Otago Rugby

Brad Cameron had been out of the loop but now finds himself in the thick of things.

Otago assistant coach David Latta admits his job is a lot more than he expected, but he is loving every minute of it.

It was a win but - to state the obvious - it was ugly. Extremely ugly. If it had been played on the front lawn, the curtains would have been drawn.

The papers have been served and the divorce between Otago and the Highlanders is nearly complete. Sports editor Hayden Meikle looks at how a struggling franchise and a slumping union hope to flourish by forging their own paths.

The only way is up. After a 10-day lay-off, Otago takes the field tomorrow afternoon against Hawkes Bay knowing a win of any form or description is an absolute must.

There was nothing pretty about it but that didn't matter to hardy rugby fans at Carisbrook today as Otago lodged their first win of the national provincial championship.

A win at last. Otago scored its first victory of the ITM Cup season, winning 17-16 in a real arm wrestle at Carisbrook yesterday, played in a howling gale.

North Otago rewrote parts of the 83-year-old union's record books with its 116-3 demolition of East Coast at Whakarua Park on Saturday.

Caversham was crowned premier league champion after beating a gallant Grants Braes team 3-1 at the Oval on Saturday.

North Otago produced one of its finest performances of the past decade when it dominated Poverty Bay at Whitestone Contracting Stadium on Saturday.

Otago coach Phil Mooney admits his side has played better and lost, but it will take the win over Tasman yesterday.

Otago lock Hoani Matenga takes to the stage every week. The rugby stage, that is, but it could easily have been a music platform.

Otago captain Alando Soakai said his side just had to do whatever was needed to win yesterday.

Otago hooker Peter Mirrielees was stood down from yesterday's game because of an incident last week.

The woe continues. Otago slumped to its fifth straight loss in the ITM Cup last night, falling 25-15 to Taranaki at Carisbrook.

When Otago prop Sam Hibbard first came south, turning out in the blue and gold was not his top priority.

Otago coach Phil Mooney has looked to inject some energy into his forward pack to play Southland in the Ranfurly Shield challenge in Invercargill tomorrow.