Rugby: Brown sparks Otago comeback

Buxton Popoali'i of Otago. Photo / Getty Images

Veteran first five-eighth Tony Brown sparked Otago to a 28-20 win over Manawatu in a national provincial championship rugby match in Dunedin tonight.

Trailing 8-13 at halftime, Brown came on for a nervous Hayden Parker and almost immediately played a major role in starting a move which No 8 Gareth Evans finished off with an unconverted try.

Sprightly wing Buxton Popoali'i was the next to prosper from Brown's vision, the five-eighth's break opening a hole in the Manawatu defence for the bonus-point try.

Brown also kicked a penalty and a conversion in the match.

Earlier, Manawatu, starting without a number of key players including first five-eighth Aaron Cruden, Tomasi Cama, Michael Fitzgerald and Grant Polson, outplayed Otago to lead 13-8 at halftime from a Doug Tietjens converted try and two penalites by Cruden's standin Isaac Thompson.

Otago's points came through a Hayden Parker penalty and an unconverted try by substitute lock Paul Grant.

Otago levelled the scores 13-13 early in the first half through a try by Scott Manson.

Tonight's match was originally set down for August 17 but was postponed because bad weather made it impossible for Manawatu to travel south.

Manawatu will host the inaugural championship division final as top qualifiers against Hawke's Bay on Sunday in Palmerston North with the winners gaining promotion into next year's premiership division.

- NZPA