Four tries inside the first 17 minutes to Otago in the historic first encounter between the two provinces sent the home team out to a 24-0 lead.
The Whalers scored their first points of the game after just six minutes when centre Tama Apineru scored a try after the ball was sent wide following a Waikato unforced error.
A few minutes later, the home team had their own problems when a knock-on, followed by a goal line drop-out, allowed Waikato an opportunity on offence.
However, after a Waikato tackle set was completed and nullified, Otago scored their second try when a successful 15m run to the line by new cap Aleki Morris-Lome doubled the home side’s lead to 12-0.
Otago continued to play free-flowing and fast-handling rugby league from the restart.
One of the best individual tries in the game came in the 14th minute after Otago fullback Max Brown, who impressed in his debut, beat two defenders on the right-hand edge to run the remaining 40m.
Otago scrumhalf Jordan McEntee kicked his third successful conversion and soon had a fourth when big forward Masinale Fifita picked up a fortuitous try after appearing to lose the ball while putting the ball down.
However, referee Jack Feavers awarded the try.
Although fading fast, Waikato at last got on the board when a good offload by former New Zealand Universities player Thompson Karena resulted in second-rower Kono-Papita Pene-Gestro going through a wide midfield gap.
A short time later, Waikato had an opportunity to score again but lost the ball 10m from the Otago line, resulting in former Counties-Manukau player Mavae Manuika showing too much pace with a 60m run after picking up the ball up and regaining the ensuing possession.
The remainder of the first half was scoreless as Otago missed out on three further opportunities from forward passes near the line, while Waikato again missed out on scoring near the line from an unforced error.
Otago led 24-6 at halftime and, from the resumption, took the score to 28-4 following another superb solo run by Manuika which gave his team the field territory it needed to allow substitute Sefo Muasika to go over following on from some fine crisp passing out wide.
A second Waikato try followed by a third inside the next 10 minutes closed the gap to 28-18 before the final quarter went again in favour of the home side who ran in four further tries.
Two of those tries were scored by Troy Anstiss, who turned in a player-of-the-match performance with some well-timed runs into spaces, fine service, reliable defence and good offloading around the ruck.
Waikato standoff Rex Sullivan also picked up a brace of tries in the game, including his side’s final points of the game with just six minutes left on the clock.
Overall, Otago’s win was the result of fine teamwork by a team that showed tremendous self-belief and a willingness to get back on track even when setbacks occurred.
Otago outscored Waikato by nine (including three to new caps) tries to four, McEntee adding to the score with six converted goals.
Happy with the overall outcome despite his team’s limited preparation, Otago coach David Reedy felt his side needed to further step up for its next encounter against Counties-Manukau at Forsyth Barr Stadium next Sunday .
"We threw possession away unnecessarily at times against Waikato and that means we have to continue to keep working hard to ensure the team stays focused and eradicate those minor mistakes, which could prove costly against other sides," he said.
NZRL Premiership
The scores
Otago Whalers 48
Troy Anstiss 2, Max Brown, Mavae Manuika, Tama Apineru, Aleki Morris-Lome, Mone Samete, Masinale Fifita, Sefo Muasika tries; Jordan McEntee 6 goals
Waikato 24
Rex Sullivan 2, Keno-Papita Pene-Gestro, Tiopira Soti tries; Evaan Reihana 4 goals); Halftime: 24-6.
By Carey Clements
