The Chargers came into the match on the back of a narrow loss to the Southland Rams, and were determined to ensure the result went their way this time.
Wet conditions led to errors from both sides early on, but the Chargers were able to capitalise and score the first try of the game.
Both sides traded shots, and the battle in the middle of the field was intense.
Otago’s forwards worked hard to contain the Chargers’ ball runners.
Lock Manassah Kutia racked up 37 tackles, as did prop Ricki Allan, who was named the Whalers man of the match for his efforts up front.
Kutia and Allan backed up their efforts on defence by taking the ball hard into the line on attack.
Tyson Ball was another to impress, laying some big shoulders into the Chargers runners, stopping them in their tracks.
Both sides managed to score two tries in the first half, but with two unsuccessful conversion attempts, the Whalers were behind 12-8 when the halftime whistle sounded.
The Whalers were playing with 12 at this point, with second-rower Jong Hoon Lee spending 10 minutes in the bin for a tip-tackle.
Starting the second half with 12 men made for a tough task defensively.
The Whalers conceded a try but some staunch defence restricted the scoring despite several attacking sets.
Lee returned to the field and immediately had an impact, making multiple threatening runs and breaking the line to send the defence scrambling.
He took a run towards the opposition tryline, drawing in defenders before giving a well-timed pass to Hyrum Martin who ran an incisive line to cross and score.
The Chargers managed to maintain their slight lead for the rest of the half, however, and closed the game out with the Whalers still searching for scoring opportunities.
The loss is a setback to the Whalers’ aims of winning the South Island premier competition.
However, they will head to Timaru on Saturday to take on the Aoraki Eels with everything to play for after the Eels drew with Southland, 24-24, in Invercargill.
