Otago's promising start evaporates
By Brent Edwards

A promising start dissolved into disappointment when Otago was soundly beaten 29-14 by Waikato in the national championship rugby match at Carisbrook yesterday.

On a wild and windy day which provided the worst conditions at Carisbrook for many years, Otago began like a bomb but ended as a damp squib. Ahead 14-0 after 15 minutes, Otago had no joy for the remainder of a game in which Waikato, much more patient and controlled, scored five tries to two. It was not unexpected, but it was a harsh reality check for an Otago side whose inexperience and limitations, particularly in the backs, were ruthlessly exposed. It started so well. Midfielder Seilala Mapusua had a try after six minutes when the bounce of Byron Kelleher's chip kick undid fullback Grant McQuoid. Flanker Josh Blackie had the second nine minutes later, sprinting 30m to the posts after Brendan Laney dummied and broke for 40m before in-passing. But that was where Otago's well of happiness dried up. It might have had another try and a possible 21-0 lead 12 minutes later but Laney was unable to hold the pass after Charles Hore broke the defence wide open.

Waikato, especially Glen Jackson, began putting the slippery ball in behind a jittery Otago defence and there were handsome dividends as it scored three tries in the 12 minutes before half-time. Jackson himself scored the first from a kick ahead by flanker Jono Gibbes; hooker Guy Coleman muscled over from a line-out drive; and Scott McLeod scored in the last move before the break after Jackson's chip slithered out from under Laney's grasp. Centre Keith Lowen caused continual problems for the Otago defence and he scored both the tries in the second spell, after 19 and 27 minutes.

The first was a gut-buster for Otago as Waikato, with the confidence which comes from holding the Ranfurly Shield for so long, put together about a dozen phases before Lowen crashed over in the scoreboard corner. He scored his second in a similar position after the Otago defence had again been stretched to breaking point by good second phase possession. Otago played some good rugby as individuals but Waikato was much the better and composed team, even though its line-out malfunctioned so often.

Fullback James Jowsey and first five-eighth Hore were the pick of the Otago backs and All Black halfback Kelleher, in only his third full match in about three months, was a mixture. As a unit, however, the Otago backs lacked the understanding and combination of Waikato, which finished much more clinically. The Otago line-out worked well; the scrum was solid but there were too few 80-minute workers against a solid Waikato pack. John Blaikie and Simon Maling gained all their line-out ball and some of the opposition's, Kelvin Middleton and Blackie worked hard but Waikato improved and had the better of the second spell. Lowen, Bruce Reihana, Jackson and Rhys Duggan were always a threat in the backs and No 8 Deon Muir was inspirational, in driving play and in his overall work-rate. He, flanker Scott Couch, locks Royce Willis and Chresten Davis all played major roles in the Waikato revival and, if Otago learnt anything from this match, it was that games are played over 80 minutes and chances have to be taken.