Otago suffered a 34-17 defeat to Tasman at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night, beaten badly in every facet of the game.
The home team conceded a try within the first 60 seconds and from then on there was only going to be one winner.
The error count from Otago was far too high to be competitive, and it lacked the firepower right across the paddock to combat a committed Tasman side.
If Otago was not dropping the ball or missing tackles, it was being comprehensively outmuscled by a Tasman team riding high on confidence.
Tasman are nicknamed the Makos and they were dangerous sharks last night, too much for an Otago team which resembled a rather off-colour tortoise.
Tasman would blow Otago players off their feet at the breakdown, opening up holes in and around the ruck where many of its big forwards and nippy backs made some big gains.
The game was all but over by halftime, when Tasman led 27-12 and Otago was well and truly on the ropes.
When Tasman scored just over two minutes into the second half, it was game, set and match to the visiting side.
About the only place Otago won was in the mistake category.
It made some poor reads in defence, there was no continuity in its play, and it let Tasman bully it far too easily.
Captain Liam Coltman tried his heart out, as did lock Tom Franklin, while first five-eighth Fletcher Smith made a couple of decent runs but it was a bad night at the blue and gold office.
Otago made the worst possible start, conceding a try before anyone had got comfortable in their seats.
Tasman first five-eighth Marty Banks fended off Otago No 8 Charlie O'Connell and broke through. He then passed inside to supporting halfback Billy Guyton and the man from Waimate sprinted under the posts to score.
It was looking ominous for the home side, as Tasman was making easy metres with the ball in hand and Banks got the score up to double figures in as many minutes, with a simply penalty.
Otago was all over the place and was being out-muscled in the forwards.
Highlanders lock Joe Wheeler was lucky to stay on the field for Tasman when he threw out a clumsy arm and Otago first five-eighth Fletcher Smith went down like a sack of spuds.
Smith lifted himself up but could not convert the resulting penalty.
The points kept coming from Tasman and winger Mitchell Scott scored the next try, when he found a gap just off a ruck and ran 30m to score.
Otago looked short of ideas but it won a period of possession and managed to convert that into a try from a rolling maul off a lineout, flanker Adam Knight picking up the five pointer.
The impetus continued from Otago and, riding on the back of a mighty Coltman drive, Franklin dived over to score.
But any thoughts of an Otago comeback was significantly dampened when right on the stroke of halftime Tasman scored its third try.
Guyton raced through a yawning gap from the back of the scrum - which frankly should not happen at this level - and from there Tasman rolled down the field ending with big lock Marco Kotze scoring.
