North Otago coach Mike Mullins was a relieved man after the game.
''We're happy with the five points. We went into the game knowing that we had to have a couple of other games go our way and I know that we'll be in the semifinals,'' he said.
''We missed two tries at the end of the game but we're happy with the result. East Coast have had a tough season and they had nothing to lose but we came away with the bonus point which is what we needed.''
Former Fijian Sevens player Simeli Koniferedi, who has played on the wing in the other games, was shifted to fullback against East Coast.
''He's a slippery little customer. He's deceptive but I was also happy with Matthew Vocea and Siosiua Ngalo, both wingers from St Kevin's College First XV, and young Lonitesi Fisiihoi from Waitaki Boys' who came off the bench.
''We went into this game knowing that to help us, both King Country and West Coast had to win and I believe they did.''
As it was West Coast beat Thames Valley 27-22 and King Country beat Wanganui 30-29 to allow North Otago to move into third place in the Lochore Cup playoffs. King Country finished top of the Lochore Cup and will play Wanganui next Saturday and in the other semifinal North Otago will play South Canterbury in Timaru.
In the Meads Cup, Buller retained its unbeaten run, downing Wairarapa Bush 49-36 and will play Horowhenua-Kapiti in Westport next Saturday, while Mid Canterbury, which beat South Canterbury, 24-7 will travel to Gisborne to play Poverty Bay in the other Meads Cup semifinal.
North Otago took the lead against East Coast in the fifth minute when flanker Samisoni Tongotongo took a tap penalty and big lock Sale Pi'I surged over. Six minutes later, No8 Matt Mullins drove from a lineout and midfielder Ekeroma Sauileoge finished off for first five-eighth Ben Palmer to convert.
East Coast had its moment five minutes later when, after a series of forward assaults on the North Otago line, flanker Matanuku Parata was awarded a try.
Three minutes later a fine take in the lineout by lock Jared Whitburn saw Tongotongo in for the first of his two tries which Palmer converted to give the home side a 19-5 halftime lead.
In the 53rd minute an East Coast counter attack fell apart near its own posts and replacement halfback Robbie Smith dived on a chip ahead to score, with Palmer converting from the sideline.
Ten minutes from fulltime, from a scrum 5m out, Tongotongo sent Smith in for his second try. Two minutes later Koniferedi opened up the East Coast defence with a 30m break.
Tongotongo went across for his second try which Palmer converted to take North Otago out to a 38-5 lead. In the final minute, Vocea was on hand to score. Palmer converted to give North Otago a 45-5 win.
By Terry O'Neill.
North Otago v East Coast
The scores
North Otago 45
Samisoni Tongotongo 2, Robbie Smith 2, Sale Pi'I, Ekeroma Sauileoge, Matthew Vocea tries; Ben Palmer 5 con
East Coast 5
Matanuku Parata try
Halftime: 19-5
