Otago B will enter its season with another big win behind it.
In its second warm-up game it claimed a comfortable 41-12 win over South Canterbury’s Heartland Championship team at Kettle Park on Saturday.
Hame Toma got Otago on the board in the fourth minute, crossing the line out wide after a strong build-up from the forwards.
A second try followed five minutes later, as Zac Harrison-Jones finished off a move from the back of a lineout.
Thomas Johnson converted to take the lead to 12-0, before South Canterbury bounced back almost straight away to make it 12-7.As the game began to settle, Otago regained control and replacement winger Legin Felix-Hotham added its third try.
Taylor Haugh added Otago’s fourth try in the 34th minute, when he burst through the defence to take the score to 24-7 at the break.
Both teams made changes at halftime, but Otago stuck to its patterns better. It scored tries to halfback Kurt Hammer and midfielder Matt Whaanga.
South Canterbury pegged one back in the 77th minute, before Taylor Haugh crossed for a second time in the final play of the game.
Otago B begins its season next week, when it travels to Christchurch to play Canterbury Metro.