The game was one to lose for North Otago but its dedicated defence saved the day, despite being pinned inside its own half for probably 30 minutes of the second spell after leading 22-8 at halftime.
Thames Valley dominated the lineouts, led by locks Kent McFarlane and Matt Rolston.
They were well supported by flanker Conner McVerry and the visitors had a definite edge at scrum time.
North Otago not only lacked tactical nous, there was little obvious energy and motivation as Thames Valley called the shots.
North Otago seemed intent on attacking from a formal base which was too often foiled by the Thames Valley defence and the home side’s tactical kicking was often straight down field, allowing Thames Valley to counterattack.
Behind the pack, North Otago half Robbie Smith ignored one of his attributes, the well-judged kick over the top, and seemed intent on feeding a backline which was usually well covered by the opposition.
With the ball in hand, Thames Valley produced an attacking backline which was well directed by second five-eighth Jonnie Te Ruki-Chambers.
North Otago co-coach Barry Stevens was blunt after the game.
"That was awful,’" he said.
"It’s a bonus to come away with the win but we looked lethargic and slow across the ground. It was pretty disappointing really.
"It looked as though were were a yard short of pace and mentally we didn’t seem to be in the game. We just lacked urgency and desire.
"As well, we’ve got to be more disciplined. In the last two games we’ve gone out to a 16-point lead but then let the opposition back in again.
"We’ve got to be more disciplined and show some arrogance and be prepared to defend the lead. There’ll be some soul-searching this week .
"It was just another game that we didn’t play to our potential. I’d give it four or five out of 10."
North Otago struck in the fourth minute when No 8 Lucas Goodin took a tap penalty and prop Ralph Darling was in for Josh Casey to convert.
Sixteen minutes from halftime, North Otago finally breached the Thames Valley defence and left winger Matthew Vocea finished off.
Casey’s conversion made it a 16-0 lead.
Twelve minutes from halftime, Thames Valley No 8 Norman Solofa burst down field to force a lineout inside the North Otago 22.
In a simple move, Te Ruki Chambers skipped through the North Otago defence to score and convert.
The homeside hit back two minutes later when Casey broke down midfield to feed supporting centre Shae Tucker who put winger Simon Lilicama to the 22 where he linked with second five-eighth Lemi Masoe who touched down for an unconverted try to give North Otago a 22-8 lead.
However, in the final two minutes of the half, Thames Valley hooker Hayden Wisnewski was on hand to dive over from a breakdown to score.
Te Ruki-Chambers converted to cut North Otago’s halftime lead to just six points, 22-16.
Three minutes into the second half, North Otago scored a long-range try.
Tighthead prop Meli Kolinisau — probably the pick of the local pack — gathered a loose ball on his 22 and burst 30m into Thames Valley territory, brushing tacklers aside.
From the breakdown, Smith slipped the ball away to his right, where centre Shae Tucker opened up the defence and put fullback Craig Smith across for a try which Casey converted to take North Otago out to a 30-16 lead.
Pinned inside its own half for the remainder of the half, North Otago’s defence conceded only a solitary unconverted try to Solofa.
In other second round Heartland games, South Canterbury made it two in a row with a 58-20 win over West Coast in Greymouth.
King Country also made it two wins beating Poverty Bay 30-24, Wairarapa-Bush registered its first win with a 32-22 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti, Wanganui carried all before it again with a 72-8 win over East Coast and Buller beat Mid Canterbury 34-32 in Westport.
- Terry O'Neill
N. Otago v Thames V.
The scores
North Otago 30
Ralph Darling, Matthew Vocea, Craig Smith, Lemi Masoe tries; Josh Casey 3 con
Thames Valley 22
Jonnie Te Ruki-Chambers, Hayden Wisnewski, Norman Solofa tries; Te Ruki-Chambers 2 con
Half time: 22-16