North Otago beat East Coast to secure home semi
North Otago have secured a Meads Cup home semi final in the Heartland Championship by convincingly beating East Coast, 61-29, at Whakarua Park in Ruatoria.
North Otago started strongly as they looked to play the match at speed, taking quick tap penalties to keep the intesity up in the search for a try scoring bonus point.
Captain Sam Sturgess got the visitors on the board in the opening couple of minutes, scoring beside the posts after multiple pick and go plays close to the line.
North Otago continued to work hard through the forwards, keeping the ball in tight as they attacked the East Coast tryline. With his Captain on his shoulder, Jacob Coglan pushed his way over for a try in the 8th minute to extend the lead to 14-0.
Tawhao Stewart got the home side onto the board when he crossed over for a try, to the delight of the crowd at Whakarua Park. The East Coast midfielder created a good gap in the North Otago defence, which left his opposite chasing him to the line.
Ralph Darling got North Otago back on the board when he swirved past the East Coast defence to score beside the posts in the 26th minute. Robbie Smith added his third conversion of the match to lead 21-5.
East Coast kept themeselves in the match when prop Hakarangi Tichborne went in for a try, crossing the line without a hand being laid on him. The try capped off a strong period of play by the home side.
A second try for both Sturgess and Darling pushed North Otago's lead out to 35-10, ensuring the all important bonus point was obtained heading into halftime.
North Otago continued where they left off by scoring again early in the second half through Jake Greenslade. First five-eight Michael Williams took the ball to the line, before passing to Greenslade in the tackle to set the number 8 away for a try between the posts.
The home side would then hit back after a great break by East Coast winger Epeli Lotawa set the visitors off downfield. He linked with number 8 Hone Haerewa who went close to the line. Lotawa was then on hand to pick the ball up and crossed over for their third try of the match.
The East Coast resurgence continued when Tichborne scored his second try of the game, becoming the third front rower in the match to score a double. Halfback Sam Parkes curled the conversion in nicely from the sideline to bring the score to 42-24.
Robbie Smith steaded the ship for North Otago, capitalising on an East Coast error to go in for one of his easier tries to date. The home side attempted to run the ball out from their own in-goal, before a mixup left the ball loose for Smith to pickup and he dived over beside the posts.
East Coast replacement winger Tipene Meihana scored out wide to keep the home crowd excited. Finishing off a good team build up, the winger reached out for the line in the tackle of Howard Packman before being bundled into touch. The referee however judged the ball to be grounded before Meihana was in touch.
Further tries late in the game, by Hayden Tisdall and a second for Coghlan, round out an impressive victory for North Otago. The 9 try, 61-29 victory ensuring a home semi final in the Meads Cup.
North Otago 61 (Sam Sturgess 2, Jacob Coghlan 2, Ralph Darling 2, Jake Greenslade, Kelepi Funaki, Robbie Smith tries; Smith 7 con; Anthony Arty con)
East Coast 29 (Tawhao Stewart, Hakarangi Tichborne 2, Epeli Lotawa, Tipene Meihana tries; Sam Parks 2 con)
HT: 35-10, North Otago.