North Otago win Third Division

5.00pm

NORTH OTAGO 43 HOROWHENUA-KAPITI 19

North Otago's island connection helped them lift the NPC third division rugby title when they beat Horowhenua-Kapiti at Oamaru's Centennial Park today.

Winger Pila Fifita scored three tries and his fellow Tongan-born centre Fepikou Tatafu scored two in their five tries to one victory.

After reaching the final in the last two seasons at least, North Otago took a timely win in the division. They will be promoted to the second division next season.

First five-eighth Simon Porter set various scoring records for North Otago and in the division with his 18 points today from four penalties and three conversions.

First five-eighth Dion Nepia kept Horowhenua in touch with their opponents with his superb goal-kicking until early in the second half when they were behind 21-19 after he converted David Palu's try.

But after the unstoppable Fifita raced in for his second try in the 51st minute, North Otago cruised away, with Porter kicking his fourth penalty goal and Tatafu (second) and Fifita (third) scoring again.

North Otago butchered several scoring chances in both halves with handling and passing errors but slippery conditions also contributed to that.

North Otago 43 (Pila Fifita 3, Fepikou Tatafu 2 tries; Simon Porter 4 pen, 3 con), Horowhenua-Kapiti 19 (David Palu try; Dion Nepia 4 pen, con). Halftime: 18-9.

- NZPA