KEY POINTS:
Even an ugly win was beyond Otago's reach today when they drew an Air NZ Cup rugby match against Manawatu.
A pale shadow of their former selves, the Otago side of 2007 were arguably lucky to escape with two competition points from a 25-25 stalemate in Palmerston North.
It did little to improve their hopes of reaching the top eight playoffs, with the result leaving them precariously positioned in eighth place after seven rounds.
Manawatu deserved the main accolades after a contest they almost pulled from the fire in the closing minute as they surged on to attack after Otago were penalised for a ruck infringement then marched 10m for backchat.
Having stretched Otago to the right, Manawatu then tried their luck on the left as the final movement of the match saw flanker Josh Bradnock bundled into touch just short of the tryline.
Manawatu for long periods threatened to seriously embarrass Otago, who only last week lost at home to Southland for the first time in 30 years.
Manawatu had overcome a badly malfunctioning lineout to lead 20-7 at halftime after enjoying the considerable benefits of having a strong wind at their backs.
Having conceded a soft try to Otago in the 25th minute, when halfback Toby Morland waltzed through a huge hole behind a ruck, Manawatu hit back with first-half touchdowns to fullback Francisco Bosch and No 8 Bertus Mulder.
Bosch was on the end of a bust from second five-eighth Frank Bryant, who linked with Johnny Leota before Bosch made his presence felt in the 29th minute.
A second penalty to first five-eighth Matty James eased Manawatu out to a 13-7 lead before James engineered the next try, stepping past defenders following a turnover then finding Mulder, who charged to the line to present a simple conversion.
The early signs in the second spell suggested the elements would play a pivotal role in the result as Otago pegged back the difference to five points when Callum Bruce landed a penalty then fullback Charlie Hore entered the line to send left wing Matt Saunders over in the corner.
But Mulder nabbed his second try when the Otago defenders found themselves fooled by a short dummy run by wing Tomasi Cama, the pass from James instead going to Mulder, who had a short, unchallenged run to the line.
An intercept try to Otago flanker Adam Thomson in the 60th minute and a penalty to Bruce seven minutes later levelled the scores.
-NZPA
