The opening salvos were fired by the visitors, who made their territorial advantage count with a penalty kicked to touch.
From the ensuing lineout, the first try was scored by hooker Heath MacEwan from a well-constructed lineout drive.
The game then swung into Otago Country’s favour as their forward pack rolled up their sleeves, kept the ball in tight and made metres up the middle of the field.
The breakdown was fiercely contested, but Otago Country were more than capable of recycling their own ball under pressure.
This resulted in Development giving away crucial penalties, which gave Country strong field position, and they turned into points through a try to halfback Jared Edwards.
Otago Country began to take control of the game and had a mortgage on territory and possession for the middle stages of the first half.
As time began to run out, a break from Development centre Levi Emery gave the visitors one last chance to score points. A needless penalty allowed Development to kick for touch and from the resulting lineout drive, their second try was scored by flanker Amos Roddick.
Otago Country ended the half with a penalty from the boot of Brady Kingan to go into halftime trailing 12-8.
Country made a superb start to the second half and grabbed the lead as another Kingan penalty was followed by a try to centre Laitia Rogorogoivalu.
Some smart carries by the home side forced Development on to the back foot, and Country skipper Damian Wilson found a hole before off-loading to his rampaging midfielder to cross under the posts.
It was not long before Development took the lead back when another lineout drive took them within 5m of the line.
Replacement forward Taylor Dale was too hard to stop from close range, and with the resulting conversion, Development took a 19-18 lead.
The only thing stopping Otago Country from scoring points for fun was their lack of discipline.
The penalties conceded allowed Development to get into the danger areas and their lineout drive was a dangerous weapon.
Another drive close to the line helped replacement front-rower Steve Salalea score to extend their lead.
With less than 15 minutes to go, Otago Country took the lead again with a try to hooker Josh Turnbull after a strong break by fullback Jared Hayes.
Development started to fire again and scored two tries, to MacEwan and Emery, in the final stages to break Otago Country hearts in a hugely physical and competitive fixture.
Representative rugby
The scores
Otago Metro Development 36
Heath MacEwan 2, Taylor Dale, Steve Salalea, Levi Emery, Amos Roddick tries; Ajay Faleafaga 3 con
Otago Country 25
Josh Turnbull, Laitia Rogorogoivalu, Jared Edwards tries; Brady Kingan 2 con, 2 pen
Halftime: Development 12-8.
By Francis Parker
