North Otago v East Coast Meads Cup Semi-Final Review

A well organised and patient East Coast side earnt a place in the Meads Cup final against Wanganui next Saturday with a 23-17 win over hitherto unbeaten North Otago in Oamaru on Saturday. North Otago went into the game with the knowledge that it had beaten East Coast earlier in the competition, 52-17 but found the task of repeating the performance a bridge too far. 

East Coast was able to dictate and control the pace of the game and this served to frustrate North Otago which when it did gain possession was seldom able to  build up three plus phases before a pushed pass or mishandling turned the ball back over to East Coast. 

North Otago co coach Barry Matthews was philosophical after the game.

“East Coast thoroughly deserved its win. They had the self-belief and they played to their strengths and we probably never played to ours.”

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