Bumbling win to Otago in low-grade NPC clash
By Brent Edwards

Let us at least try to accentuate the positives from Otago's bumbling 16-7 win over Southland in the national championship match at Carisbrook on Saturday.

Let us at least try to accentuate the positives from Otago's bumbling 16-7 win over Southland in the national championship match at Carisbrook on Saturday. The defence, by and large, was good; the scrum was strong; Otago did not give away any penalties within kicking distance; and it did not concede any points in the second half. Captain Taine Randell made a brilliant bootlace pick-up and 30m break early in the second spell which, by the Keystone Cops standards of Saturday, was one of the highlights of the game. Otago finally snapped out of it in the last 10min when it generated some urgency, and right wing Aisea Tuilevu smashed over after a charge by Carl Hoeft began a sequence of seven phases. That apart, it was a match of poor quality which did not warrant its first-class status. Certainly, Otago was not helped by the late withdrawal of Blair Feeney, but the problems began in the pack where the forwards showed the enthusiasm of slaves working on a chain-gang. Otago lost at least six line-outs on its own throw and there was a lack of collective passion from a pack including seven Super 12 forwards.

Southland scored after only 5min when Otago lost its own line-out throw and Hayden Martine, a strapping centre, broke the tackle of Willie Walker and raced 22m to the corner. Southland dominated territory and possession in the first half but, through its own lack of flair and some stoic Otago defence, was not able toadd to its score. Pailate Fili almost scored what could have been a decisive try 7min into the second half, beating Seilala Mapusua but being forced into touch in goal in the tackle of Neil Brew.

Otago used the breeze to pump the ball high into Southland territory in the second half but, while it was shaky at times, the Southland defence held. Romi Ropati was lucky to escape with only a penalty after a late charge on Ashley Barron 18min from the end but the introduction of Seru Rabeni on the left wing - he and Sam Young both made their Otago debuts - added some enthusiasm to the Otago effort.

There were few stand-outs in an out-of-sorts Otago team. Randell maintained his standards and, in the end, his leadership was decisive. Brew coped well in the relatively unfamiliar position of fullback, Mapusua threatened in midfield and Byron Kelleher, while he was kept under close surveillance by the tigerish Jimmy Cowan, played capably at halfback.

The Southland forwards deserved better for their endeavours. Their line-out worked better and a well-drilled pack took it to their higher-rated opposition for much of the game. There were several powerful bursts from Paul Miller, but his mobility seemed hampered by an ankle problem, Ben Herring was a live-wire open-side flanker and Daniel Quate was secure in the line-outs. Barron kicked well from first five-eighth but Southland would have been better advised to use the ball wider and let their midfielders, Seremaia Bai and Martine, have more of a crack at the defence. Southland was desperately unlucky not to gain at least a bonus point, but there is much soul-searching for Otago if it is to be a serious contender for the play-offs.

Scores. - Otago 16 (Aisea Tuilevu try, Willie Walker conversion, 3 penalty goals); Southland 7 (Hayden Martine try, Ashley Barron conversion).

Match statistics: Line-outs, Southland, 19-18; rucks and mauls, Otago, 46-43; penalties, Otago, 15-8; handling errors, Otago, 12-11; turnovers made, Otago, 21-18. Kicking: Walker, 4-5; Barron, 1-1. Half-time: Southland, 7-6. Crowd: 10,055. Referee: Lachie McLeod (South Canterbury).