Hard luck, Otago.
A great season fell at the last hurdle in Pukekohe last night as Counties-Manukau beat Otago 41-16 to win the ITM Cup championship and promotion to the top echelon of provincial rugby.
It was a gallant effort from the Otago side but it was just too hard to get in front of a fired-up home team, cheered on by one of the biggest crowds in Pukekohe for many a day.
The game was close for most of the match, as befits most finals, and Otago was in the match with 20 minutes to go.
The home team, though, skipped clear near the end as Otago tired and the slick backs of the home team found some holes in the tiring visiting side's defence.
It was just one of those nights for Otago. The accuracy level was not quite hitting 100% and the rub of the green did not go its way. The lineout was a tad messy and the scrum a mixed bag.
Otago tried to move the ball as it got behind but found no holes in a tight defence and, in the end, the home team ran away with the game.
Counties-Manukau has been the form team in the championship and showed class to put the game away through tries to halfback August Pulu and fullback Tim Nanai-Williams.
Otago had all the ball and possession in the first 10 minutes of the second half and managed to get a penalty from Dickson for its efforts. It probably needed more and, once Pulu scored his second try just before the hour mark, the writing was on the wall for Otago.
But there should be no shame in its effort last night. It has been a great season for a team which looked well off the pace in its first pre-season match.
Best for Otago was front-rower Liam Coltman, while lock Rob Verbakel gave his all.
Loosie Adam Thomson tried hard in what was most likely his last game in the blue and gold jersey and halfback Fumiaki Tanaka was his usual industrial self.
Otago has had a habit this season of either starting brilliantly or badly.
It decided on the latter last night, with Pulu crossing after just over two minutes.
Winger Sherwin Stowers got outside his marker and fed a simple inside ball to Pulu who had a straightforward run to the line.
Otago was somewhat shell-shocked and Glenn Dickson could not put Otago in credit, missing a penalty from 40m out after five minutes.
But he did not make the same mistake a couple of minutes later to put the visiting sides on the board.
In the opening quarter of the match, both teams were feeling each other out and defence was standing strong.
Baden Kerr knocked over a penalty as the home team looked more dangerous with the ball in hand.
Otago answered back and it came through a score which would have given great satisfaction to forwards coach Phil Young.
The Otago forwards won a lineout 20m out and simply drove the ball to the line and Thomson burrowed over.
Two minutes later, Otago should have scored again but winger Buxton Popoali'i tried to beat the last defender when there were free men inside him.
In the end, that was critical as chances were few and far between for Otago in the second 40 minutes.
Otago kept up the pressure and Dickson knocked over a penalty for Otago to go ahead after 25 minutes.
But it was a see-saw battle and the home team came back with a try under the posts to flanker Mark Selwyn after a found a gap in the Otago defence by the ruck.
Kerr added a penalty to give his side a seven-point lead at the break.
Championship final
The scores
Counties-Manukau ... 41
August Pulu 2, Mark Selwyn, Tim Nanai-Williams, David Bason tries; Baden Kerr 4 con, 2 pen; Sherwin Stowers con
Otago ... 16
Adam Thomson try, Glenn Dickson 3 pen, con
Halftime: 20-13
Crowd: 12,000
