Southland fail to take their opportunites

Otago 15 Southland 8

Some games are memorable for a single moment.

This one happened 15 minutes from the end of a contest which was willing but never reached dazzling heights. Southland, training 15-3 despite having a mountain of chances at Invercargill and a big whack of territory and possession, got a lineout 30m out from the Otago line on their right.

A quick throw-in and captain Clarke Dermody set off on the run of his life. The tighthead prop trundled past wing Greg Zampach, held off No 8 Adam Thomson and plunged across for a try which in the usual tradition will by this morning have turned into a 60m, swerving, stepping multi-tackle beater.

Otherwise it was a night to rue lost opportunities for Southland. Despite a significant territorial advantage and a decent chunk of possession, they were unable to turn chances into points.

When Otago muffed the restart after their former Southland wing Ben Smith had put them ahead, big No 8 Iona Sipa had a charge at the Otago line. He should have scored, but was held up by Otago packmates Keith Cameron and Thomson.

Three times in a minute late in the half, Southland players charged at the line, only to be stopped less than a metre short. Give Otago full marks for defensive wholeheartedness, but these were opportunities that simply had to be grasped, and almost don't count at the end of it all.

Their only points of the half came from a close range dropped goal by Blair Stewart, with Southland playing the advantage.

Otago, by contrast, were adept at grabbing their chances. Second five-eighths Callum Bruce slipped by some weak defence, Neil Brew carried it on and Smith rounded off after 20 minutes.

And Nick Evans set up the second, slipping a deft pass to the robust No 8 Thomson, among Otago's best last night, who crossed at the left corner.

Southland pressed forward after the break but lacked the finishing edge. The game will soon be forgotten, if not in the Dermody household.

Otago 15 (B. Smith, A. Thomson tries; N. Evans pen, con).
Southland 8 (C. Dermody try; B. Stewart drop goal).
HT: 15-3