This exhibition would rate with the 2002 third-division final, the 2007 Meads Cup final and the 2005 semifinal against Hawkes Bay.
Despite the driving southerly and bitterly cold rain, North Otago defended superbly and handled the slippery ball with aplomb.
Coach Barry Matthews was pleased but was still looking for more improvement when he reviewed the win that ensured his side would qualify for the Meads Cup.
"It was a very good game but we shouldn't be too overawed by the win," Matthews said.
"After all, Poverty Bay knew they were already in the Meads Cup. We've got to look at it and say 'yes, we played really well today, but we've still got next week to go'.
"Today was all about making the Meads Cup. That was the motivation for the team."
While it was difficult to pick out individuals in the complete team performance, Matthews thought midfield captain Luke Herden and No 8 Tevita Fifita deserved comment.
"You don't see players of this calibre play average games week in and week out. I knew both would play well.
"I think that Fifita particularly in the first half was quite outstanding, but we've still got things to work on.
"Our body is still too high in the contact area and our ball placement should improve."
Poverty Bay won the toss and decided to play with the elements.
But right from the kick-off, North Otago produced newly-found aggression, and raced to a lead with a Ben Patston penalty and a 40m try to Fifita.
Midway through the half, winger Greg Zampach burst inside the Poverty Bay 22m then handed on to Herden, who scored to make it 15-0.
Poverty Bay fullback Kahu Tamatea kicked a penalty four minutes later and three minutes from halftime Poverty Bay, having time inside North Otago's 22m, scored a try through winger John Stewart.
North Otago added its third try when Patston broke the defence on halfway and Herden and winger Ofa Fatafehi combined to put blindside flanker Josh Collier across the line.
The bonus-point try came four minutes from fulltime, when a quick tap saw the ball pass through seven sets of hands before Dylan Winter scored.
Again playing the game at pace, Zampach went in for the fifth and final try.
North Otago lost tighthead prop Pieter van der Merwe 12 minutes into game but was well served by replacement Gerard Sweeney, hooker Stu Philpott and loosehead prop Ralph Darling, who had the edge on their opponents at scrum time.
Locks Dave Simpson and Eric Duff dominated the lineouts while the loose trio of Ryan Long, Josh Collier and Tevita were just too physical and fast for their counterparts.
North Otago halfback Kilifi Fangupo, a slick player and fine distributer of the ball, is perfecting a fine combination with Patston.
Herden and Faaitu Tuamoheloa were brutal on defence and their powerhouse running caused headaches for the Poverty Bay defence.
North Otago v Poverty Bay
The scores
North Otago 40
Tevita Fifita, Luke Herden, Josh Collier, Dylan Winter, Greg Zampach tries; Ben Patston 3 pen, 3 con
Poverty Bay 8
John Stewart try; Kahu Tamatea pen
Halftime: 15-8
- Terry O'Neill
