PHOTO
The Ranfurly Shield is staying put.
Otago beat neighbour North Otago 46-14 at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.
The game gave off strong pre-season vibes.
It was messy, loose and sometimes it felt like an away game for Otago.
A good chunk of the 2138 spectators celebrated loudly when Kelepi Funaki crashed through to score for North Otago in the second half.
Another big cheer welcomed Ratu Logavatu when he barreled over in the final moment of the match.
Otago had done enough in the first half to secure the win. They opened the scoring with a pretty slick team try.
Rique Miln made a perfectly-timed pass to Josh Whaanga, who ran in from 20-odd metres out.
North Otago quickly put the setback behind them.
They spent a lengthy period camped in the Otago 22 but could not find a way through.
But having absorbed a lot of pressure, Otago struck.
Former North Otago flanker Tony Taufa got over in a melee close to the line.
He nabbed a second when he got in the boot of a lineout drive from 5m out.
Otago second-five Jake Te Hiwi got a terrific offload to impressive fullback Charlie Breen to set up another.
Lock Harry Irving scooped up the ball from a ruck and dived over from close range.
Otago led 34-0 at the break.
North Otago needed to have made more of their opportunities and were soon huddled under the posts again.
Whaanga muscled over out wide.
But Otago found themselves down a man when prop Ben Lopas got a yellow card for a ruck infringement.
Riley Lucas was very lucky not to get a card for a tip tackle on Logavatu as well.
It was a dreary second half and Otago spent a good chunk of it defending.
Te Hiwi skinned his marker and ran around the outside to score with 10 minutes remaining.
But the visitors had the final say when Logavatu got across the chalk.
Mitch Morton had an industrious match for North Otago and fullback Ben Paton had some good moments.
Te Hiwi and Whaanga were solid in the midfield for Otago and Taufa gave it plenty.
The scores
Otago 46 (Tony Taufa 2, Josh Whaanga 2, Harry Irving, Liam Coltman, Riley Lucas, Jake Te Hiwi tries; Rique Miln con, Mackenzie Palmer 2 con.)
North Otago 14 (Kelepi Funaki, Ratu Logavatu tries; Ben McCarthy con, Isaac Clunie con.)
Halftime: 34-0.