Otago lose second game in dreadful weather conditions
By Brent Edwards

There had to be sympathy for the forwards after Otago was beaten 10-6 by Wellington in the wet in the national championship rugby match at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

They played themselves to a standstill and set an admirable platform, but their inexperienced backs did not make effective enough use of their possession. The backs defended tenaciously but their kicking was too often inaccurate and ineffective and seldom tested the Wellington back three. Centre Mathew Priscott lasted less than two minutes before he limped off with another hamstring injury and the introduction of newcomer Chris Fifield (in his Otago debut) forced yet another midfield reshuffle. Fifield tackled strongly but it was hardly surprising the rather makeshift backline struggled for combination and confidence. Halfback Donovan Hall was several times astray with his passing before he was subbed eight minutes from the end (enabling Chad Shepherd to make his debut) and, while Charles Hore impressed with the ball in hand, his tactical kicking suffered in comparison with that of David Holwell.

Wellington scored the only try of the game after 10 minutes, fullback Shannon Paku strolling over after the Lions counter-attacked from a breakdown in the Otago backline. Wellington threatened much more often in the first spell and it seemed it must add to its lead, but it was thwarted by desperate defence and by the steady stream of penalties it conceded. Holwell extended Wellington's lead to 10-0 when it was finally awarded its first penalty, 10 minutes into the second spell, but Otago dominated much of the remainder of the game.

The Otago line-out functioned effectively with Simon Maling, John Blaikie and Kelvin Middleton winning clean possession; the scrum several times had the shove on Wellington, and there was plenty of endeavour from the entire pack. Brendan Laney kicked penalties after 24 and 33 minutes to bring Otago within striking distance but, ironically, it was the line-out which let Otago down in the last quarter. Tom Willis' throwing had been pin-point but Otago twice conceded possession in prime attacking positions when his substitute, Andrew Hore, was pulled up for crooked throws. Those and other errors cost Otago dearly on a night when the side which made the fewer mistakes was always going to win. No 8 Paul Miller had his strongest game of the season and revelled in the conditions; Middleton was unflagging in his support play and there were big games from locks Blaikie and Maling.

Behind the scrum Otago was less assertive, although fullback James Jowsey again ran strongly and looked a player of genuine first-division class. Hayden Reid made a fine try-saving tackle of Brad Fleming and all the backs tackled well but, in the difficult, slippery conditions, they failed to put Wellington under pressure by chipping the ball in behind its backs. Wellington made life difficult for itself by conceding so many penalties and free-kicks (19-4) but the experience of the inside combination of Jason Spice and Holwell proved crucial.

The Wellington line-out struggled in the first half, losing several of its own throws, but was tidier in the second and there were strong games by locks Dion Waller and Inoke Afeaki, prop Kevin Yates and flanker Jerry Collins. There was nothing glamorous about the Wellington victory but, with two wins from two - and its first victory at Carisbrook since 1988 - it will not be complaining. For the hardy Otago fans who braved the miserable weather, it must seem like an age since they watched the boys in blue beat Wellington 82-10 with a breath-taking display of rugby on the same ground two years ago.

Scores. - Wellington 10 (Shannon Paku try, David Holwell conversion, penalty goal); Otago 6 (Brendan Laney 2 penalty goals). Match statistics: Line-outs, Otago, 19-12; rucks and mauls, Wellington, 45-43; penalties, Otago, 19-4. Kicking: Holwell, 2-2; Laney, 2-4. Half-time: 7-0. Crowd: About 5000. Referee: Glenn Wahlstrom (Wellington).