Otago Country ended its season with a disappointing loss to
Canterbury Country in Cromwell yesterday.
The scoreline flattered Otago as Canterbury dominated for the
majority of the match thanks to Otago's poor ball retention
and too many missed tackles.
Only three late tries saved the home side from what looked
earlier on in the match to be a thumping.
Otago Country opened the scoring with a penalty to Lawrence
first five-eighth Sam Young after just five minutes, but from
there the floodgates opened.
First Canterbury winger Mason Rosvall collected a chip kick
and outpaced opposite Willie Lake to the line, and then one
of Canterbury's best, first five-eighth Brook Retallick,
scored after an excellent break from openside flanker Matt
Etheredge.
A Retallick penalty followed by a pushover try to loosie Ryan
Nesbit had Canterbury ahead 24-3 by halftime and the game
looked done and dusted.
After the break, the visitors continued to pile on the
pressure and gaps showed in the Otago defence, especially in
the midfield.
A converted try to Canterbury halfback Jason Pietzner
followed an Otago Country penalty, and then impressive
fullback Mark Maitland scored out wide to make the score
36-6.
The final 10 minutes of the match saw a flurry of consolation
tries by the home side, Young the first to cross after his
team-mates were twice held up over the line.
Halfback Jamie Brown then found a hole in the tiring
Canterbury defence to put Wakatipu wing Mark Te Whiti away.
Replacement midfielder Tyler Bichan scored the final try of
the match when he showed good pace to outsprint Maitland to
the line after another bust, this time by prop Josh Beer who
had an excellent match off the bench.
Beer and Maniototo prop Charles Crutchly were the pick of the
Otago Country side in an indifferent performance.
The scores-
Country rugby
• Canterbury Country 36
Mason Rosvall, Brook Retallick, Ryan Nesbit, Jason Pietzner,
Matt Maitland tries; Retallick 4 con, pen
• Otago Country 25
Sam Young, Mark Te Whiti, Tyler Bichan tries; Young 2 con, 2
pen
• Halftime: Canterbury Country 24-3.
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