The gap between town and country rugby was exposed on Saturday as Otago B thrashed Otago Country at the University Oval.
Otago B wingers Gavin Stark and Josh Gordon had a field day, Stark crossing five times and Gordon three as the home side scored 15 tries.
Otago Country was guilty of kicking too much ball away in the first half and its chase line, especially out wide, was not good enough.
The visiting side matched up well enough in the forwards, where openside flanker Aidan Winter and hooker Blair van der Voort showed they could compete at that level, but the size of Otago B was a definite factor.
Dillon Hunt had an outstanding game on the flank for Otago B, crossing for a hat trick, while No 8 Sione Teu was also excellent.
Stark, Gordon and first five eighth Matt Te Tana - who kicked 15 conversions from 15 attempts - showed their class in the backs, while Country's best back was second five eighth Scott Milne, who did a power of work on defence.
There might have been some consolation for Country in the fact star Otago B performers Stark (South Otago) and Te Tana (Central Otago) are products of the heartland.
Country coach Roger Cotton was disappointed with his side's performance.
''The boys struggled with the pace of the game and we gave them too much ball, really,'' Cotton said.
''I think our lot didn't think it was going to be as hard as it was. Once you start chasing your tail, it becomes futile, really.''
Cotton said the Country side would prepare as well as it could for Southland B at Clinton this weekend, but the match would be another tough one.
''We'll have a look at our option taking and our decision making. It's just the mental application in what we're trying to do.''
Representative rugby
The scores
Otago B 105
Gavin Stark 5, Josh Gordon 3, Dillon Hunt 3, Kurt Hammer, Tala Fagasoaia, Sio Tomkinson, Sione Teu tries; Matt Te Tana 15 con
Otago Country 0
Halftime: Otago B 56-0.
