North Otago fell one try short of sealing top qualification for the Meads Cup semifinals on Saturday.
Despite beating Mid Canterbury 24-18 in wintry conditions at Whitestone Contracting Stadium, North Otago dropped to second in the standings as it could not get a four-try bonus point.
Wanganui leapfrogged the Old Golds, picking up five points in its 29-14 win over Wairarapa-Bush. The sides finished level on 35 points, but Wanganui had a better points differential.
North Otago will host East Coast in one semifinal, needing to win and hope Mid Canterbury can repeat last month's upset win in Wanganui to set up an Oamaru final.
Mid Canterbury, playing into the gusty southerly, attacked from the kick-off and drove inside the North Otago 22m.
First five-eighth Richie Catherwood threw a laboured pass on the short side and it was intercepted by North Otago left winger Whiria Meltzer, who raced 80m to score the opening try.
A Jason Forrest conversion and penalty gave North Otago a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Mid Canterbury struck two minutes into the second half when replacement prop James Kora rumbled down the blindside to send centre Nick Wilson in for an unconverted try.
Ten minutes later, Mid Canterbury fullback Stephan Van Gruting kicked a penalty to narrow the gap to a couple of points.
North Otago adapted to the conditions, and after a series of assaults diminutive North Otago loose forward Carn Parata burrowed over beside the posts.
In the 65th minute, Mid Canterbury second five-eighth Manase Nonu finished off a break down the left flank and Stephan Van Gruting's conversion put his side within two points of North Otago.
A Van Gruting penalty then put Mid Canterbury in front, but North Otago replacement hooker Josh Collier instigated a forward drive, with centre Faaitu Tuamoheloa then breaching the defence to send midfield partner Luke Herden in for the try.
It was a revitalised North Otago side, with Taua Limuloa dominating the lineouts and fellow lock Eric Duff in outstanding form with the ball in hand.
The experiment of playing Parata on the openside flank was a real success, with his scything tackling and his mobility one of the features of North Otago's forward play, while No 8 Tevita Fifita was a powerhouse when in possession.
First five Hamish McKenzie was astute in his option-taking, while Herden and Tuamoheloa were real problems for the opposition defence.
Mac Sykes was a sharp halfback for Mid Canterbury but the other backs were laboured and in the second half did not make intelligent use of the elements.
Flanker Nick McKain looks a player for the future while lock Andrew Smith featured in the tight.
The scores:-
Heartland Championship
• North Otago 24
Whiria Meltzer, Carn Parata, Luke Herden tries; Jason Forrest con, pen; Ben Patston 2 con
• Mid Canterbury 18
Nick Wilson, Manase Nonu tries; Stephan Van Gruting con, 2 pen
• Halftime: North Otago 10-0
SEMIFINALS
• Meads Cup: Wanganui v Mid Canterbury, North Otago v East Coast
• Lochore Cup: Buller v Poverty Bay, South Canterbury v Thames Valley
- Terry O'Neill
