Mid Canterbury withstood an intense late charge from North Otago to upset one of the traditional Heartland Championship rugby powerhouses 15-11 win in Oamaru today.
Trailing 15-6, North Otago came home strongly in the final quarter of the second round Meads Cup match, virtually camping inside the Mid
Canterbury 22.
They set up a frantic finish when Siaosi Folau barged over from a ruck to close Mid Canterbury's lead to 15-11 but despite launching raid after raid in the dying minutes the visitor's resolute defence held.
Mid Canterbury blindside flanker Jon Dampney scored the only try in the first half of a tense encounter when he burrowed over from a quick tap close to the line while impressive first five-eighth Kieran Lindsay scored the decisive five-pointer shortly after the break when he broke the line inside his own half and had enough pace to outstrip North Otago wing Lemi Masoe in a foot race to the corner.
Mid Canterbury, who shaded West Coast 7-5 in Ashburton last weekend, join Wanganui as the only unbeaten teams in the Meads Cup.
Mid Canterbury 15 (Jon Dampney, Kieran Lindsay tries; Lindsay pen con) North Otago 11 (Siaosi Folau try; Pale Tuilagi 2 pen)
Halftime: 10-3
- NZPA
