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Glen Dickson - Source: Photosport -
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Keep up to date as Otago host North Habour in the ITM Cup from Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
FULLTIME: Otago 54 North Harbour 25 - TRY! Glenn Dickson ices the Otago cake with a try in the corner. He converts for good measure and that is what you call an old fashioned hiding! It's hard to see where Harbour will get a win this season and their next chance is when they host Southland on Saturday. Otago, now 3-2, host Tasman on Sunday in a crucial Championship clash. That ends our live coverage tonight.
68mins: Otago 47 North Harbour 25 - TRY! And the topsy-turvy nature of this match continues! From an attacking lineout, replacement hooker Manu Leiataua executes a nifty move to score in the corner. Hall can't convert but there would be short money on another try being scored tonight.
64mins: Otago 47 North Harbour 20 - Otago keep the board ticking over with another Dickson penalty and the end of this match can't come soon enough for Harbour.
60mins: Otago 44 North Harbour 20 - TRY! On the back of a sizzling break from fullback Ben Smith, Otago are patient before Japanese halfback Fumiaki Tanaka puts Rob Verbakel over from close range. Dickson converts and that should seal the result after Harbour threatened a comeback.
56mins: Otago 37 North Harbour 20 - Otago
re-establish the 17 point buffer through a Dickson penalty after
Harbour slip off-side.
53mins: Otago 34 North Harbour 20 - Harbour
curiously elect to take a penalty shot after Glenn Dickson is
caught off-side. Hall nails it but the visitors are still two
converted tries behind.
50mins: Otago 34 North Harbour 17 - TRY! And Otago
respond straight way! Lock Tom Franklin pops up the ball from the
ground on the halfway line and flanker Gareth Evans, brother of
Bryn, shows blinding speed to score in the corner. Glenn Dickson
converts from the corner and normal order resumes.
46mins: Otago 27 North Harbour 17 - TRY! Perfect start to the half for Harbour! Some nice lead-up work by the visitors provided a penalty and number eight Viliame Fihaki tapped quickly to score next to the posts. Bryn Hall converts and this game ain't over yet.
41mins: Otago 27 North Harbour 10 - Peter Breen, who has replaced Hayden Parker, makes the kick-off for Otago. Parker has been pulled because of a knee injury.
HALFTIME: Otago 27 North Harbour 10 - TRY! And
a patient Harbour side string together a number of phases before
halfback Bryn Hall crashes over next to the posts and then adds the
extras. It was just what the visitors needed but still a small
miracle is needed in the second half if they are to turn around 17
points.
33mins: Otago 27 North Harbour 3 - TRY! And that
is the bonus point try for Otago already! Harbour's defence has
been woeful as quick ball puts Marshall Suckling over in the
corner. Parker can't convert but it doesn't matter with five points
all but in the bank inside 35 minutes.
30mins: Otago 22 North Harbour 3 - TRY! And Buxton Popoali'I showcases the best sidestep in New Zealand to score a sizzling try. Parker converts.
25mins: Otago 15 North Harbour 3 - And Parker
steps up and nails another penalty from 40 metres out and that one
went straight as an arrow. No wind in this stadium!
16mins: Otago 12 North Harbour 3 - Ben Smith is
penalised for leaving his feet at the ruck and this time Bryn Hall
gets Harbour on the board from basically right in front.
12mins: Otago 12 North Harbour 0 - TRY! Harbour is
being ripped to pieces here! All Black fullback Ben Smith combined
with Tamati Ellison down the short side with a classic one-two and
even though the last pass looked forward, the former dotted down in
the corner. Parker converts this time. Is it time to drop the
conspiracy theories people?
7mins: Otago 5 North Harbour 0 - TRY! From an
attacking lineout, Otago execute a perfect rolling maul, employed
by the Springboks here the other night, and travel 15 metres before
flanker Gareth Evans flops over. And guess what? Hayden Parker
misses the conversion from near the sideline. Can anyone hear the
X-Files theme music playing at Forsyth Barr?
3mins: Otago 0 North Harbour 0 - And straight away
Harbour halfback Bryn Hall adds more weight to the theories
floating around the landscape as he misses a penalty from 25 metres
out. It wasn't an easy kick by any means and he is the fifth
goal-kicker Harbour have used this season.
1mins: Otago 0 North Harbour 0 - Francis Saili
get us underway and - on a side note - it will be interesting to
see if the goal-kicking struggles continue tonight at Forsyth Barr
Stadium.
Pre-Match
Otago will fancy their chances of getting their third win of the
season against a North Harbour side who simply don't know how to
win.
Harbour did everything but get the W last week against Manawatu and
will but fall out of the promotion race with another loss
tonight.
Otago have been boosted by All Blacks Tamati Ellison and Ben
Smith being made available and they will line-up at centre and
fullback.
James Semple, who was a late scratching before the Manawatu game,
returns to first-five for Harbour and the outside backs get
shuffled, while there are also loose forward changes.
Otago: 1. Tama Tuirirangi, 2. Sam Anderson-Heather, 3. Liam Coltman, 4. Tom Franklin, 5. Rob Verbakel, 6. Gareth Evans, 7. Lee Allen, 8. Paul Grant (capt), 9. Fumiaki Tanaka, 10. Hayden Parker, 11. Buxton Popoali'i, 12. Glenn Dickson, 13. Tamati Ellison, 14. Marshall Suckling, 15. Ben Smith.
Reserves: 16. Shota Horie, 17. Aki Seuili, 18. Adam Hill, 19. TJ Ioane, 20. Brad Weber, 21. Peter Breen, 22. Tony Ensor.
North Harbour: 1. Salesi Manu, 2. James Parsons, 3. Ben Afeaki (capt), 4. Chris Smith, 5. Api Ratuniyarawa, 6. Irwin Finau, 7. Malakai Ravulo, 8. Viliame Fihaki, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. James Semple, 11. Nafi Tuitavake, 12. Francis Saili, 13. Cory Aporo, 14. David Raikuna, 15. Rudi Wulf.
Reserves: 16. Manu Leiataua, 17. Alex Woonton, 18. Glenn Preston, 19. Sam Hayes-Stevenson, 20. Brenton Helleur, 21. Pita Ahki, 22. Luke Devcich.
REFEREE: Shane McDermott