Rugby: Otago down North Harbour 46-29

Tony Brown led the charge against North Harbour. Photo / File Getty

Three tries in a 12-minute burst in the first half helped Otago make a winning start to the revamped national provincial rugby championship with a 46-29 victory over North Harbour at Carisbrook in Dunedin tonight.

With veteran first five-eighth Tony Brown dictating terms, Otago scored six tries to four to kick off their 2011 campaign off in impressive style.

North Harbour, meanwhile, produced a disjointed display and were monstered at scrum time by a dominant Otago pack which helped give them to a 24-5 at the break. Their cause was not helped by an inability to consistently take the high ball and Brown's astute kicking made sure they were constantly under pressure.

Brown ran the backline with fellow former All Black Ben Atiga, while unwanted All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly and 36-year-old former international prop Kees Meeuws were prominent in a pack that gave Brown the platform to show his wares.

After an early Glenn Dickson penalty, winger Joe Hill got the ball rolling for the home side to scoop up a stray Harbour pass and race in from the halfway line.

Impressive skipper Eben Joubert then crossed twice in four minutes with the flanker latching onto a pass close to the line from former Hawke's Bay second five-eighth Sam Giddens before he capped a slick backline move involving Brown, Giddens and Atiga to give the hosts a 24-0 lead after 28 minutes.

The scoreline was all the more impressive as Otago had lived off scraps of possession until then as Harbour, whose build-up was blighted by the wrangle over Luke McAlister's future, battled to find a way through a resolute defence.

Lock James King stretched out to get Harbour on the board before the interval and Ben Botica cut the deficit to 17 with a penalty before a deft Brown grubber kick handed Atiga the simple task of flopping on the ball over the line to chalk up his first try for his new province. A Brown drop goal took their lead out to 26 points before Harbour struck twice in quick succession.

Fullback Codey Rei crossed on debut and then former All Black Rudi Wulf fended off Atiga and showed he has not lost any pace from his sojourn in France race in and give the Liam Barry-coached side a sniff.

But any hopes they had of a comeback were quashed after another handling error deep in their own half led to replacement loose forward TJ Ionae burrowing over.

The busy Matt Luamanu drove over with a minute left to secure North Harbour a bonus point try, but Otago, fittingly, had the final say with lock Rob Verbakel grabbing a try after the final hooter had sounded to mark his debut.

North Harbour won't have much time to lick their wounds - in the abbreviated season they host Tasman on Tuesday night.

- NZPA