Another ITM Cup game - another 80 points plus.
Defence again took a back seat tonight as Otago defeated Manwatu at Palmerston North.
A bit of brawn, a bit of brain and a large dose of speed got Otago home against Manawatu 51-35.
With the win Otago has all but confirmed a place in the ITM Cup championship semifinals while Manawatu will have to start planning for next season.
Otago made the most of the chances which it created and it managed to survive a comeback from Manawatu when it got to within one point midway through the second half.
But the visiting side managed to gain some composure and speedy fullback Tony Ensor got the gamebreaker.
He received the ball about 70m out and snaked his way through a jagged Manawatu defence to dot down under the posts.
He had earlier scored a try in the first half, showing his extreme pace.
As the score suggested there was plenty of ball movement and both side showed plenty on attack.
Otago kicked well at times and got in behind the Manawatu defence to score six tries.
For 50 minutes Manawatu looked like a rabbit in the headlights.
Slow, inaccurate and dropping off tackles at will, the home team looked a distant second to Otago.
But then for reasons unknown the home team came together and got it back to 31-30 before Ensor put on the after-burners.
Overall though, Manwatu did not deserve to win for it showed showed little respect for the ball and blew a couple of golden opportunities.
Its defence was sloppy at key times and one would hope the Manawatu players value their pay packets more than the ball such was their lax ball security.
Best for Otago was first five-eighth Hayden Parker, who must be knocking on the door of a Super 15 contract, while flanker Gareth Evans played well off the bench.
Flanker TJ Ioane was a mixed bag while for Manwatu first five-eight Nathan George was composed and flanker Callum Gibbins fully deserved his two tries.
Otago made a great start, scoring a try within the first couple of minutes.
After winning a lineout, the ball was spread to blindside flanker Ioane who passed inside to his skipper Paul Grant,
Grant brushed off tackles and when he was lowered 5m from the line fed prop Aki Seuilu, who dived over.
Manawatu though came back from that early shock and wing Lewis Marshall scored in the corner after 10 minutes.
Otago scored another couple of tries in the opening half but silly errors meant it could not skip clear with the home side still in touch at the break.
Otago 51 (Tony Ensor 2, TJ Ioane 2, Aki Seiuli, Glenn Dickson tries, Hayden Parker 4 con, pen, Dickson 2 con, 2 pen) Manawatu 35 (Callum Gibbins 2, Lewis Marshall, Antonio Kirikiri tries, Nathan George 3 con, 3 pen). Halftime: 24-16 Otago
