Thankfully, Otago's gales diminished for the match and both teams were able to play controlled football that featured enough goalmouth action to keep spectators happy.
Hawkes Bay regularly pulled the trigger with wind-assisted shots in the first half, but Otago goalkeeper Peter Evans showed safe hands throughout.
Caretaker coach Andy Duncan encouraged his side to get forward and, on a broad front, the pace of Coldicott and Harley Rodeka got behind defenders while central striker Ant Hancock was unstinting with Darren Overton lurking in close support.
The cut and thrust continued until near halftime when Coldicott, who looked to have the measure of defender Adam Chandler, dipped his shoulder, cut in from the left and thundered a swerving shot against Bay's woodwork.
However, that was just a sighter and, in the 40th minute, the Mosgiel striker again chopped inside and laced in a low shot that gave keeper Shaun Peta no chance.
As the break approached, Otago's 1-0 lead looked fragile as the Bay applied pressure with Adam Cowan getting forward from midfield, but the blue defence held.
Possibly both coaches demanded more effort in the second spell, and play was less structured, requiring both dominant defenders - Matt Joy for Otago and Hawkes Bay captain Bill Robertson - to show their mettle.
Joy had a fine match that earned him accolades as Otago's MVP, while Robertson pushed further forward trying to drive his team onwards and, in set plays, both big defenders had their moments.
But Otago eventually took control via the masterly control of Mike Cunningham, who never wasted a ball, and the eager subtle skills of Overton, whose feints baffled Bay opponents and set him up for Otago's safety goal as he shimmied past several tackles to score with aplomb in the 75th minute.
The Bay's coach on debut, Chris Greatholder, might point to one certain goal that Otago defender Craig Ferguson cleared off his goal-line, and Connor Tinnion's superb first-half shot nearly tore off Otago's crossbar.
But generally the new coach was gutted with his side's failure to apply basics and, apart from top matches by Robertson, Rudie Bauerfeind and young Connor, he was not happy.
In contrast, Otago's coach Duncan praised his team's effort and skill both on and off the ball.
"We had a high percentage of players improving as the game went on, with big Pete in goal producing a couple of excellent reflex saves, Tristan Prattley spreading calm, and Matt Joy making a giant step up in form and that's what we want to see from young players."
Diminutive Morgan Day doubled his effort to claim a play a splendid second half, Rodeka's sharp pace made dangerous incisions. When Joel Stevens came on, he was equally supercharged.
Tom Connor's steady improvement has made the right fullback berth his own, and Scotsman Craig Ferguson matched pace with quality ball delivery, and even Sam Mepham's late cameo role was steadiness personified as time ticked away.
Otago now sits in fourth spot on the table, two points behind Canterbury, which should make for an derby match in two weeks at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The scores: -
ASB Premiership
• Otago United 2
Regan Coldicott 40, Darren Overton 75
• Hawkes Bay United 0
• Halftime: 1-0
