Otago held on to beat Waikato by the tips of their fingers.

Correction — the tips of Josh Timu’s fingers.

In a lively back-and-forth game at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday, Otago emerged victorious 43-38.

A crowd of 2714 was treated to a real thriller.

The game was in the balance for 80 minutes.

The lead kept changing hands and it looked like there was more drama ahead with five minutes to go.

Waikato second five Austin Anderson picked off a pass from Cameron Millar and took off for the corner.

It looked like he was edging ahead of Timu, but the Otago centre made a desperate dive and brought him down with an ankle tap.

Waikato did get some late points, though.

Anderson kicked a penalty with a few minutes remaining to close the gap to five.

But Waikato knocked on moments later and that was that.

So tense.

The game had everything.

Otago hooker Henry Bell bagged a double.

Christian Lio-Willie put in another impressive shift.

Sam Nemec-Vial scored what proved to be the match-winner and he used his pace to snuff out some dangerous moments.

Prop Rohan Wingham carried strongly.

The home side made a perfect start.

They pinned Waikato in their 22 for the opening five minutes and hammered away. Eventually Jona Nareki muscled over out wide.

A charge down caused a little drama in the Otago camp. But Nemec-Vial rescued the situation.

But some brilliant work from Waikato left winger Nathan Stephens levelled the ledger.

He chipped ahead, got a helpful bounce, regathered and ran in to score.

Waikato then took the lead from a well-executed set piece.

They moved the ball clear of the lineout. Michael Naitokani ran on to a nice short ball and got behind the defence.

Halfback Rui Farrant got himself into a beautiful position to take the inside ball and finished off a polished move.

Bell scored the next two. He dived over from close range for the first and sent everyone the wrong way with a big step off his right for the second.

The home side was huddled under their own posts a few minutes later.

Nareki missed with his touch-finder.

Tepaea Cook-Savage ran out to the right and found Anderson. He stayed in support, got the return pass and shrugged off the cover defence to score a wonderful try.

Rival openside flankers Lucas Casey and Oli Mathis added a try each and Waikato went into the break leading 28-26.

Bell was denied a hat-trick just before the whistle. It was ruled out for obstruction.

Jae Broomfield scooped up some loose ball early in the second half and set off for the line. He got stopped, tried to go again and got stopped a second time.

But Otago spun the ball to loosehead Ben Lopas and he barrelled over under the posts.

Waikato responded. Malachi Wrampling made a strong carry. Naitokani ran with pace and Daniel Sinkinson slipped through.

Otago fullback Sam Nemec-Vial ran a nice angle top go in untouched.

The game kept giving.

Waikato’s lineout had started to falter. They gave up a penalty trying to get the ball back.

Millar slotted it to give Otago an eight-point lead with eight minutes remaining.

NPC

The scores

Otago 43

Henry Bell 2, Jona Nareki, Lucas Casey, Ben Lopas, Sam Nemec-Vial tries; Cameron Millar 5 con, pen

Waikato 38

Nathan Stephens, Rui Farrant, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Oli Mathis, Daniel Sinkinson tries; Cook-Savage 5 con, Austin Anderson pen

 

Halftime: 26-28