North Otago rubbed salt into the Otago rugby wound by claiming a shock semifinal win at the South Island sevens tournament in Timaru at the weekend.
It was a day to remember for little brother, which upset its provincial neighbour 33-28 in the final qualifying event before the national tournament in Queenstown next month.
North Otago was then beaten 40-17 by a dominant Tasman side in the final.
The semifinal result matched the contrasting fortunes of the two sides this season.
Otago lurched through its darkest winter, finishing dead last in the 14-team national championship, while North Otago stormed to victory in the Meads Cup.
Otago will still feature at the national sevens, by virtue of being the host and a quarterfinalist last summer, but it will obviously need to do some more preparation.
North Otago will eagerly await another opportunity to impress in the shorter form of the game.
Inspired by dazzling runners Kilifi Fangupo, Billy Guyton and Faaitu Tuamoheloa, the Old Golds beat archrival South Canterbury 17-5 in the South Island quarterfinal before dumping Otago out.
North Otago also fielded talented halfback Tyrone Davies, part of an outstanding Waitaki Boys' High School First XV in 2009 before being recruited by St Bede's College.
The side was co-coached by North Otago veterans Nathan Cunningham and Jason Forrest.
North Otago scored the first try in the final but was soon swamped by a stacked Tasman side that had thrashed Canterbury 50-0 in the other semifinal.
Canterbury had no answer for Makos hat trick hero James Lowe.
Home side South Canterbury also qualified for the national tournament after thumping Otago Country 36-5.
Buller, the only side not to win a game in Timaru, missed out.
