Rugby: Country does Otago proud in retaining trophy

[1]

Otago Country players and management celebrate retaining the Triangular Trophy following their 50-3 win against Canterbury Country at the Queenstown Recreation Ground on Saturday. Photo by Felicity Wolfe.

A week after thumping Southland Country 74-30, Otago started hesitantly and did not score until 13 minutes before half-time.

Centre Lex Kaleca punched through the defence on halfway and off-loaded to No 8 Shaun Tauti, who scored next to the uprights.

Canterbury Country's Brook Rettallick kicked a penalty to narrow the gap, but Otago immediately replied when Matt Faddes made a good break and Charlie Hore scored under the posts.

The final try in the first half followed another blockbusting run from Tauti, who handed the ball on to Kaleca to score.

Canterbury Country threatened to get back into the match with some early breaks out wide but lacked the skills to finish.

Junior Maiono showed how to do it when he sprinted 30m to score a fine individual try for Otago Country.

Faddes then helped create a try for Aidan Winter, before Reece Winter entered the game off the bench and scored twice.

The greatest cheer came after reserve halfback Jai Baxter scored on full-time.

Hore stepped aside to allow prop Blair Young to take the conversion.

Otago Country openside flanker Aidan Winter was in dynamic form, his turnover ball vital to a team starved of territory and possession in patches.

Schoolboy fullback Faddes proved his worth, and Young led the forwards well.