KEY POINTS:
North Otago finally wore down Wanganui's resistance to win the Meads Cup rugby final 25-8 in Oamaru today.
The pre-match favourites overcame a slew of handling mistakes and stout Wanganui defence to score three tries to one and claim the premier Heartland championship title.
A scrappy first half ended with the teams locked at 8-8 before North Otago's physical forwards began to up their intensity levels and impose themselves.
Even then it was not until the last 12 minutes that North Otago managed to pull clear as Wanganui, who lost last year's final to Wairarapa Bush, finally wilted in the face of the home side's dominant scrum and big ball carriers.
Despite enjoying much the better of territory and possession, all North Otago could manage was a second penalty to goalkicker Glenn Dickson as Wanganui hung on grimly.
The match turned for good in the 68th minute when North Otago halfback Kilifi Fangupo produced the individual highlight of a keen contest.
Fangupo swung the match his side's way in the 68th minute with an outstanding try after a 40m angled run from a scrum which earned his team a 10-point advantage.
Fangupo struck again with his second try eight minutes later to settle the issue for North Otago when he darted around the base of a ruck and stretched out an arm in the embrace of two tacklers.
Wanganui's desperation was illustrated midway through the second half when North Otago centre Mike Mavor charged through a small hole only to be enveloped by two tacklers who prevented him from grounding the ball.
That one act neatly encapsulated Wanganui's gutsy performance.
They battled bravely throughout, particularly in the first half when playing into a significant breeze, spending much of the spell in their own territory.
They remained very much in contention due to their own efforts and some wayward goalkicking from North Otago second five-eighth Dickson, who missed four of his five shots at goal in the opening 40 minutes.
Their resolute defence was not cracked until the 39th minute when North Otago centre Fa'aitu Tumoheloa found a hole to breach after a period of sustained pressure from the home side.
Wanganui's try came during a rare excursion on attack when prop Mike Thompson was driven across the line from a 5m lineout in the fifth minute.
- NZPA
