Otago started off slow but came home strong to win the bowl at the Queenstown sevens yesterday.
The Otago side won just one of its three games on Saturday, and was eliminated from qualifying for the top group.
But it came together better yesterday, beating Hawkes Bay 19-12, Canterbury 22-19, and then defeating Horowhenua-Kapiti 33-10 in the bowl final.
Otago grew as the tournament went on with outside back Jeremy Cave having a top tournament scoring crucial tries in the games against Hawkes Bay and Canterbury.
Otago coach Mike Moeahu said his side was always up against it on Saturday when it lost to Manawatu 28-7 and Waikato 26-0.
Otago beat Horowhenua-Kapiti 22-17 in its other pool game.
"The North Island sides play more tournaments and it told. It is just a different level of intensity, and it took a while to get used to it," he said.
"But we came better today and the guys really played well," he said.
"We've got a young back line in their first year and they scored some nice tries."
Moeahu was not helped by loose forward Paul Grant having a virus and infection which meant he could not play the first day.
Grant took the field in the second day and showed some nice touches before damaging his hip in the win over Canterbury.
Captain Matt Clutterbuck never stopped running, while Tasi Cordtz was a livewire.
