Otago has beaten Auckland to win the Lin Colling Memorial Trophy, and host a ITM Cup semifinal next week.
Otago won 37-33 to grab its sixth win of the season and grab second place in the ITM Cup championship.
It was a match with plenty of movement and Otago had the lion's share of possession and territory.
Hayden Parker helped himself to 22 points and was calmness personified all day.
Otago's best was skipper and No 8 Paul Grant, lock Tom Donnelly, who scored a rare try while prop Scott Manson had his best game of the season.
Out the back halfback Fumiaki Tanaka had another fine match while Jayden Spence ran hard and tackled strongly.
Best for Auckland was lock Liaki Moli and winger George Moala.
Auckland did not have a lot of ball to play with in the entire game but did look dangerous when it managed to hold on to it.
Otago 37 (Buxton Popoali'i, Tom Donnelly, Paul Grant tries, Hayden Parker 2 con, 6 pen) Auckland 33 (George Moala 2, Hadleigh Parkes, Lolagi Visinia tries; Simon Hickey 2 con, 3 pen) Halftime: 21-18 Otago
