Otago's Brown adds 29 points to onslaught

Otago 64 Taranaki 19

Tony Brown goal-kicked with the precision of a Swiss watch and his team-mates ticked over with similar effectiveness as Otago overwhelmed Taranaki at Carisbrook yesterday.

It was the second consecutive Sunday that Otago had topped 60 points, but this was a much better performance than the 62-15 win over Bay of Plenty last week.

Otago scored seven tries to three, five in the second half, as they displayed the intensity and cohesion only spasmodically evident since the second-round demolition of Northland.

Brown inflated Otago's score with an extraordinary display, kicking all 12 attempts to accumulate 29 points as he ruthlessly punished Taranaki's indiscretions.

The visitors infringed frequently in the ruck and maul during the first half and Brown's kicking enabled Otago to secure a commanding 29-7 lead at the break.

Brendan Laney celebrated his Carisbrook farewell with two tries in the first half, but the bonus point was on Otago's priority list and it came after eight minutes of the second spell.

- NZPA