North Otago blew out the cobwebs with a 63-8 romp over East Coast in their Heartland Championship rugby match in Oamaru today.
The Lochore Cup contest was a one-way affair for the home side, who scored 11 tries to one.
East Coast, who were never a threat, slumped to their sixth successive championship defeat this season, and had little to console themselves with apart from a try to veteran Horace Lewis.
North Otago led 34-8 at halftime and were further helped in the second when a crosswind wing changed direction to be at their backs.
They were demoted to the bottom tier Lochore Cup after a sluggish start to the earlier pool play, but show every sign of hitting their straps as the playoffs loom.
North Otago 63 (Ross Hay 2, Aaron Kumura, Paula Fonokalafi, Ofa Fatai, Lemi Masoe, Peter Breen, Daniel Waenga, Aisake Fonua, Vilikesa Sayabo, Duncan Naude tries; Waenga 3 con, Breen con) East Coast 8 (Horace Lewis try; Nathan Langord pen). Halftime: 34-8.
