Poor first half costs N. Otago, makes path to semis harder

TE AROHA: A multitude of defensive errors by North Otago in the first half laid the basis for Thames Valley’s sixtry 4321 victory in the fifth round of Heartland rugby on Saturday.

This loss leaves North Otago in 10th place on 11 points, outside the eight qualifiers for the Meads Cup (top four) and the Lochore Cup (middle four) with three rounds to play.

Its final matches — home against West Coast and South Canterbury and away against WairarapaBush — will decide its fate.

Since the inception of the Meads and Lochore Cups in 2006, North Otago has been a regular qualifier for the playoffs.

It won the Meads Cup on three occasions and the Lochore Cup on four.

North Otago head coach Nigel Walsh was at odds to understand his side’s poor performance.

‘‘The first half was very, very poor.

‘‘We just didn’t tackle and that gave Thames Valley a jump start.

‘‘It was very disappointing. ‘‘To be honest, we made the opposition look good, but to be fair we came back in the second half, winning the half 1410 after trailing 733 at halftime.

‘‘But in that first half we let them run through the holes in our defence.

‘‘It was simply a matter of the players having their minds on the job at hand.

‘‘It wasn’t as if we hadn’t prepared well. It was just a matter of switching the light on when the whistle went.’’

North Otago must now refocus on the next three games, although it might well need a helping hand from some of the other teams to get to the semifinals.

Walsh said Mika Mafi worked hard and had an outstanding game at No 8.

He also had praise for lock Braden Barnes and New Zealand Heartland under19 captain Kafaongo Katoa, both on debut, and Antonio Misiloi in his first game on the wing.

Thames Valley, encouraged by North Otago’s defensive lapses, raced out to a 280 lead after 32 minutes.

First fiveeighth Reese Broughton kicked two penalties and converted just one of the five firsthalf tries scored by Sam McCahon, Kieran Lee (2), Harry Lafitaunai and Christian Kelleher.

North Otago opened its account in the 36th minute, when fullback Simon Lillicama

scored and first fiveeighth Josh Buchan converted.

North Otago midfielder Taina Tamou scored North Otago’s second try 15 minutes into the second half.

Broughton then kicked his third penalty and converted a try by Thames Valley’s Matiu Abraham to complete the home team’s scoring.

Two minutes from fulltime, North Otago replacement half Inoke Naufahu scored for Buchan to convert the try.

Wanganui went to the top of the table with a 3619 win over hitherto unbeaten King Country.

South Canterbury moved into second place with a 4110 win over Mid Canterbury and King Country slipped back to third place.

Thames Valley’s win over North Otago promoted it into the Meads Cup section.

HorowhenuaKapiti beat WairarapaBush 3721, its win putting it top of the Lochore Cup.

West Coast’s 3428 win over Buller puts it in second place, followed by WairarapaBush and Mid Canterbury.

The bottom four are Poverty Bay (12), North Otago (11), Buller (5) and East Coast (1).