Otago wins promotion to second division
OTAGO has continued its upanddown existence but this season it is in a positive direction.
The Otago senior side won the national division three championship, beating CountiesManukau 106 in the final earlier this month.
The interprovincial competition is split into divisions.
The big associations dominate in division one but Otago has shuffled between division two and division three over the past few years.
It was promoted to division two in 2012, only to drop back down the following year. Then despite making the final twice it could not win the division three title.
But this year it managed to get to the big dance and perform.
After winning through the South Island section — beating five other teams in the process — of the division three com petition, it took on CountiesManukau, which had won the North Island section.
Each team can have a maximum of 12 members.
The final against the team from the north consisted of four men’s and four women’s singles matches, two men’s and two women’s doubles matches and four mixed doubles matches.
The men’s side, led by Luke Falvey and Jake Dickson, was to the fore in the victory, claiming three of the four men’s singles and also winning both of the men’s doubles.
The mixed doubles were split.
Sarah Sanford won both her games for Otago and youngster Josh Kellett gave his best.
Otago women’s No 1 Pingkan Polak also played well at the top for the Otago women’s team.
The, which was coached by Andy King, will be looking to stay in division two, the Slazenger Cup, next year although the format is expected to change.