Otago lost the Mitre 10 Cup Championship final 17-14 to North Harbour at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night, beaten by a dropped goal by Harbour first five-eighth Bryn Gatland with time all but up on the clock.
It was a damn tough way to lose but Otago could only blame itself. It missed three penalties in the second half which would have put it well clear.
The home side was trailing 14-7 early in the second half but Otago got back into the game when lock Tom Franklin barged over after 50 minutes.It followed good work from fullback Michael Collins who put in a deep kick, chased it and managed to strip the ball off the Harbour defender 5m from the tryline.
Fletcher Smith knocked over the conversion to tie the scores but could not add a penalty 10 minutes later as the match developed into a game of territory.
Scott Eade, on for Smith, missed another penalty with 15 minutes left and the game was on a knife edge.
Harbour got the ball with two minutes to go and Gatland became the hero.
Otago kicked off with the fulltime hooter sounding but could not get the ball back and it was game over.In those dying stages, Otago probably lacked a bit of X-factor and needed to be a tad more composed.In the end it had chances to win the game and goal kicking let it down.
Best for Otago were loose forwards Paul Grant and James Lentjes, while prop Donald Brighouse gave his all.
Out the back, halfback Jonathan Ruru got round the paddock while winger Fa’asiu Fuata’i showed some nice touches.But individual performances count for little on a night where it is all about the scoreboard.
Otago started like a house on fire and scored its only try of the first half after only 100 seconds.It spread the ball wide and rolled down the field. North Harbour was rushing up from the outside and Otago first five-eighth Smith got in behind it. The ball ended up in the hands of winger Fuata’i and he slid over in the corner.
Smith knocked over the difficult conversion from the sideline.Otago looked more threatening with the ball in hand and in one movement went the length of the field.It resulted in a couple of lineouts right on the North Harbour line which ended up with North Harbour loose forward Glen Preston yellow-carded. But Otago could not take advantage and Harbour was the point scorer when it was down a man.
Danger man Tevita Li made a break and then Michael Little homed in on the tryline and could not be stopped.
He might have had his legs out when he scored but replays were inconclusive. Otago had some more chances in the first half — centre Matt Faddes was held up a whisker away from the tryline and Harbour scrambled in defence well.
The offside line was being pushed by Harbour but referee Nick Briant was turning a blind eye.
Two minutes before the break, Gatland knocked over a penalty from just under halfway.
He added another well after the halftime hooter to give his side an 11-7 lead at the break.
Otago v North Harbour
The scores
North Harbour 17
Michael Little try; Bryn Gatland 3 pen, d-goal
Otago 14
Fa’asiu Fuata’i, Tom Franklin tries; Fletcher Smith 2 conHalftime: 11-7Crowd: 12,000