Otago 21 Northland 12
Blair Feeney sat out the Highlanders' entire Super 12 campaign, wondering when his chance would come. It finally arrived in the bleak and chill of Carisbrook against Northland.
Feeney's kicking, incisive running and astute reading of play were key factors in Otago's hard-earned win against Northland.
Feeney transferred from
Counties-Manukau this year, but did not get on the field in the Super 12 as Tony Brown, and later Willie Walker, were preferred at first five-eighth.
But Brown's chronic hamstring injury has given Feeney his chance in the NPC and, in a sometimes shaky Otago side, he showed he intends to take it.
"It was a bit hard sitting out the Super 12 but that's the way things go," Feeney said.
"I've got an opportunity now and I'm much more a part of things. It's just good to be getting regular rugby."
Central to Otago's win was captain and No 8 Taine Randell, the discarded All Blacks loose forward, who took the ball up strongly, defended superbly and marshalled his troops when Northland threatened to take control.
Tipped to be heading overseas at the end of the year, Randell will be sorely missed.
Northland were highly effective in their execution of the rolling maul, which tested the Otago defence and resolve to the limit, and would have been disappointed not to have capitalised more on their wealth of phase possession.
Otago's two tries were both 60m long-range efforts, the first sparked by Feeney after 25 minutes. He sprinted through a gap from a turnover and, when the ball was spun wide from the ensuing ruck, flanker Sam Harding shrugged off a tackle and scored close to the goalposts.
Northland responded to Otago's first try with the first by Allen Tubbs, the flanker muscling over after 18 phases and a break by Jason Shoemark.
Ahead 10-5 at halftime, Otago increased the margin when Walker, Seilala Mapusua and Ryan Nicholas combined to put Aisea Tuilevu over.
Feeney's second penalty further increased the margin, but indecision by the forwards at the kickoff, Tubbs gathered the ball and burgled a soft try.
Feeney's third penalty gave Otago the buffer they needed.
- NZPA
