Otago made a dismal start with two losses on the first day of the junior interprovincial tournament on the Cambridge course yesterday.
Otago now has no chance of emulating the team's tournament win two years ago and is likely to finish in the middle order of the 12-team event.
Otago was beaten 5-1 by Auckland in the morning and went down 4-2 to new-arrival Wellington in the afternoon.
In the morning, Otago had no wins but the top pair of Jacob Bellamy and Jakob Bleach both halved their matches.
In the afternoon, Bleach and Joseph Hancock posted wins for Otago.
Bleach was the player of the day for Otago, emerging unbeaten with a half in the morning and an impressive win over Thomas Woods in the afternoon.
Otago was competitive in the afternoon but an infringement of the rules cost the team two holes and any chance of securing the half.
Canterbury is in the other section but looks in good shape to take on the North Island heavyweights and bring the trophy back south.
It will not get any easier this morning when Otago plays a well-performed North Harbour sextet.
