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Maximum points from away win - Otago dominant
in first half
Otago captain Taine Randell looks to fend off Bay of
Plenty's Rodney Vouillaire in their NPC clash at International
Stadium yesterday. Otago won 46-31.
Special Correspondent
Rotorua: An improved performance gave Otago its first away win
of the national championship when it beat Bay of Plenty 46-31
at the International Stadium yesterday. Otago set the platform
for its win in the first half and had a four-try bonus point at
the break when it led 29-3. It consolidated its lead during the
second spell and, with 17min remaining, it was ahead 46-10 and
on target to inflict on Bay of Plenty one of its heaviest losses.
But Otago will want to forget the final stages during which Bay
of Plenty scored three converted tries (21 points) in the last
11min.
At the end, it was difficult to say which side was more satisfied
- Bay of Plenty, with its unexpected bonus point, or Otago,
with its first maximum-points win of the NPC. Otago was out-scored
28-17 in the second spell after it controlled play for much
of the first.
Byron Kelleher ran 30m down the blind for the first try, Ryan
Nicholas won the race to the loose ball from a Blair Feeney
stab kick for the second, Feeney scored the third himself when
he chipped ahead and Blair Cashmore could not gather; and Joe
McDonnell got the fourth when he took the final pass from Willie
Walker.
Otago was unable to capitalise when flanker Wayne Ormond was
in the sin bin for punching but scored a lovely try after 13min,
Romi Ropati finishing off after Taine Randell had scythed through
the first line of defence. Kelvin Middleton crashed over from
a rolling maul from a line-out and, with 17min still left, a
rout looked likely. But it was Otago's last try. Bay of Plenty
dominated the final minutes as Otago lost concentration and
let in some soft tries. Feeney, who controlled play well, kicked
21 points for Otago and benefited from Kelleher's quick service.
Kelleher gave a good performance in his first start since the
test against Fiji on June 29.
Ryan Nicholas impressed with some excellent defence in midfield,
but Seilala Mapusua was run down from behind in the first half
when he had a clear run to the line. Randell was in fine form,
both in his own play and organising some of his more wayward
players, Kelvin Middleton played strongly, and lock Filipo Levi
brought a much-needed hardness to the Otago pack.
All the Otago reserves got a run, Nick Fisher starting at hooker
after Tom Willis was ruled out with an injury. Fisher himself
was off the field after 17min, the victim of an elbow from Paul
Tupai which could well have the latter in strife with the judiciary.
Silao Vaisalo came on for Fisher.
Bay of Plenty has scored four tries in each of its first three
matches, but its problem has been that it has conceded 16. It
looked dangerous in patches, particularly when Otago switched
off, but it will need a win or two (as well as its bonus points)
to remain in division one.
Scores. -Otago 46 (Byron Kelleher, Ryan Nicholas, Blair
Feeney, Joe McDonnell, Romi Ropati, Kelvin Middleton tries,
Fenney 5 conversions, 2 penalty goals); Bay of Plenty 31 (Aleki
Lutui, Rodney Voullaire, Mark Weedon, Glen Jackson tries, Jackson
4 conversions, penalty goal). Half-time: Otago, 29-3. Referee:
Kelvin Deaker (Hawkes Bay).
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