Otago Country got its first win of the season when it fought hard to beat North Otago Development in Wanaka on Saturday.
Home-town boy Ben Purvis got Country off to the best possible start when he returned a kick and beat several defenders on his way to scoring the first try of the game. After just five minutes, the home side led 5-0 and seemed to be controlling most of the play.
Second five-eighth Sam Wyber kicked a penalty goal before some old issues appeared to come back to haunt the Country side.
North Otago held the ball for long periods, Country started to drop off some tackles, and prop Charles Crutchley was sent to the bin after repeated infringements in defence.
However, Country showed resilience when down to 14 men and did not let North Otago score. A penalty would have given the home side an 11-0 lead but it glanced off the upright on the stroke of halftime.
After the break, North Otago Development finally got things going on attack. First five-eighth Kayne Middleton kicked a simple penalty, and centre Diego Biro pounced on a dropped Otago Country pass out wide. He toed it ahead and outpaced everyone else to score an excellent individual try. The conversion gave the Development side its first lead, 10-8.
After a dominant 20 minutes to start the second half, Country finally took the lead back through a Stu Melville penalty.
He had a chance to put his side further ahead moments later from 48m but the kick fell short. He missed a second shot with a minute left and, from the resulting North Otago restart, the visiting team had a man carded for taking a Country player out in the air. The match finished with an uninspiring penalty try to the home side.
Fullback Purvis was a standout in the first half, while Country captain and No 8 Will Hurst had another good showing with ball in hand. Openside flanker Blair van der Voort also had a solid outing and halfback Steve Bruce ran well.
For North Otago Development, second five-eighth Loni Fisiihoi was a handful on attack, and St Kevin's College halfback Brodie Flannery distributed well.
Otago Country finishes its season this weekend when it plays Australian touring side Darling Downs in Queenstown.
The Otago Country under-14 team got its fourth win on the trot when it beat South Canterbury 36-21. Morgan Jones and Dylan Lee each scored two tries.
Representative rugby
The scores
Otago Country 18
Ben Purvis try, penalty try; Sam Wyber pen, Stu Melville con, pen
N. Otago Development 10
Diego Biro try; Kayne Middleton con, pen
Halftime: Otago Country 8-0.
