Afterwards Coast skipper Sam Parkes was most concerned with the here, the now and the future.
“Next up at home - Whakarua Park, Ruatōria - Wairarapa-Bush (ninth, 12 points) is a big last round-robin game for our boys,” Parkes said.
“A win may see us host a Lochore Cup semifinal on October 12, while a loss could mean that we’d be out of the playoffs altogether.
“Against South Canterbury we were very energetic, up in their faces, which made them make errors.
“But we made our share of errors too, which is the reason that we didn’t capitalise on crucial moments.”
South Canterbury captain Will Wright said it was a tough, physical game.
“NPEC carried the battle to us and played well - it seems as though every team that we play now, throws everything at us.”
The Kaupoi opened the scoring with a try in the 11th minute of play to right-wing Pamona Samupo.
At a line-out 13m from the right corner on attack, hooker Joe Royal found blindside flanker Richie Green jumping at No 3 and from the initial drive, over five phases of play the Sky Blues worked to open up a wide blindside corridor.
Samupo dotted the ball down in the corner for 5-0. There was no conversion.
The visitors held their hosts in check until the 37th minute when South Canterbury eventually secured messy ball at a lineout 23m from the Sky Blues’ goal-line, over 10 phases they eventually scored 16m infield.
Both forward packs impressed with their mobility and involvement to that point, and despite tight defence, both sets of backs were tidy enough.
South Canterbury No 8 Siu Kakala scored the first try after the resumption.
Over six phases, the home team forged a path left and then to centre ground, until Kakala burst from a ruck 25m from the goal-line, to score to the left of the posts.
Wright converted a popular try for 12-5 to South Canterbury.
In the 45th minute, the Coast were rewarded for their tenacity and pugnacious interplay between backs and forwards.
A kicking duel came to nothing, after which South Canterbury first-five Miles Medlicott look to run down the left touch but Fletcher Carpenter seized a loose ball and the Kaupoi went hard at the Greens over six phases.
Finally South Canterbury got a turnover, Wright put up a chip-kick, Fraser steamed back before he unleashed a chip of his own and eight phases later, Royal went at the opposition captain and scored 10m to the right of the posts.
Left-footer Carpenter’s conversion attempt was charged down by South Canterbury’s right-wing Lisiate Folau, a rare thing and a huge moment in the game.
After 49 minutes, Carpenter scored.
From the left touch, the Coast threw to and then won a quick lineout 5m inside South Canterbury territory. Fraser sent a tremendous box-kick across the ground for Carpenter to chase, Carpenter beat the hosts’ left-wing Peala Matakaiongo on the turn and scored in the corner for A 15-12 lead to the Coast.
In the 58th minute, following a ruck 5m from halfway centre ground at which Kakala was upended clumsily, Te Moana was given a red card by Otago referee Caleb Neilsen.
In the 63rd minute, on the NPEC 22 the visitors were penalised for not rolling clear at a ruck and reserve Fa’alele Iosua kicked the goal for 15-15.
In the 69th minute, the Coast - just 10m from South Canterbury’s goal-line, right side of the ground, turned the ball over at a ruck and Folau hared 50m to score in the right corner, for 20-15 to the home side.
Fraser was issued a yellow card for a high tackle on reserve centre Zac Saunders in the 76th minute and in the 79th minute, the Green and Blacks, in the game’s penultimate act - from a lineout drive 5m from the right corner - scored their fourth, bonus point-try for 25-15. Lock Anthony Amato won the ball at No 4, the try scorer was Kakala.
Amato scored the last try of the game - in battering ram style, after 82 minutes - for 30-15, with another conversion from Iosua for 32-15.
