Otago Country started their representative season on a positive note with a 19-12 win over the Otago Sassenachs in Heriot on Saturday.
Despite the Sassenachs taking an early lead through winger Jacob Mika, the first half was dominated by Otago Country, who spent almost the entire half in their attacking third.
Poor discipline by the visitors enabled Otago Country to attack from a lineout close to the line. The ball went wide before returning to the middle of the field where powerhouse lock Andrew Horne crossed from close range to open the account for his side.
The successful conversion by Brady Kingan levelled the scores.
Almost immediately, a carbon copy of the first try was witnessed as another display of ill-discipline by the Sassenachs allowed Otago Country to attack from a lineout close to the line.
The gave the ball width, then a couple of carries later prop Ethan Hippolite barged his way over beneath the posts, Kingan converting.
Otago Country added one more try to end the half, winger Doug Smith finding a mismatch out wide as he took his chance to knife through gap and score his side’s third of the match.
Otago Country led 19-7 at halftime.
The second half was a completely different story as the Sassenachs began to find a way into the game.
Some poor first-up tackles allowed their forwards to make metres and a role reversal in terms of discipline also began to favour the visitors.
The only thing the Sassenachs could not do was score points.
They camped in Otago Country territory for large periods of the half but failed to capitalise as a result of their own mistakes and some desperate defence by the home side.
Despite several chances towards the end, the Sassenachs could find their way across the tryline only on fulltime when replacement Archie Treadwell scored a consolation try.
Otago Country held on for a slim but confidence-boosting win.
It was far from a polished performance by the home side who had to show desperation on defence in the second half to go with their eagerness to attack in the first half.
Otago Country forwards Conor Lawson and Ethan Hippolite were at their physical best in the first half. Both made metres for fun and gave their side plenty of front-foot ball.
Hooker Jack Clement showed promise in his premier debut.
Fullback Jared Hayes showed a glimpse of his ability on attack but was worth his weight in gold on defence, making some huge one-on-one tackles and grabbing a key turnover towards the end.
The Sassenachs took 40 minutes to wake up, but once they did, they looked sharp on the ball.
Second-half substitutions increased the tempo and increased pressure on a faltering Otago Country set-piece.
Lock Lawerence Leung-Wai put in a huge shift in the tight, tackling and carrying strongly.
Captain Tom Brock was a workhorse and led by example.
The introduction of front rowers Tafa Tafa and Abraham Lauaki changed the game in their favour towards the end.
Representative rugby
The scores
Otago Country 19
Doug Smith, Ethan Hippolite, Andrew Horne tries; Brady Kingan 2 con.
Otago Sassenachs 12
Jacob Mika, Archie Treadwell tries; Jacob Waikari-Jones con.
Halftime: Country 19-7.
— Francis Parker
