North Otago confirmed its No 1 one slot in the Meads Cup with a 38-26 win over Thames Valley on Saturday but it was a game where the fortunes fluctuated throughout the 80 minutes.
North Otago will meet Mid Canterbury in one semifinal in Oamaru next Saturday while Wanganui will host Poverty Bay, which leapfrogged Mid Canterbury with a 16-14 win over a luckless South Canterbury.
North Otago gained a bonus point in the 28th minute of its match against Thames Valley but had to survive a hectic third quarter as the home side clawed its way back to trail 28-26 with 14 minutes remaining.
It was a period of play which had its moments, North Otago co-coach Barry Matthews said.
"It was close. Thames Valley came out and played very well. We went well in the first half.
"The contact area was a lot better than last week and when we went to halftime with a 28-16 lead we were pretty confident but after halftime Thames Valley got a lot of self-belief and played very well in that third quarter," he said.
"We got a bit lazy around the contact area and the attack from phase play was far too flat.
"But I would prefer a game like this rather than a 50-point win.
"In that third quarter with the bonus point I think we sat back and waited for things to happen instead of making it happen.
"But it's good to be top of the Meads Cup with a home semifinal. We've got plenty to play for and personally I just can't wait until next Saturday."
Thames Valley opened the scoring with a penalty from fullback David Harrison in the second minute but, five minutes later, North Otago broke from a scrum.
In the second phase, tighthead prop Palenapa Mafi charged over for a try which Ben Patston converted.
Harrison narrowed the gap to one point in the 12th minute and Thames Valley took the lead midway through the half when Thames Valley second five-eighth Vesi Rauluni intercepted a pass from a North Otago backline move and raced 50m to score for Harrison to convert and put the home side out to a 13-7 lead.
Five minutes later, North Otago half Kilifi Fangupo slithered through a gap from a scrum 10m out and Patston's conversion put North Otago back in front 14-13.
Eight minutes from halftime, No 8 Tevita Fifita and centre Faaitu Tuamoheloa combined to put left winger Greg Zampach in for his first try, which Patston converted.
Harrison added another penalty five minutes from halftime but, four minutes later, Lemi Masoe went in for the bonus-point try.
North Otago received a penalty under the Thames Valley posts but decided to take the scrum and fullback Billy Guyton put Masoe in for the try which Patston converted.
A Harrison penalty and a second try to Rauluni in the first 10 minutes of the second half narrowed the gap to 28-26.
Guyton kicked a penalty and, four minutes from the end, the ball was kicked deep into Thames Valley's territory.
Harrison's clearing kick was charged down by Zampach who touched down just inside the deadball line.
Fangupo was again outstanding for North Otago behind the pack while winger Zampach used his pace to good effect and Guyton was again all enterprise when the ball came his way.
Lock Eric Duff had his best game for North Otago, flanker Ross Hay made a multitude of tackles and hooker Stu Philpott played his usual non-stop 80 minutes.
Harrison was Thames Valley's general, Vesi Rauluni was very effective in midfield and halfback Richard Judd probed and found holes around the North Otago pack.
Loose forward Manaia Taotala was busy and props Allan McLean and Barton Thompson were solid.
Meads Cup
The scores
North Otago 38
Greg Zampach 2, Palenapa Mafi, Kilifi Fangupo, Lemi Masoe tries; Ben Patston pen, 4 con, Billy Guyton con
Thames Valley 26
Vesi Rauluni 2 tries; David Harrison 4 pen, 2 con.
Halftime: 28-16.
- Terry O'Neill
