Click photo to enlarge
Otago captain Alando Soakai scores a try during the 22-19
win against Counties-Manukau at Carisbrook on Saturday.
Photo by Craig Baxter.
This 80 minutes summed up Otago's season.
It may have managed a narrow win against Counties-Manukau at
Carisbrook on Saturday but the match was a prime example of
why Otago has finished in the bottom half of the Air New
Zealand Cup.
It finished 10th on the ladder.
An inability to turn chances into points, lapses in
concentration at critical times, falling off important
tackles and a lack of fire were all there to see on Saturday
and, unfortunately for Otago fans, have been too prevalent
this season.
Otago dominated territory and possession for much of the
game, as it did in many encounters this season, but scored
only one try and that was right near the end when it needed
to get back into the game.
The visiting side scored three tries and looked threatening
when spinning the ball wide but paid for some sloppy play in
passing the ball and a lack of discipline.
Otago lacked firepower when trying to make breaks as the game
went on and there were too many sloppy passes from both backs
and forwards.
Injuries did not help, and the game ended with golden oldie
scrums as Otago props Ben Nolan and Kees Meeuws left the
field injured.
Charlie O'Connell made his Otago debut, filling in as a
non-scrummaging prop in the final 12 minutes.
Counties-Manukau had the game for the taking, leading 19-12
with 20 minutes to go after big lock Alepini Olosoni scored
after a good set of phases from the side.
But Otago swung back on to attack and, after six phases,
replacement midfield back Andrew Parata stepped his way
through to feed skipper Alando Soakai, who barged over beside
the posts.
Michael Witt knocked over the conversion to tie the score up
then kicked the winning penalty goal with four minutes left
after Counties-Manukau was ruled not to have released the
ball in the tackle.
Witt did some good things after he came on, and Parata also
looked sharp.
Winger Karne Hesketh ran hard but not always in the right
direction.
Halfback Sean Romans put in a fine effort, while loose
forward Paul Grant again played well and shifted into lock in
the second half.
Otago started strongly by breaking the line three times in
the first five minutes, but it could not finish off.
Counties came back into the game and scored after 20 minutes
when Otago conceded a free kick 5m from its line and flanker
DJ Forbes barged his way over.
Otago was struggling to break through at this stage and was
going across the field rather than running hard and straight.
The match showed little signs of life in the last 20 minutes
of the first half until Glenn Dickson added his second
penalty with two minutes to go before half time.
Counties scored 13 minutes into the second half with No 8
Waka Setitaia driving over from a 5m scrum.
Best for the visitors were fullback Tim Nanai-Williams, and
lock Rees Logan.
