Otago Country finished their representative season with a 52-24 loss to Southland Development in Invercargill on Saturday.
The Southlanders showed their intent to give the ball width and caught Otago Country napping inside the opening minutes when winger Hughan Sharp scored after being allowed too much space.
From the kick off, Southland carved Otago Country open and winger Cole Spinks shrugged off some weak defence to score his side’s second try in five minutes.
Country were guilty of some erratic passing and poor handling in the backline, but when they played more directly, they found holes and made metres.
A poor pass was picked off by centre Sylvester Reeves, who sent second five Rhys Harrold over in the corner to get Country on the board.
Southland Development replied with tries in quick succession to fullback Osika Kaufononga and halfback Liam Howley.
Otago Country decided to keep the ball in tight, and multiple phases of quick, recycled ball ended with a try to No8 Conor Lawson from close range.
Kaufononga grabbed his second try to give Southland Development a 35-12 lead at halftime.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were a stalemate as both sides muscled up in defence and forced some rather simple errors.
As the benches started to be emptied, the game opened up. Southland Development midfielder Kalani Elder scored the opening try of the half but Otago Country had their best period of attack and scored two tries to narrow the gap.
The home side finished with two further tries to cement a strong win.
Southland Development’s
halves combination of Howley and Kaea Nikora-Balloch ran a tidy ship and received plenty of industry from their hard-running midfield and explosive outside backs.
Otago Country looked like a side coming to the end of a long season.
Their forward pack fronted up again and put in some massive efforts, but were met by a fired-up defence. Otago Country’s backline did not really fire a shot and showed some below-par passing and lack of structure.
Lock Dean Sinnamon put in another massive shift, while winger Conner Hamlin added energy and spark from the bench.
Representative rugby
The scores
Southland Development 52
Liam Howley 2, Osika Kaufononga 2, Hughan Sharp, Cole Spinks, Kalani Elder, Olly Paotunu tries; Kaea Nikora-Balloch 6 con.
Otago Country 24
Conor Lawson, Jared Edwards, Rhys Harrold, Conner Hamlin tries; Brady Kingan 2 con.
Halftime: Southland 35-12.
— Francis Parker
