North Otago's Pacific Island connection helped them lift the NPC third-division title when they beat Horowhenua-Kapiti 43-19 at Oamaru's Centennial Park yesterday.
Winger Pila Fifita scored three tries and his fellow Tongan-born centre Fepikou Tatafu two in their five tries to one victory.
After losing in the final in the last two
seasons, North Otago will be promoted to the second division next season.
First five-eighths Simon Porter kicked 18 points from four penalties and three conversions for North Otago.
Dion Nepia kept Horowhenua in touch with superb goalkicking until early in the second half when they were behind 21-19 after he converted David Palu's try.
But after the unstoppable Fifita raced in for his second try in the 51st minute, North Otago cruised away, with Porter kicking his fourth penalty and Tatafu and Fifita scoring further tries.
North Otago captain Barry Fox said the long wait for victory had been worthwhile.
"It was worth waiting for, definitely," he said. "We probably let them in a bit during the match, but we kept going. At the end it was a gutsy effort."
Horowhenua-Kapiti coach Peter Kemp said his team exceeded expectations.
"They [North Otago] proved they're the most consistent and the best team in the competition and deserve to be champions."
- NZPA
