KEY POINTS:
Tasman were prevented from farewelling Trafalgar Park in style when Otago substitute Steven Setephano snatched a last-minute try to force 21-21 draw in Air NZ Cup rugby match today.
In a see-sawing match, Otago took a 16-8 lead at halftime after trailing 0-8.
On the other side of halftime, Tasman countered to lead 21-16 before Setephano powered his way over from a 5m tapped freekick.
Tasman, who will depart the Air NZ Cup next season along with Northland, needed a win from today's match to stengthen their hopes of making the top eight playoffs.
But with Southland, Wellington and Manawatu to play, the one point they collected today might not be enough in the race for the minor playoff spots which also involve Waikato, Taranaki, Otago and North Harbour.
Tasman started brightly and their enterprise with the ball was rewarded within five minutes as Otago conceded a penalty and first five-eighth Miah Nikora booted over the chance.
With Tasman retaining possession well, Otago were rocked onto their heels eight minutes later when Tasman scored a well-taken try.
From the midfield, the ball found powerful centre Kade Poki who escaped the clutches of Aaron Bancroft and evaded another tackle before he set fullback Robbie Malneek free on the right wing to score.
Otago did themselves no favours when key lock Ross Kennedy was sin-binned for slowing the ball down in the 24th minute.
But despite being a player short, Otago shot into the lead over the space of 12 minutes, grabbing 16 unanswered points.
First five eighth Daniel Bowden set the scoreboard ticking with a penalty in the 26th minute and then winger Karne Hesketh showed Tasman a clean pair of heels after an intercept.
Bowden converted for a 10-8 lead and then kicked two more penalties, the latter coming just before halftime to send Tasman into their dressing room wondering what hit them.
Tasman reasserted their domination in the second half. Nikora, who missed three penalty attempts in the first half kicked two penalties to close the gap to two points after 19 minutes.
Substitute Daniel Hyatt scored a try which Nikora converted for a 21-16 lead.
With just minutes to go, Tasman tried to keep possession and run the clock down but with 90 seconds to go, coughed the ball up to Otago who drove upfield, giving Setephano his chance.
Chris Noakes missed the conversion from wide out.
- NZPA
Tasman were prevented from farewelling Trafalgar Park in style when Otago substitute Steven Setephano snatched a last-minute try to force 21-21 draw in Air NZ Cup rugby match today.
In a see-sawing match, Otago took a 16-8 lead at halftime after trailing 0-8.
On the other side of halftime, Tasman countered to lead 21-16 before Setephano powered his way over from a 5m tapped freekick.
Tasman, who will depart the Air NZ Cup next season along with Northland, needed a win from today's match to stengthen their hopes of making the top eight playoffs.
But with Southland, Wellington and Manawatu to play, the one point they collected today might not be enough in the race for the minor playoff spots which also involve Waikato, Taranaki, Otago and North Harbour.
Tasman started brightly and their enterprise with the ball was rewarded within five minutes as Otago conceded a penalty and first five-eighth Miah Nikora booted over the chance.
With Tasman retaining possession well, Otago were rocked onto their heels eight minutes later when Tasman scored a well-taken try.
From the midfield, the ball found powerful centre Kade Poki who escaped the clutches of Aaron Bancroft and evaded another tackle before he set fullback Robbie Malneek free on the right wing to score.
Otago did themselves no favours when key lock Ross Kennedy was sin-binned for slowing the ball down in the 24th minute.
But despite being a player short, Otago shot into the lead over the space of 12 minutes, grabbing 16 unanswered points.
First five eighth Daniel Bowden set the scoreboard ticking with a penalty in the 26th minute and then winger Karne Hesketh showed Tasman a clean pair of heels after an intercept.
Bowden converted for a 10-8 lead and then kicked two more penalties, the latter coming just before halftime to send Tasman into their dressing room wondering what hit them.
Tasman reasserted their domination in the second half. Nikora, who missed three penalty attempts in the first half kicked two penalties to close the gap to two points after 19 minutes.
Substitute Daniel Hyatt scored a try which Nikora converted for a 21-16 lead.
With just minutes to go, Tasman tried to keep possession and run the clock down but with 90 seconds to go, coughed the ball up to Otago who drove upfield, giving Setephano his chance.
Chris Noakes missed the conversion from wide out.
- NZPA
