Otago 24
Manawatu 46
This was the ultimate indignity for Otago rugby. The wooden spoon, the second division and a sound beating by Manawatu in their first away win of the season.
Manawatu scored six tries to three and had more strike power than an Otago side which went through an entire season without putting together a decent performance. Aaron Cruden controlled play cleverly and kicked six goals from nine attempts to contribute 16 points in a meritorious win.
It was sackcloth and ashes for Otago. Ben Smith was always a threat at fullback but had too few chances and Alando Soakai, Brad Cameron, Josh Townsend and Halani Aulika were industrious in the forwards.
For Otago, who won just two of 13 matches, these were the last rites on the worst season since 1979 when they won only one of 10 games and were only saved from relegation when Steve Marfell, the Marlborough goalkicker, missed a penalty from almost in front.
There will be no stay of execution this time and Otago will be part of the second tier next year. It has been a sad, lingering decline - seventh (2007), 10th in 2008 and 2009 and now this debacle of a season.
Only four Otago players -Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Ben Smith and Alando Soakai - are assured of Highlanders' selection. It is only a decade ago that Otago contributed 24 players. That is a measure of the decline.
Manawatu can reflect on an upset win over Wellington and last-gasp losses to heavyweights Canterbury (26-27) and Waikato (25-27) which, if they had won, would gave given them a respectable season.
Manawatu took a handy 18-7 lead into halftime after Soakai had lifted Otago hopes with a 45m runaway try in the sixth minute when he wrenched the ball free from a maul. But the Turbos replied with tries by No8 James Oliver and fullback Craig Clare.
The third quarter was a tale of intercept tries, centre Paula Kinikinilau scoring one for Otago and his opposite Parkes grabbing one back for Manawatu, who led 31-17 with 20 minutes to play. Otago's fate was sealed 15 minutes from the end when hooker Rod Foreman burrowed over from a lineout maul to stretch the lead to 36-17. Otago battled back with a try but Manawatu scored two in the last few minutes as the Otago season ended in tatters.
Otago 24 (A Soakai, P Kinikinilau, G Dickson tries, C Noakes 2 cons, pen, Dickson con); Manawatu 46 (J Oliver, C Clare, H Parkes, R Foreman, L Marshall, K Bryson tries, A Cruden 2 cons, 4 pens). Halftime: 18-7.
