Canterbury led 19-0 at halftime with the experience and skills of Black Ferns captain Melissa Ruscoe dominating the hunt for the loose ball. Otago struggled to get enough quality ball to mount attacks.
If the loss was not bad enough, Kelly Brazier, one of the side's most valuable players, broke her left collarbone, and is out for the rest of the season.
Brazier, playing at centre, was dumped in a tackle midway through the second half.
In what was a tough physical match, Ruscoe also suffered a nasty facial injury, colliding with one of her own players. There were fears she had fractured her eye socket. She was cleared later, although she had a severe headache after the game.
Spirit coach John Kyle said the side played well in patches but when the pressure came on they cracked and Canterbury took advantage.
The Otago tight five was strong and held their own, but the Canterbury loose forwards were stronger and turned over a lot of ball. Ruscoe, until she went off injured, grabbed plenty of ball at the breakdown, along with No 8 Casey Robertson.
Canterbury, which had won its first two games, put good pressure on from kicks, chased well, and was competitive in the lineouts.
Canterbury got momentum in the first half and feasted on any Otago mistakes.
The decision to shift a women's game off Rugby Park last week, and play a mens game instead, had made national news last week, and galvanised the Canterbury side into action. The match was played in a back ground at QEII Park, in front of a good crowd.
Kyle felt blindside flanker Kerry Stoddard had a solid game while Victoria Nafatali played well, starting on the wing, and shifting to second five-eighth.
Otago's try was scored by winger Carla Hohepa off a blindside scrum move near the end of the game.
The Spirit face Manawatu in Palmerston North next Saturday and must win that game to have any hope of making the semi-finals. It beat Wellington in its first game but lost to Hawkes Bay the week after.
Auckland, the defending champion, has won all its games so far this season, and is Otago's last opponent on September 20, in the round robin competition, before semi-finals.
- Canterbury 29 (Kendra Cocksedge 2, Amanda Murphy 2, Casey Robertson tries; Cocksedge 2 conversions), Otago 5 (Carla Hohepa try). Half-time: Canterbury 19-0.
