Heartland Rugby
Outscrummed, outjumped in the lineouts and outflanked in the loose and thus beaten at the breakdowns, North Otago was outplayed by a highly motivated Mid Canterbury team which took the game,30-21 at the Ashburton Showgrounds on Saturday and thus a place in the Meads Cup playoffs. North Otago’s loss means it is relegated to the Lochore Cup where it will play in this order, East Coast(Oamaru), Buller(Oamaru) and top qualifier West Coast in Greymouth.
Heartland round 4 review
North Otago produced its best rugby of the season when it defeated Thames Valley, 55-3 at Whitestone stadium on Saturday scoring eight tries whilst keeping its own line sacrosant.The victory was based around a fine forward effort which saw the North Otago pack dominate all facets of play.Duncan Naude, Viliami Leo and Taua Limuloa ruled the lineouts, the powerful North Otago scummaging unit inspired by some outstanding play in the tight by the Mafi brothers, Tavite and Palenapa and hooker Mike Essex had the opposition under intense pressure at scrum time. In the loose Ross Hay found and avid apprentice in number six Paula Fonokalfi whose workrate saw him score two tries in the space of four minute early in the second half which really saw the Thames Valley resistance wane.At number eight Viliami Leo again impressed with his powerful ball carrying and support play.
Heartland Rugby
A much improved effort from the forward pack was the base for North Otago’s 35-10 win over a smaller and lighter King Country side at Whitestone Contracting stadium on Saturday.The North Otago eight shunted King Country around at scrum time and dominated the lineouts through the efforts of Ta’ua Limuloa, Viliami Leo and Duncan Naude who was replaced by Aisake Fonua who also impressed in his first game back from injury. Ross Hay and Paula Fonokalafi dominated the loose although it was a real contest with King Country’s Sam Mason and Andrew Evans but up front the North Otago front row of the Mafi brothers, Palenapa and Tavite had a definite edge.
