Rugby: Below-par Old Golds still too good for Buller

North Otago wing Sione Pangata is tackled during his side's Heartland Championship clash against Buller in Oamaru on Saturday. Photo by Darryl May.

North Otago was always in control, even though Buller got within five points of the home side two minutes into the second half before renewed application and concentration saw the Old Golds pull away in the final quarter.

But it was a performance that did not overly impress North Otago coach Barry Matthews.

"I was not happy with the overall effort and probably the only positive that came out of the game was that a good team can play poorly and still win.

"After the big win last week, some of the boys maybe thought that they were a bit better that what they really are. But it's still good to get five points out of it."

North Otago was under pressure at scrum time from a pack led by veteran Buller prop Phil Beveridge, ageless loose forward Luke Brownlee and vigorous lock James Foster, a point conceded by Matthews.

"The scrummaging was average. But we must remember that Buller outscrummed Wairarapa-Bush last week, by all accounts," Matthews said.

"When it counted down in the red zone, we scored a very good try from a very good scrum. I think when the boys put their minds to it they can scrum better."

Matthews felt North Otago blew five or six opportunities in the first half through the last pass not being thrown and the ball carrier being too greedy.

"I think that we had our wingers and fullback free out wide on five or six occasions. It was very poor execution and option taking ."

North Otago lost tighthead prop Palenapa Mafi with a shoulder injury, while loosehead prop Will Henry also came off with a leg injury.

Discipline was also an issue, with Tevita Fifita and Faaitu Tuamoheloa both receiving yellow cards, along with Buller's Blair McIlroy.

North Otago first five-eighth Ben Patson kicked two penalties in the first seven minutes before No 8 Fifita smashed through the defence to score an unconverted try.