Otago Country laid the foundation for its 43-17 win over the North Otago Development XV in the first 17 minutes, piling on an unanswered 31 points.
It took only five minutes to breach North Otago's defence when hooker Blair van der Voort barged over from a fine Otago Country forward drive.
First five eighth Reece Harold converted. Four minutes later, Otago Country profited from one of the innumerable tightheads to move the ball wide for left winger Matt Holmes to score in the corner.
Four minutes later, centre Danny van der der Voort bagged try number three, which went unconverted. Tries in the next four minutes to No8 Dean Chalmers and right winger Dylan Mathieson, from 70m out, took Otago Country out to a 31-0 lead, after Harold converted Mathieson's try.
Eight minutes from halftime, the slumbering North Otago XV awoke and, from a tap penalty, halfback Rory Harries caught the opposition unawares.
Then North Otago's big loosehead prop Sione Palaa was driven across for Brad McKenzie to convert, giving Otago Country a 31-12 halftime lead.
Five minutes into the second half, after Otago Country had knocked on in its in goal area, Harries scored his second.
Otago Country came alive midway through the second half when flanker Logan Byers sent Danny van der Voort in for his second try, which Harold converted. Replacement Josh Botting added the seventh try from a planned move.
By Terry O'Neill.
Otago C v N Otago dev
The scores
Otago Country 43
Danny van der Voort 2, Josh Botting, Blair van der Voort, Matt Holmes, Dean Chalmers, Dylan Mathieson tries; Reece Harold 4 con
North Otago Dev XV 17
Rory Harries 2, Sione Palaa tries; Brad McKenzie con
Halftime: 31-12.
