▁Zealand , ▁rugby ▁league ▁went ▁into ▁re cess ▁with ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁I . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁Nelson , ▁who ▁were ▁co ached ▁by ▁former ▁Ki wi ▁Kevin ▁D ixon , ▁played ▁a ▁three ▁match ▁series ▁against ▁Mar l borough , ▁winning ▁the ▁first ▁ 3 0 - 2 0 ▁before ▁losing ▁the ▁second ▁ 2 4 - 3 2 ▁and ▁drawing ▁the ▁third ▁match ▁ 2 6 - all . ▁ ▁Tas man ▁district ▁A ▁Nelson - Mar l borough ▁side ▁first ▁played ▁as ▁an ▁independent ▁district ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 , ▁who ▁played ▁O tag o , ▁South land , ▁West ▁Coast , ▁Can ter bury ▁etc ▁but ▁it ▁was ▁not ▁until ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁season ▁that ▁the ▁Tas man ▁name ▁was ▁adopted . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁they ▁won ▁the ▁Central ▁Zone ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Provin cial ▁Compet ition ▁Second ▁Division ▁before ▁losing ▁to ▁O tag o ▁in ▁the ▁semi - final s . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁the ▁team ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁Main land ▁Super ▁ 1 0 ▁against ▁other ▁South ▁Island ▁district ▁teams ▁and ▁clubs ▁from ▁the ▁Can ter bury ▁Rugby ▁League . ▁The ▁Or cas ▁made ▁the ▁final ▁and ▁defeated ▁Horn by ▁ 2 0 - 0 ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁championship . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁Tas man ▁won ▁the ▁Rugby ▁League ▁Cup , ▁defe ating ▁Coast line . ▁They ▁lost ▁to ▁tro phy ▁to ▁O tag