There will be tougher challenges ahead, but North Otago have at least got their Heartland Championship campaign heading in the right direction.
The Old Golds showed some of their immense attacking capability as they beat East Coast 48-14 in Ruatoria on Saturday.
After slumping to back-to-back losses to start the season and failing to score a point in the second half both times, they had to fight hard to build a five-point lead at halftime at Whakarua Park before completely dominating the second half.
‘‘I was happy with the improvements that we made,’’ coach Luke Herden said.
‘‘Our defence was a lot better, our tackle height was much improved, and the effort from the boys was outstanding.’’
The Old Golds scored eight tries, and some of the rugby they played was sparkling stuff.
Bulldozing No 8 Junior Fakatoufifita and back-again flanker Toni Taufa led the relentless pack, while second five Tini Feke and Ben Fakava — two quite different players but making up a potentially outstanding midfield — made hay in the backs.
‘‘Our attack is pretty sharp,’’ Herden said.
‘‘The skillset of our players is pretty high. Our catch-pass, our speed, footwork — you can see some confidence growing there.’’
That confidence was on show early as Fakatoufifita shrugged off two defenders and opened up the gap for Fakava to score the opening try.
East Coast responded with a cracking try when second five Leigh Bristowe made a big break and winger Leetham Tipene-Rawiri stepped a couple of players.
Hayden Tisdall got one back for the Old Golds from a lineout drive before East Coast front-rower Jarryd Broughton — surely the largest rugby player in the nation — rumbled over from close range.
Fakava, growing in confidence, ended the half with a huge break, and halfback Kippei Taninaka was on hand to give North Otago a 19-14 advantage.
Any concerns the Old Golds would continue their second-half hoodoo were quickly dispelled.
Tisdall crashed over for his second, Fakava sent a long pass over for Savenaca Rabaka to score in the corner, and Feke chipped through for McCarthy to show his pace and dive on the ball.
Uetaha Wanoa grabbed a consolation for East Coast but North Otago sealed a dominant victory with late tries to reserves Lisivani Tuifua and Matio Qiolevu.
It was a boost of confidence for the Old Golds but the reality is they will need to lift again when they host defending Meads Cup champions Thames Valley in Oamaru this weekend.
‘‘Our game management is one area we need to keep working on, but that’s just about having a good training week and making things simple and clear,’’ Herden said.
‘‘We’re not afraid of Thames Valley. We know we can score points, and if we can keep making improvements with our defence, we’re going to go in very confident.
‘‘I think we’ll keep getting better and better with our fitness levels, and that will allow us to pay the game we want to play.’’
West Coast continued their perfect start to the season with a 38-19 win in Whanganui.
South Canterbury (64-24 over Buller) and Mid Canterbury (36-33 over Wairarapa-Bush) are the other pace-setting teams.
Poverty Bay beat Horowhenua-Kapiti 26-19, and Thames Valley beat King Country 24-20.
Heartland Championship
The scores
North Otago 48
Hayden Tisdall 2, Ben Fakava, Kippei Taninaka, Savenaca Rabaka, Ben McCarthy, Lisivani Tuifua, Matia Qiolevu tries; Kenta Iemura 2 con, McCarthy 2 con.
East Coast 19
Leetham Tipene-Rawiri, Jarryd Broughton, Uetaha Wanoa tries; Carlos Kemp 2 con.
Halftime: North Otago 19-14.
