The Sassenachs, a shadow Otago side, won 24-22 over the Cantabrians, a shadow Canterbury side, after the visitors led 17-14 at the break.
One thing, though, that came clear from this game was that the new trial laws around the breakdown are turning the game closer to the 13-man game.
The great thing about rugby is it is a contest for possession in the whole game.
But under the new trial laws, which negate much of the effectiveness of the tackler in the breakdown, teams can hang on to the ball with relative ease, roll down the field and then just wait for the break to come.
There were periods in this game where teams just went phase after phase slowly creeping up the field.
Teams on defence were regularly committing no-one to the ruck, while the attacking team also only had one or two men guarding the ball as it went to the next phase.
This can be a dull watch at times but Saturday’s match was still a lively encounter as both sides tried hard to keep the ball alive.
Otago coach Cory Brown said plenty of positives came out of the match.
"It was a good battle, I think, between two reasonably even teams. We did some good stuff on defence, which we have been working really hard on," he said.
"We were perhaps a little bit rusty on attack but when we got it right, ran the right lines and got our structures right, we showed some nice touches."
Brown said the trial laws around the breakdown were going to be interesting.
"They are going to lean towards the advantage of the attack a wee bit but you’ve still got to be good enough to get across the attack line, accurate with your ball carries, accurate with your work around the ruck. And on defence you’ve got to show some real patience and back your systems."
The Cantabrians scored four tries to three and probably should have won, but did not show the ball enough respect when near the tryline.
Best for the Sassenachs was openside flanker Dillon Hunt, who got through plenty of work, while No8 Paul Grant made some nice runs.
In the backs Michael Collins, who appears to have trimmed down somewhat in his spell in Wales, showed some nice touches, and winger Mitchell Scott was busy.
Otago’s final game of the pre-season is this Thursday when it takes on Southland in Queenstown.
Its opening game of the Mitre 10 Cup is also against Southland in Invercargill on August 21.
Super rugby players Craig Millar, Sio Tomkinson, Tei Walden, Jack Wilson and Otago captain Liam Coltman will join the Otago squad in Queenstown, while Otago’s remaining Super rugby players will join the side next Monday.
Sassenachs v Cantabrians
The scores
Sassenachs 24
Jono Ruru, Tony Ensor, Tom Rowe tries; Scott Eade 2 con, Josh Ioane con, pen
Cantabrians 22
Nigel Gibb, Caleb Makene, Nathan Earle, Brad Hemopo tries; Makene con
Halftime: 17-14 Cantabrians