Tasman was a convincing 42-22 winner over the Otago side at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday afternoon.
The Makos scored six tries, all converted, and had the class and experience to win the game, which was lacking at times in the Otago team.
Everyone knows the story of Otago over the past six months - and now the province is left with a bunch of young guys who are keen, definitely have talent and want to win.
But the cold, hard facts of first-class rugby came calling yesterday and the Otago players were found wanting on occasions.
They need to get quicker, be more decisive and, most of all, get accurate.
Otago made a few too many errors yesterday and it showed on the scoreboard.
Tasman was ruthless, and generally, when the chances came along, it secured points.
Otago looked good in patches.
It played well in the second 20 minutes of the match, and trailed just 21-15 at the break.
But it faded in the second half as Tasman got on top.
Otago coughed up the ball too often and there were too many individual errors.
The Otago scrum was in reverse gear for much of the game, but the lineout was polished and, when the home side got over the advantage line, it impressed.
The breakdown was messy and referee Michael Lash struggled to get both teams to stay on their feet and not creep over the advantage line.
Flanker Hugh Blake was yellow carded in the second half and Tasman's Shane Christie also cooled his heels near the end.
Otago looked good when it moved the ball wide and scored the best try of the game 15 minutes into the second half.
With Otago camped on its own line, prop Tama Tuirirangi burst clear.
From there, the ball was shifted wide and winger Buxton Popoali'i threw a delightful inside ball for fullback Tony Ensor to run 40m and score under the posts.
It was Ensor's second try, after he scored in the first half, ghosting through the Tasman defence when some nice work inside him had created an overlap.
The other five-pointer for Otago came from prop Scott Manson, near the end of the first half. Otago swung on to attack and Popoali'i made a nice break in the middle.
The ball eventually ended up in the hands of Manson, lurking out on the wing.
Manson had a good game around the field but there must be concern about the sight of the Otago scrum buckling on more than one occasion.
Flanker TJ Ioane ran it up hard, although at times he would have been wiser to move the ball on.
Halfback Fumiaki Tanaka threw a beautiful pass and got the Otago attack firing when it got front-foot ball. Hayden Parker did some good things at first five-eighth while centre Jayden Spence was busy throughout.
Tasman captain Andrew Goodman did not miss a kick at goal, and managed the backline well.
Lock Joe Wheeler was strong throughout, as was fullback Peter Betham.
The game started half an hour late, after Tasman's flight was delayed.
The scoreboard did not work in the second half and there was also no ground announcer, due to renovations at the stadium.
Otago v Tasman
The scores
Tasman 42
Peter Betham, Vernon Fredericks, Mitchell Scott, Tevita Cavubati, Jeremy Su'a, Quentin MacDonald tries; Andrew Goodman 6 con
Otago 22
Tony Ensor 2, Scott Manson tries; Hayden Parker 2 con, pen
