North Otago coach Mike Mullins was a relieved man after his side beat Buller 22-18 in its Heartland championship match on Saturday.

North Otago stamped its mark on the match at Victoria Square in a fiery 10min period at the end of the first half with what proved the winning break. "It was definitely an improved performance and a couple of the areas we wanted to target, the ruck and the clean-out, improved, but more importantly, we got a win in a competition that's so close," Mullins said after the match.

"We've got to remember our front row is a very young one new to Heartland rugby but I felt our scrum went OK today."

Halfback Nick Webster distributed the ball effectively and his sniping runs kept the opposition defence thinking, while his astute kicking created pressure behind the Buller first-line defence.

Jeremy Te Huia again produced an outstanding display, lifting his running, passing and kicking game to new heights.

Mike Mavor was the old head in midfield, Roma Sefo was seen at his best with two superb breaks and a solid defence, while Lemi Masoe and Pale Tuilagiwere urgent attackers. A committed eight-man effort in the rucks and mauls time kept North Otago in the game.

Ross Hay was at his brilliant best in making tackles and turning over possession, Marc Comb and Taua Limuloa won good line-out ball, with Limuloa featuring with the ball in hand, while the front row held its own.

Playing with the westerly wind in the first half, North Otago fullback Pale Tuilagi kicked a penalty after 7min but Nathan Thompson the Buller first five-eighth kicked penalties to give the home side a 6-3 lead going into the final 10min of the spell.

After a concerted drive by the forwards, North Otago swiftly recycled the ball and Te Huia created the half-gap to feed Mavor, who dived over beside the posts for Tuilagi to convert.

A minute from half-time, Mamea broke from the back of the North Otago scrum to link with Mavor, who found Sefo in space and the centre carved through the defence to score for Tuilagi to convert and give North Otago a 17-6 lead at half-time.

Buller struck back 5min into the second half with a try to right winger Mitieli Kaloudigibeci.

North Otago tighthead prop Tokelau Tatafu went off with concussion midway through the spell but his team hit back after 67min.

Bonisch's clearing kick from inside his 22 was charged down.

Sefo was on the ball in a flash to send Collier, the replacement flanker for Matt Clutterbuck, over for an unconverted try.

Buller scored in the last minute when substitute lock Simon Lloyd ran 30m to score under the posts for Thompson to convert. - Terry O'Neill