-
Otago's Karne Hesketh - Source: Reuters -
Related
A late penalty to former rugby league superboot Michael Witt handed Otago a 22-19 win over Counties-Manukau in Dunedin, ending scratchy Air NZ Cup rugby campaigns for both teams.
Expectations weren't reached for both sides this season and that was reflected in a disappointing spectacle at Carisbrook.
Otago, whose fifth win of the seasons means they will finish ninth or 10th, scored their only try in the 72nd minute through captain Alando Soakai.
Until then it appeared their reliance on penalties wouldn't be enough against a Counties-Manukau side who struggled for clean possession yet still conjured three tries.
Former New Zealand Warriors standoff Witt was a late replacement for first five-eighth Grant Dickson and provided some spark with his passing game.
He also converted Soakai's try and landed a 76th minute penalty from 45m to clinch the win.
Otago missed much of the cutting edge provided from deep this year by new All Black Ben Smith, although winger Karne Hesketh was a constant attacking threat.
Former All Blacks Kees Meeuws was at the forefront of a dominant scrum effort, stepping up after loosehead Ben Nolan limped off in the opening minutes.
Counties-Manukau would have notched a third win and avoided the competition wooden spoon if they scored a fourth bonus point try in the closing stages but they couldn't manage it.
The players' heads dropped at fulltime, with the realisation the struggling union will probably be demoted from the 10-team Premier Division proposed from next year.
Typically, they relied on counter-attack for their best moments, with a try against the run of play to New Zealand sevens captain DJ Forbes helping them to a 7-6 halftime lead.
Follow-loose forward Waka Setetaia crashed over in the second spell, along with lock Alepini Olosoni, to push them 19-12 clear with just 15min remaining.
Otago had slotted just four penalties through Dickson until that point but sparked into life late against tiring opponents.
Otago 22 (Alando Soakai try; Grant Dickson 4 pen, Michael
Witt pen, con)
Counties-Manukau 19 (DJ Forbes, Waka Setetaia, Alepini
Olosoni tries; Tim Nanai-Williams 2 con)
Halftime: 7-6.
More to follow.......
