North Otago Vs Wairarapa-Bush
North Otago got their 2024 Heartland Championship campaign back on track with a comprehensive 69-19 victory over Wairarapa-Bush in Masteron on Saturday.
It was a fast start for the Old Golds, who showed their intent to play running rugby from the outset. An easy shot at goal from a penalty was turned down in favour of a kick to touch, which resulted in an early try to Jake Greenslade. Greg Dyer converted from wide out for an early 7-0 lead.
Wairarapa-Bush had the chance to close the gap after the kickoff, but a missed penalty attempt from close range handed the ball back to North Otago. The home side were building nicely, before Mataitini Feke pounced on a loose pass and ran in for a 45m intercept try between the posts. Dyer added the extras for a 14-0 lead.
The home side responded well from the restart, crossing the tryline but were ultimately deemed to be held up over the line. North Otago then went to work, spreading the ball about and making easy metres. Oli Knopp scored out wide after a good team build up to extend the lead to 19-0, before Hayden Todd scored on the other wing to give North Otago a handy 24-0 lead with 20 minutes gone in the match.
Feke helped himself to his second try of the game after an extended build up by North Otago, the visitors were hot on attack near the tryline. Co-captain Mat Duff got his side a penalty just inside the opposition 22m, Feke took the quick tap which took North Otago close to the tryline before big number 8 Kasimila Vaihu picked the ball up and crashed over for the try.
Wairarapa-Bush winger Charles Mataitai finally got his side on the scoreboard, running strongly down the sideline before crashing over in the tackle for the try.
It wasn't long before North Otago were back on the scoresheet, first five Dyer picking up a dropped ball to score in the right-hand corner to push the lead out to 43-5 heading into half time.
The home side put themselves back under pressure right from the restart, with their kickoff not going the required 10m. A cheeky 50:22 kick from Ben McCarthy then got the visitors well inside the opposition 22m, before Dyer crossed for his second try early into the second half. North Otago 48-5.
North Otago continued to attack the Wairarapa-Bush line for an extended period, before flanker Savenaca Rabaka crashed his way over for a try. A sneaky lineout move on the 10m line saw hooker Ryusei Kato throw a short ball to the front of the lineout, with halfback Jake Matthews running through to collect the ball and cruising over the try line untouched. Dyer added the conversion from out wide to push the score out to 62-5 with just over 20 minutes to play.
Wairarapa-Bush added two late tries through winger Mataitai who got his second try, and replacement halfback Benazzi Ward. The second a long-range effort, set up by Mataitai, starting from inside their own 22m.
Co-captain Cameron Rowland finished off the scoring with North Otago's 11th try of the match, again converted by Dyer for a much needed 69-19 win.
North Otago 69 Tini Feke 2, Greg Dyer 2, Jake Greenslade, Oli Knopp, Hayden Todd, Kasimila Vaihu, Savenaca Rabaka, Jake Matthews, Cameron Rowland tries; Dyer 7 con
Wairarapa-Bush 19 Charles Mataitai 2, Benazzi Ward tries; Luke Walmsley 2 con
