Dreadlock deadlock . . . Otago's Seru Rabeni is tackled by Wellington's Kupu Vanisi and Rodney So'oialo (on ground) during last night's NPC clash at Carisbrook.

The win enabled Otago to retain the Mike Gibson Trophy, gave it six wins from seven games and elevated it, temporarily at least, to the top of the national championship. But it was oh-so-close and little Feeney was the toast of the 10,500-strong crowd after his kick allowed Otago to pull off the great escape. Wellington scored the only two tries and it was Feeney's boot - he kicked all 21 points with seven goals from eight attempts - that enabled Otago to finish in front. Feeney now has 107 points in six NPC games this season and it was the fourth time he had scored 20 or more points in a game. "It was a pressure kick but you've just got to keep going through with your rhythm," Feeney said later. "You can't afford to think of anything else.

Otago's Blair Feeney is congratulated by team-mate Simon Maling after he scored all Otago's points in their win.

The forwards got us there in the end. They played really well." It was just Feeney, the ball and the goal-posts as he lined up the match-winner and the nervous crowd waited. "These are the days you dream of, kicking the winning penalty," he said. "You can't afford to worry about anything other than your technique. "It doesn't happen very often kicking the winning goal] and it makes me extremely proud. Our forwards dominated up front but we should have scored a few more points." Feeney said there were mixed emotions in the Otago dressing-room. "There is a lot of relief but we're also happy we've got the points."

Otago had 71% territory and 62% possession but, while the forwards hoed into their work, the backs lacked the rhythm and decisiveness to crack the Wellington defence.Otago led 15-6 going into the last quarter but Wellington turned the game on its head with two converted tries in 6min.

Halfback Jason Spice gathered the loose ball when it squirted out the side of a ruck, dummied to the blindside wing and raced 10m to score.Then, 11 minutes from the end, substitute Paul Steinmetz, a star for the Highlanders this year, scored what seemed would be the match-clinching try. Otago turned over possession, Tana Umaga kicked deep, Neil Brew slipped as he went to gather the ball, Steinmetz toed on and scored by the posts. Wellington was ahead 20-15 and, with the backs unable to penetrate, Otago seemed to be headed for its first home loss of the season. But Feeney kicked a 35m penalty with 8min remaining and, when flanker Thomas Waldrom deliberately knocked down a pass as Otago attacked, Feeney did it again from 42m.

Christian Cullen launched one last desperate attack but the Otago defence held firm and the crowd, while frustrated at the lack of fluent back play, gave the Otago players an ovation for their sheer pluck. The forwards played well as a unit almost throughout and, if that was Taine Randell's last game in the Otago jersey at Carisbrook, he went out a deserved winner. Simon Maling won a wealth of quality line-out possession and Josh Blackie was again outstanding from the openside flank. Sam Harding and Carl Hoeft added impact when they were subbed on and it was a solid all-round effort by the Otago pack.

The Otago backs kicked too much and, too often, inaccurately, and the main spark was provided by the strength of the Fijian wingers, Seru Rabeni and Aisea Tuilevu. Wellington did not win enough possession to give their speedy backs many chances, but players like Cullen, Umaga, Brad Fleming and Lome Fa'atau always looked dangerous. Otago battled to clean out quickly from rucks and mauls in the first half and also conceded several penalties when in prime attacking positions.

Feeney was held just under the posts after Tuilevu broke the defence, but Otago turned over possession and Wellington cleared. It also failed to put away another opportunity when Kelvin Middleton drove to the line from a line-out, but Otago again lost possession in sight of the line. It was a pattern that repeated at times in the second half but the forward dominance, and the boot of Feeney, enabled Otago to send the crowd home happy.

Scores were: Otago 21 (Blair Feeney 7 penalty goals), Wellington 20 (Jason Spice, Paul Steinmetz tries, David Holwell 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal, Riki Flutey penalty goal).

Match statistics: Line-outs, Otago, 18-11; rucks and mauls, Otago, 65-35; penalties, Wellington, 12-11. Kicking: Feeney, 7-8; Flutey, 1-2; Holwell, 3-3. Half-time: 3-3. Crowd: 10,500. Referee: Paddy Wise (Hawkes Bay).