Otago has failed to make it through to the top four playoffs at the national provincial championships in Auckland.
The side lost both of its games yesterday, going down to Canterbury 3½ to 1½ in the morning and then losing 3-2 to Manawatu-Wanganui in the afternoon.
It was a tough way to lose for Otago, but it just could not win the crucial matches yesterday.
It could have got into the top four if it had beaten Canterbury in the morning. But the red and blacks made the putts count at the business end.
The only player to win a game for Otago was youngster Jacob Bellamy, who beat Zach May 2 and 1. Callum Judkins finished all square with Reid Hilton.
Inia Logan had a tight battle with Canterbury No 1 Kazuma Kobori but eventually went down 3 and 1.
That left Otago needing to beat Manawatu-Wanganui in the afternoon and if it did it would get through to the the top four playoffs today.
Otago gave it a good shot but was always battling. Bellamy again played well and had a 3 and 2 win, while Logan at the top of the order also had a good 3 and 2 win.
But Brandon Hodgson, Duncan Croudis and Callum Judkins all lost 2 and 1 and that was the lot for Otago.
Otago was always chasing the game against Manawatu-Wanganui and never looked comfortable.
That was a good summary of its week as it could never get much going as a unit and the team never had a convincing victory.
That had been the story of the tournament, with most games between sides being very close.
Canterbury and Taranaki went to the playoffs from the division Otago was in, while North Harbour and Hawke’s Bay are in the playoffs from the other division at Whitford Park.
