a much better team than that record suggests.
They hounded Auckland with a display of vigour and enterprise that was all the more worthy as they were at the back end of storm week, or "roar week" as the maroon faithful call it.
Southland trailed 24-7 at halftime in a game riddled with stoppages before a comeback was sparked by a Lachie Albert 50-22.
Ball from the ensuing lineout was spread quickly to winger Michael Manson, surely the fastest player in the competition, who sizzled over in the corner.
Then, on the other side of the field, fellow winger Charlie Powell got into the act.
He had a lot of work to do but showed his finishing skills to beat two defenders to the line.
The Stags looked set to get "1939" in the news for reasons other than world war until Auckland, who had been thoroughly poor for much of the second half, woke up.
They camped in the Southland half and, after inexplicably passing on the world’s easiest penalty kick, got one more chance to kick three points and hold on for victory.
Auckland had started strongly in summery conditions with a try to promising first five Rico Simpson.
The Stags nearly scored a stunner when Manson went flying away, but Albert knocked on.
Southland did score next as they claimed lineout possession and mauled a good 20m — shockingly boring but highly effective — and Leroy Ferguson drove over the line.
The last 10 minutes of the first half belonged entirely to Auckland.
Lock Tuaina Tualima scored his debut try after a period of intense pressure, fellow beanpole Josh Beehre followed suit and new Highlanders winger Caleb Tangitau led a fine counter-attack to set up a try for AJ Lam on the hooter.
It seemed Auckland were set for a lopsided win, but these Stags are made of stern stuff.
Yeoman lock Josh Bekhuis and No 8 Semisi Tupou-Ta’eiloa never stopped working, while Manson threatened every time he touched the ball and first five Jason Robertson showed some nice touches.
Hayden Michaels also had an immense shift off the bench.
There were NPC debuts for two Dunedin Sharks, prop Oscar Cowley-Andrea coming off the bench for Auckland and young back Tayne Harvey earning his first Stags cap.
NPC
The scores
Auckland 27
Rico Simpson, Tuaina Tualima, Josh Beehre, AJ Lam tries; Zarn Sullivan 2 con, pen.
Southland 19
Leroy Ferguson, Michael Manson, Charlie Powell tries; Jason Robertson 2 con.
Halftime: Auckland 24-7.
