The Spirit might have been beaten 33-3 by the Manawatū Cyclones in the Farah Palmer Cup championship final on Sunday, but stalwart hooker-turned-No 8 Tegan Hollows could see the silver lining.
"At the start of the year, it wasn’t even looking like we were going to make the final and then we gave a massive upset [against Wellington Pride]," Hollows told Sky Sport.
"The support we had behind us from winning that game, I really wish we could’ve just done it one more time for everyone.
"We’ll come again next year."
And they will.
Never a team to be down for long, the Otago Spirit have shown what free-flowing, running rugby is all about.
They try things, create something for each other and are gutsy on attack.
The Spirit started their season with a a scrappy 24-21 win over North Harbour Hibiscus, thanks to a last-minute step from young midfielder Te Atawhai Campbell to steal a game-winning try.
They lost 47-12 to the Cyclones, who finished unbeaten, in round two and scored a good 34-27 win over the Tasman Mako.
Otago thumped Taranaki Whio 60-17 but got a reality check when they lost 51-13 to the Wellington Pride.
That sparked one of the greatest turnarounds in Otago sport in recent years, when the Otago Spirit flipped the script and beat the Pride 51-38 in the semifinal.
It was a reminder of everything that can be great about rugby.
There are some underrated players in the Spirit squad — Bella Rewiri-Wharerau, Sammie Bean and Lucy Hall come to mind — and, given a shot, who knows what they can do?
Add in rising youngsters like Hannah Lithgow, Charlotte Va’afusuaga and Leila Hill, and there is a belief that that the future of the Otago Spirit is in great hands.
They just need a little more time to cement things and they could be in line for that long-overdue elevation to the Premiership.
Best game
Beat Wellington Pride 51-38
Already mentioned, but just a jaw-dropping turnaround to "upset" the Wellington Pride, who were relegated to the championship this year.
Worst game
Lost to Wellington Pride 51-13
A tough one, but maybe it was the shake-up the Spirit needed for what ensued the following week.
MVP
Charlotte Va’afusuaga: The 17-year-old was phenomenal and surely is knocking on the door of some higher teams. With a couple more seasons under her belt, it is scary to think just how good she could be.
Most improved
Bella Rewiri-Wharerau: Worked hard in her switch from No 8 to the blindside this year. Workhorse and finished with 111 tackles to her name.
Emerging talent
Hannah Lithgow: The sprightly hooker grabbed her chance with two hands when regular hooker Tegan Hollows moved to the back row to cover injuries.
Otago Spirit
Season in numbers
• Record: Four wins, five losses
• Biggest win: Taranaki Whio 60-17.
• Biggest loss: Wellington Pride 51-13.
• Top try-scorer: Sheree Hume, five.
• Top scorer: Georgia Cormick, 48 points.
