Otago hang on for victory in southern derby

Otago 15 Southland 8

Otago secured southern rugby bragging rights for another year with 15-8 win over Southland in Invercargill tonight.

Despite spending long periods of their Air New Zealand Cup match on defence, Otago took their chances when it counted at Rugby Park Stadium to notch their fifth win from five pool B matches.

Their final pool match next week is a mouth-watering Ranfurly Shield challenge against second-placed Canterbury.

Otago's victory was apparently based on a fine defensive effort. They scored two tries, held off several raids on their line and conceded a try -- the only points of the second half -- by prop Clarke Dermody.

Winger Ben Smith and No 8 Adam Thomson scored Otago's tries and Nick Evans kicked a penalty and a conversion.

The 227th match in this long-standing southern rivalry was a typically physical affair.

Southland spent long periods camped in Otago territory but lacked the variety to unlock a disciplined Otago defence, often kicking the ball aimlessly as a result of frustration.

The Stags scored a 28-22 last-gasp win at Invercargill last year but they never looked like hauling in the 15-3 halftime deficit tonight, despite dominating territory in the second half.

Otago effectively disrupted the Southland lineout and had the edge at scrum time.

But Southland still had enough possession to win the game, particularly in the second half, but options and a rather slow service from the inside back combination meant Otago had enough time to set up a more organised defence.

The third straight defeat for Southland means they will struggle to finish in the top three of pool B, although they finish with winnable games against Counties Manukau and Hawke's Bay.

The match was summed up in the 20th minute when Otago opened the scoring through a try to Smith, having spent most of the opening on defence.

Second five-eighth Callum Bruce sliced through and his pass to Neil Brew was brilliantly caught in one hand before holding off two cover defenders to put Smith over.

Southland first five-eighth Blair Stewart landed a dropped goal soon after his team's No 8 Iona Sipa had been held up over the goal line.

Thomson, one of the game's most effective forwards, struck back with a try after first five-eighth Nick Evans freed his arms near the line.

A penalty to the competition's top pointscorer Evans on the stroke of halftime gave his team a 12-point advantage at the break.

There was little to cheer about apart from Dermody's try in the second half.

"It was pretty physical out there but we were strong in the end and got away with a win," Otago captain Josh Blackie said.

"The accuracy in our passing and execution was really pleasing (in the first half) apart from a couple of lapses, so we were pretty happy overall.

Dermody said Otago's strong defence was the key to their victory.

"We had a lot of possession and territory but we just couldn't convert against the staunch defence -- pretty disappointing for us in that respect," he said.

"I think we're being too one-dimensional -- just one off the ruck sort of stuff. I think if we had flicked it on to our backs, they were making a few metres early on, maybe they would have had a better crack at the line than we (forwards) did.

Otago 15 (Ben Smith, Adam Thomson tries; Nick Evans pen, con)
Southland 8 (Clarke Dermody try; Blair Stewart dropped goal).
HT: 15-3.

- NZPA