Rugby: Otago win no cause for any parties

Otago 22 Counties 13

Relief was the predominant emotion after Otago beat a committed Counties Manukau side at Carisbrook.

It was, after all, eight games - ironically also against Counties, on September 11 last year - since Otago had been victorious in the NPC.

There were no frills about the Otago win. It was about as cheerful as the chill, grey day and the sodden turf.

It was not until captain Kelvin Middleton smashed over from a lineout drive two minutes from the end that victory was secured.

"It's been a long time coming," Otago coach Kevin Gloag said, "and we're relieved that it has.

"It wasn't pretty. It became a battle up front and, in the end, we won it."

But not without having to scrap tooth and nail against a Counties side who defended heroically and played well above their bottom equal first-division status.

Otago dominated the first quarter for little reward, became too ambitious in the second quarter and trailed 6-10 at halftime.

Counties' halfback and captain, Danny Lee, excellent in all respects, scored after 24 minutes when flanker Haere Makiri burst clear and Lee expertly caught a long infield pass from right wing Joeli Vidiri.

Otago eventually scored their first try 11 minutes into the second half, Taine Randell crashing over in the corner when Otago drove on a John Blaikie lineout take before switching to the blind side.

But while that gave Otago the lead and broke what many thought would be the back of Counties' resistance, the Steelers showed themselves to be a side of character.

Otago had a virtual mortgage on possession, but Counties tackled heroically, and while Otago huffed and puffed, they could not break down the opposition defence.

There was always the prospect of Counties breaking out for a decisive try before Otago nailed down the winning score, Middleton smashing over when the pack drove on a Simon Maling lineout take.

"We knew at halftime we had to keep the ball up off the ground and use our forwards to drive," Gloag said.

"They [Counties] were spreading out across the field and leaving the middle open."

Randell was the outstanding Otago player, closely followed by Middleton.

Counties' coach Andrew Talaimanu was straight to the point: "We're sick of being heroes and losing," he said.

"Otago's tactics in the second half were simple, to drive through the middle.

"They couldn't get through us any other way."

Counties missed two scoring chances, Selesi Moimoi receiving a forward pass from Loki Crichton when the field seemed clear, and Vidiri knocking on a long, floated pass from Crichton when Otago also seemed to have run out of defenders.

"But you can't blame those chances," Talaimanu said.

"Goldilocks shouldn't have fallen asleep in the three bears' house."

- NZPA