Bay of Plenty ran out a convincing 31-19 winner over an Otago side which struggled to get any continuity into its game and looked stuck for answers the further game went on.
Otago had shown some promise against Northland last week but that seemed a million years ago last night as the team was let down by a poor body position at ruck time and an inability to find any space.
Players were held up by an all-encompassing Bay of Plenty defence, particularly in the second half, and that led to way too many turnovers.
Otago never got near the gain line often enough and hen's teeth were in more plentiful supply than Otago visits to the Bay of Plenty 22m line in the second half.
As Otago faded then so did Bay of Plenty grow.
The game turned just after the 50-minute mark when replacement flanker TJ Ioane was yellow carded as a result of constant Otago infringing.
If truth be told, both sides should have had men in the naughty chair well before Ioane was marched.
Neither outfit had much discipline and it took referee Shaun Elliot until Ioane's rather minor indiscretion - going off his feet - to act.
The home side sensed the kill with Ioane cooling his heels and kicked for the corner from the resultant penalty.
It called a lineout and, from an ensuing maul, prop Tristan Moran went over.
The big prop should have not been awarded the try because he had been clearly tackled and was on the ground but you make your own luck and the game was slipping away from Otago.
Less than five minutes later, the mortal blow for Otago came when Bay of Plenty muscled the ball up and it went to Highlander Phil Burleigh, who put No 8 Luke Braid into a gap to score.
Shortly afterwards, Otago prop Tama Tuirirangi left the field with a neck injury and the game went to golden oldies scrums. Otago's other prop, Aki Seuli, had already left the field injured.
Moran scored another try with just under 15 minutes left while replacement winger Tony Ensor scored a try for Otago right near the end when Otago managed to get something going on attack.
No-one stood out for Otago although locks Rob Verbakel and captain Paul Grant got through some work.
The first 40 minutes of the match would be easily forgotten.
Neither team could hang on to the ball for any period of time and throw in a penalty nearly every two minutes and the match was barely showing any signs of life.
Hayden Parker continued his good kicking kills, missing just one of five shots at goal he had in the first half, including one good kick right on the stroke of halftime which tied the game up at 12-12.
His opponent, Nick McCashin, was just as accurate as Parker, but neither team showed anything on attack, failing to treasure the ball.
ITM Cup
The scores
Bay of Plenty ... 31
Tristan Moran 2, Luke Braid tries; Nick McCashin 2 con, 4 pen
Otago ... 19
Tony Ensor try; Hayden Parker con, 4 pen
Halftime: 12-12
ITM Cup
The draw
Hawkes Bay v Counties-Manukau
• Napier, Friday, 7.35pm
Canterbury v North Harbour
• Christchurch, Saturday, 2.35pm
Waikato v Northland
• Hamilton, Saturday, 5.35pm
Taranaki v Tasman
• New Plymouth, Saturday, 7.35pm
Auckland v Manawatu
• Auckland, Sunday, 2.35pm
Wellington v Southland
• Wellington, Sunday, 4.35pm
North Harbour v Counties-Manukau
• Albany, Tuesday, 7.35pm
Northland v Manawatu
• Whangarei, Wednesday, 7.35pm
Southland v Otago
• Invercargill, Thursday, 7.35pm
