Otago B continued its impressive start to the national competition with a 49-10 win over Hawkes Bay at the University Oval on Saturday.
Playing on the back ground of the Oval, the Otago side led 22-3 at halftime before running away with the game.
Winger Jeremy Cave, fullback Casey Stone and blindside flanker Hoani Matenga all scored two tries, while winger Bevan Passmore scored a try within the first minute.
The Hawkes Bay side was physical and had some big forwards, but Otago played a game based around pace and was too quick for the visitors.
Matenga had a strong game, and teamed up well with openside flanker Jason Kelly. Jeremy Aldworth, normally a prop, had a fine game at hooker.
Glenn Dickson directed play well from first five-eighth, while lock Dan Joblin came on in the second half and had a couple of good touches in his first game back from injury.
Otago faces Auckland B next Saturday in Auckland.
Otago B 49 (Hoani Matenga 2, Casey Stone 2, Jeremy Cave 2, Jeremy Aldworth, Bevan Passmore tries; Glenn Dickson 3 conversions, penalty goal), Hawkes Bay 10.
• The Otago Development side continued its unbeaten run with a hard-fought 13-11 win over Christchurch Metro in Christchurch on Saturday.
Otago was behind 3-8 at halftime, but a penalty goal from Josh Hamilton right on fulltime clinched them the game. Lock Warren Kearney scored Otago's only try.
The development side has won all its five games, and has two games left in its season, against Otago Maori and Canterbury Country.
• The Otago Colts side was beaten by Canterbury Under-21 41-11, also in Christchurch.
Robbie Smith scored a try for Otago while Peter Breen added two penalties, but Canterbury was up 17-0 within 10 mins, and never looked back.
• Otago Maori narrowly failed to take the Ratana Shield, drawing 20-20 with Canterbury Maori in Christchurch.
The match was tied up 10-10 at halftime, and Otago had a chance to win the game in the last minute but a penalty goal attempt from more than 40m fell short.
The Otago side was hard hit with injuries and Ben Marshall, normally a winger, was forced to play on the flank.
• After leading Southland Country by 8-5 at half-time in Queenstown, Otago Country poured on the pace and won the game 33-5.
This was a good workout for Otago Country before it plays Canterbury Country in the final of the triangular series.
For Otago Country, some outstanding performances came from Aiden Winter, who was everywhere in the loose, and hooker Willie Harris.
Fullback Cameron Smith had his best game in the Country jersey, while Lex Kaleca continued to impress in the midfield.
Replacement Reece Winter came on after 10min to replace the injured James Peddie on the wing, but later was moved into second five and gave a sound display. He converted all three tries and kicked four penalties.
- Otago Country 33 (Aiden Winter, Lex Kaleca, Junior Maiono tries; Reece Winter 3 conversions, 4 penalty goals), Southland Country 5.
Half-time: Otago Country 8-5.
