The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 51: Otago beats the Lions yet again (1993)
It chalked up victories in 1950, 1959 and 1966. In 1977 it lost 12-7 but ran a talented Lions side very close.
Then in 1993, on a lovely day at Carisbrook, Otago put together a mighty performance to smash the Lions 37-24.
The Otago side was packed with plenty of talent and skills - the likes of John Timu, Marc Ellis and Josh Kronfeld.
But the Lions were also not a bad side. They had some tall timber with the likes of Wade Dooley and Martin Bayfield and quality loose forwards such as Dean Richards and Peter Winterbottom.
Otago started well by scoring the first try but the Lions came back and were leading 18-8 with a couple of minutes to go until halftime.
The home team then swept up the field and winger Paul Cooke scored his second try.
Into the second half and there was only one team in it.
John Leslie crossed to give the Otago side the lead but the real match-winner came in the middle of the spell.
Otago won a lineout 40m out from the Lions line and proceeded to march towards the opposition line.
It seemed like the rolling maul would come to a halt. But it kept going, and going, and going, ending with David Latta, two days short of his 30th birthday, dotting down for a marvellous try.
That five-pointer appeared to break the backbone of the Lions and try as they might, they just could not get back into the game.
A late Timu try in the right-hand corner sealed the famous victory for Otago, and gave the Lions the worst possible preparation to take on the All Blacks a week later Otago had 15 heroes, from Timu at the back to Latta in the front row.
