Otago Country ended its season with a disappointing loss to Canterbury Country in Cromwell yesterday.
The scoreline flattered Otago as Canterbury dominated for the majority of the match thanks to Otago's poor ball retention and too many missed tackles.
Only three late tries saved the home side from what looked earlier on in the match to be a thumping.
Otago Country opened the scoring with a penalty to Lawrence first five-eighth Sam Young after just five minutes, but from there the floodgates opened.
First Canterbury winger Mason Rosvall collected a chip kick and outpaced opposite Willie Lake to the line, and then one of Canterbury's best, first five-eighth Brook Retallick, scored after an excellent break from openside flanker Matt Etheredge.
A Retallick penalty followed by a pushover try to loosie Ryan Nesbit had Canterbury ahead 24-3 by halftime and the game looked done and dusted.
After the break, the visitors continued to pile on the pressure and gaps showed in the Otago defence, especially in the midfield.
A converted try to Canterbury halfback Jason Pietzner followed an Otago Country penalty, and then impressive fullback Mark Maitland scored out wide to make the score 36-6.
The final 10 minutes of the match saw a flurry of consolation tries by the home side, Young the first to cross after his team-mates were twice held up over the line.
Halfback Jamie Brown then found a hole in the tiring Canterbury defence to put Wakatipu wing Mark Te Whiti away. Replacement midfielder Tyler Bichan scored the final try of the match when he showed good pace to outsprint Maitland to the line after another bust, this time by prop Josh Beer who had an excellent match off the bench.
Beer and Maniototo prop Charles Crutchly were the pick of the Otago Country side in an indifferent performance.
The scores-
Country rugby
• Canterbury Country 36
Mason Rosvall, Brook Retallick, Ryan Nesbit, Jason Pietzner, Matt Maitland tries; Retallick 4 con, pen
• Otago Country 25
Sam Young, Mark Te Whiti, Tyler Bichan tries; Young 2 con, 2 pen
• Halftime: Canterbury Country 24-3.
