In a dramatic first seven minutes, Otago conceded a first-minute penalty to Jarrod Smith, had striker Burgess stretchered off, and then Stephen Hindmarsh found a gap and shot Bays into a 2-0 lead. Otago coach Richard Murray said at first, it was thought Burgess' leg was just badly bruised but hospital X-rays confirmed that Otago's top striker for many years will be immobilised for at least six weeks.
After that horror start, Otago survived more torrid Bay pressure, and one booming shot by Jarrod Smith nearly splintered Otago's goal upright. But the cool heads of Craig Ferguson and Matt Joy calmed things down and Otago slowly played its way back into the ASB Premiership match. As halftime approached Otago had a good spell of pressure, and from decent service by Aajay Cunningham, Seamus Ryder and Victor da Costa the pace and finishing power of Regan Coldicott was denied only by two excellent saves from keeper Richard Gillespie.
The second half contest continued with more physical challenges that earned Lucas a yellow, as Bay tried to catch up with Otago's four yellows which went to Joy, Burgess, Ferguson and Da Costa - for taking his shirt off to celebrate his 58th minute goal. And what a Da Costa goal it was, as he swerved past tackles then curled a powerful 20m shot into the extreme left of Bay's net.
He then set off on a topless victory lap that earned his yellow card. Bays retaliated minutes later, when the referee again pointed to Otago's penalty spot and Sean Lovemore drilled his side into a 3-1 lead with 26 minutes to go.
But referee Benischke was not finished he also waved a red at Fergus Neil after a flying elbow whacked Otago's Connor in the face with 15 minutes to go, reducing Hawkes Bay to 10 men. Coach Chris Greatholder sent out his remaining subs as time ticked away, and the Bay played time consuming football, while Otago mounted several decent attacks but failed to utilise its extra man advantage.
The biggest gasp of the game was in the final minute when a poor clearance sat up knee high for Coldicott, and he hit the ball superbly, but just over Bays bar. Greatholder said: ''Otago made it very hard for us. Despite us getting a dream start, we had to ride out some heavy spells of pressure.
''But some excellent performances by Jarrod Smith and Bill Robertson, and an unbelievable couple of saves by big Richard Gillespie, kept us intact.''
Otago coach Murray said: ''We play our best football when we are 2-nil down, and that's not what I want. Bays are too good a side to let them go ahead that early.''
Losing Aaron [Burgess] so early was also a bitter blow.''
In Nelson, the Otago Youth National League side lost 1-0 to Nelson Falcons.
ASB Premiership
The scores
Hawkes Bay 3
Jarrod Smith, Stephen Hindmarsh, Sean Lovemore
Otago 1
Victor da Costa
