There had been question marks over the team's commitment and desire after last weekend's poor effort against Hawkes Bay, but those qualities were there in spades on Saturday night as Otago showed some fire in the belly.
Otago played well as a team in what was a genuinely good game of rugby.
The forwards won their set-piece ball, drove hard and low at the breakdown and met fire with fire in the tackle ball area.
Behind them, the Otago back division found plenty of holes in the Bay of Plenty defence and created several opportunities.
The win, if anything, showed Otago is not far away from the top teams and, if it can hold on to the ball for lengthy periods, it can trouble any team.
The second half, in which it scored 16 unanswered points, would have brought much satisfaction to Otago supporters, as the home team kept its foot on the throat of Bay of Plenty and won the possession and territory battles.
Too often in the past few years Otago has had the chance to win games but has gone to sleep at vital stages and let the opposition back into the game. It did not happen on Saturday night.
Bay of Plenty broke from its own line with three minutes left and rolled up the field.
But it went to one ruck too many and was penalised for holding on to the ball, with Otago first five-eighth Glenn Dickson gaining the turnover.
It was an apt reward for Dickson, who, playing in just his fourth match for Otago, produced a top-drawer effort.
He set up both tries for his old schoolmate Ben Smith, kicked well and attacked the line with aplomb as the Bay of Plenty defence around the ruck and maul was found wanting.
Dickson's first real touch of the ball after three minutes helped put Otago on the score sheet.
He exploded through a gap, and in-passed to the energetic Eben Joubert.
The flanker then found flying fullback Smith, who dotted down to give Otago an early lead.
Bay of Plenty replied quickly when lock Culum Retallick wrestled his way over.
The visitors then went ahead on the stroke of half-time.
After being awarded a questionable penalty by referee Matt Stanish, Bay of Plenty rumbled the ball up and openside flanker Luck Braid went over.
But the home team took over in the second half.
Dickson banged over a couple of easy penalties then put through a nice grubber kick.
Smith showed his best football skills to toe the ball on and score.
That gave Otago the lead 13 minutes into the second stanza and Dickson gave it a further cushion with another penalty five minutes later.
Braid was then yellow-carded for a dangerous spear tackle on Otago centre Brett Mather and Bay of Plenty's cause was lost.
Smith had a fine game for Otago, while winger Ryan Shortland ran hard and showed real pace.
Halfback Sean Romans also looked lively, while Joubert played out of his skin.
Lock Tom Donnelly showed why he is an All Black, and prop Sam Hibbard continues to impress in his first full year at this level.
Best for the visitors were Braid and first five-eighth Mike Delany, and lock Retallick tried hard, but many of the visiting players went missing in the second half.
