North Otago coach Barry Stevens was reasonably happy with his side’s first-half performance.
"It was a very tough game," he said.
"In the first half we stood up quite well and at 16-2 down at halftime we were probably victims of some poor officiating, but when we went out after halftime the first 20 minutes showed us just what a good side this South Canterbury side are and they really blew us off the paddock."
North Otago first five-eighth Josh Casey kicked a penalty in the 16th minute to give the home side a 2-0 lead but from the kickoff Robbie Smith’s clearing kick was charged down and, from a tap penalty following, South Canterbury first five-eighth Willie Wright scored and converted to give his side an 8-2 lead.
Two minutes before halftime, North Otago, under pressure, conceded three penalties and South Canterbury broke out of its half with some scintillating passing, sending halfback Nick Annear between the posts for Wright’s conversion, giving the visitors a 16-2 halftime lead.
In the lead-up to that try, North Otago tighthead prop Dan Towler was yellow-carded and for eight minutes into the second half North Otago had to bring on a prop at scrum time.
It was at scrum time that Stevens was not happy.
"There was some inconsistency there. South Canterbury seemed to be dropping down on the knee quite often. We were penalised for going over the top but, to us, they were allowed to blow players off from the sides of the breakdown. But you’ve got to roll with those punches, I suppose."
A minute into the second half, South Canterbury was in again.
From the kickoff, North Otago failed to take the ball cleanly. South Canterbury drove from the resulting lineout and No8 John Dyer scored an unconverted try to make it 22-2.
Further tries came from left winger Kalavini Leatigaga and flanker Nick Strachan and Annear scored a second to have South Canterbury out to a 44-2 lead.
In the last quarter North Otago came back with tries to flanker Matt Duff and winger Matthew Vocea, and Casey converted Duff’s try to add a little respectability to North Otago’s performance.
In the South Canterbury pack lock Will Joines stood out in the lineouts and, with the ball in hand and along with captain Kieran Coll, took several lineouts off North Otago’s throw.
Dyer was impressive at No8, while flanker Etheridge showed pace and anticipation with a heady display.
In the backs, South Canterbury had pace to burn and used the speed to its advantage.
In the North Otago side, midfielder Lemi Masoe showed penetration, Craig Smith in the centre berth early on and later at fullback stood out, while up front Ralph Darling had possibly his best game of the season, along with No8 Sione Misiloi and flanker Matt Duff.
With the loss North Otago is seventh on the ladder and must beat West Coast next week at Greymouth to confirm its place in the Lochore Cup.
In other games, Wanganui beat Buller 28-0, King Country beat East Coast 72-24, Horowhenua-Kapiti beat West Coast 52-22, Mid Canterbury beat Thames Valley 38-22 and Wairarapa bush beat Poverty Bay 32-30.
- Terry O'Neill
Heartland Champ’ship
The scores
South Canterbury 44
Nick Annear 2, Kalavina Leatigaga, William Wright, John Dyer, Nick Strachan tries; Wright 4 con
North Otago 16
Matthew Vocea, Matt Duff tries; Josh Casey 2 con
Halftime: South Canterbury 16-2