The blue and golds delivered the full course in Napier last night, smashing Hawkes Bay 64-21 in a Mitre 10 Cup match, setting records along the way.
It was the biggest score and winning margin over Hawkes Bay and the 34 points set by fullback Fletcher Smith was also a record for Otago against the Magpies.
Otago had not won in Napier for 24 years. Three years ago, it journeyed to McLean Park and was thumped 41-0. Yesterday, those dark memories were obliterated as the visiting side proved light years ahead of the home team.
The Otago side was totally dominant in all facets of the game. It won every lineout cleanly thrown in the entire 80 minutes and its scrum was in control throughout the match.
The loose forward trio had a field day and the front eight laid the platform for the men in behind.
The backs found plenty of holes in what was admittedly a porous defence from the home team, and made big metres every time they had the ball.
Fletcher Smith scored three tries, eight conversions and a penalty as he enjoyed the freedom of McLean Park.
Otago coach Cory Brown said it was a top performance and paid credit to the Otago forward pack.
"Backs love front-foot ball and that is exactly what our forwards gave them. The scrum, lineout was both really good and that gave us a huge advantage," Brown said.
"We knew if we put pressure on them up front then we could get on top of them. And that is exactly what happened."
Brown said the side was keen to break the long winless streak in Napier and was fully focused on just staying in the structures the coaches wanted.
Brown said Smith showed his talents and skills with his display and it was good to see a smile back on Smith’s face.
It would be hard to highlight any Otago player over the other but Josh Ioane again looked composed at first five-eighth while loose forwards Dillon Hunt and Adam Knight never took a backward step.
The front five worked hard and was all over a home team which is limping its way through the season.
In all, Otago scored nine tries to three and had the bonus point in the bag before the half hour mark.
Finding metres on attack was as easy as taking candy from a baby. The home team was disorganised in defence and far too passive.
Lock Josh Furno scored the first try, driving over from a maul the first time Otago swung on to attack.
That was followed shortly afterwards by flanker Dillon Hunt going over, finding some space on the outside. Further tries in the opening blitz went to Sio Tomkinson, who skipped away after a nice break from Jona Nareki. Smith then got in on the act when he went over after a nice run from halfback Josh Renton.
• Otago was beaten 15-13 by Counties-Manukau in its opening bottom-eight national under-19 game in Taupo yesterday.
Otago struggled to match the more physical Counties side but hung in and gave itself an opportunity to poach a win through a second-half try to Jack McHugh. George Winitana lined up a penalty in the final stages. It was about 40m out and into the wind but he pushed it wide.
Mitre 10 Cup
The scores
Otago 64
Fletcher Smith 3, Josh Furno 2, Dillon Hunt, Sio Tomkinson, Sekonaia Pole, Aki Seiuli tries; Smith 8 con, pen
Hawkes Bay 21
Jonah Lowe, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Ellery Wilson tries, Dan Snee 3 con
Halftime: 31-7