Northland were left to rue missed opportunities as Otago hung in there to claim a 13-24 victory in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC cliffhanger in Rotorua tonight.
Despite enjoying the lion's share of territory, possession, and time in the opposition 22, the Taniwha failed to capitalise on a number of scoring opportunities in the second half.
With a player down and penalties mounting against Otago, Northland hammered away in the opposition 22m but the men from the deep south, particularly skipper James Lentjes and No 8 Dylan Nel defended outstandingly well.
Just when Northland needed to be patient and keep chipping away, they conceded penalties at the wrong end of the field and Sio Tomkinson thrust a dagger through the Northland heart with a try in the dying minute when his side was up by just four points.