The visiting side was quicker and stronger at the breakdown, often denied North Otago possession in attacking situations, and halted North Otago's efforts to build up momentum at vital times.
Wanganui captain Peter Rowe was superb in this facet of play and showed all the experience he has gained in 99 games for his province.
Sonny Woodmass was superb in the lineouts and Bryn Hudson, who came on at halftime, was powerful with the ball in hand. In the backs, second five-eighth Rhema Sagote was strong on attack and defence, while fullback Ace Malo used all of his skill and experience.
North Otago's schoolboy winger, Matthew Vocea, was again in impressive form, and he combined well with centre Tenina Sauileoge.
First five-eighth Ben Palmer scored a brilliant solo try, and Josh Clark won great lineout ball consistently and excelled in the loose and on defence, as did Manu Taiti, Sale Pi'i and Kilioni Taufa.
North Otago coach Mike Mullins had no excuses after the game.
''The game really reflected what our season has been all about. Wanganui was a deserved winner today. We gave it a shot and just weren't good enough.
''We made too many mistakes in the second half which just compounded our field position. Dropped balls really helped Wanganui to get out of pressure areas and put the ball down our end of the park. And that cost us really - just too many simple mistakes.
''We had our chances. We had two weeks more rugby than we thought we'd have. We just weren't good enough.''
Wanganui played with the strong southerly in the first half but North Otago got the opening points, 17 minutes into the game, when Palmer sliced through the Wanganui defence to score and convert to put his side out to a 7-0 lead.
Eight minutes from halftime, a Wanganui kick ahead was shoddily covered by North Otago and, from the resulting forward drive, Wanganui No 8 Lasa Ulukuta was awarded the try, which Ace Malo converted to make it 7-7 at halftime.
In the second half, Hudson gave Wanganui go-forward ball with a bruising run, and Sagote crashed across for a try.
North Otago struck back four minutes from fulltime when centre Tenina Sauileoge carved through the defence from loose play and young winger Vocea did the rest in the corner.
Stephen Fenemor could not make the difficult conversion but had a chance to win the game in the final minute. Sadly, for North Otago fans, his penalty from 42m drifted outside the left-hand upright.
• Mid Canterbury halted Buller's fairytale run and won consecutive Meads Cup finals with a 36-13 win in Westport on Saturday.
By Terry O'Neill.
Lochore Cup final
The scores
Wanganui 14
Lasa Ulukata, Rhema Sagote tries; Ace Malo 2 con
North Otago 12
Ben Palmer, Matthew Vocea tries; Palmer con
Halftime: 7-7.
