Otago steal win with gallant fightback

Otago 24 Waikato 21

Otago do not know what a lost rugby cause is, judging by the evidence on display in their 24-21 Air New Zealand Cup win over Waikato in Dunedin today.

By all rights, Otago should have been counted out at 7-18 down with 27 minutes remaining at Carisbrook.

Some invisible force then flicked a switch to alter the complexion, and outcome, of an open if inaccurate pool B match that marked a significant step up for Otago after successive wins against lightweights Counties-Manukau, Northland and Hawke's Bay.

Fresh off a thumping win over Canterbury, Waikato were well set to inflict Otago's first loss of the season before the southerners clawed their way back into the game.

Their fightback got underway in earnest in the 65th minute when impressive winger Greg Zampach thrust through a huge midfield hole before Nick Evans' conversion left his side 14-18 in arrears.

A decision to take a quick lineout 10 minutes later then paid handsome rewards when the ball was ferried out to first five-eighth Evans, who popped a timely pass for lock Filipo Levin to run on to and crash over.

Evans' easy conversion saw Otago hit the lead for the first time in the match before Waikato levelled the scores via a 42m penalty from Stephen Donald with two minutes remaining on the clock.

The drama had not finished, however, with Otago finding time to drive the ball up the middle via their forwards and attract a ruck penalty, which Evans coolly converted from 35m with time up.

The remarkable turnaround came after Waikato's robust, physical forward pack, which had the edge until the final quarter, had done enough for their side to expect a favourable result.

Waikato barely kicked the ball in the first half when playing into a stiff breeze and built considerable pressure which Otago did well, for the most part, to repel.

Otago's defences were breached just once before the break, when lively halfback Brendon Leonard skipped down the blindside from a maul and stepped outside a lone defender to score in the corner.

Leonard's strike in the 28th minute carried Waikato out to an 8-0 lead but the difference was trimmed to one point five minutes later when Otago captain and flanker Josh Blackie was on hand to finish off a deceptive run from Evans, who added the extras with a conversion from near touch.

Donald later added his second penalty to earn Waikato an 11-7 halftime lead and the scores remained that way until the 53rd minute when No 8 Liam Messam showed a clean pair of heels after latching on to a spilled ball near halfway.

The fumble from wing Alipate Fatafehi cost Otago the maximum seven points after Messam pinned his ears back, hugged the right-hand touchline and found his target despite a despairing tackle from Evans.

At 18-7, Waikato then went searching for another two tries to earn themselves a bonus point, only to watch on as their best intentions crumbled in face of Otago's desperation.

Otago 24 (Josh Blackie, Greg Zampach, Filipo Levi tries; Nick Evans pen, 3 con)
Waikato 21 (Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam tries; Stephen Donald 3 pen, con).
HT:7-11

- NZPA