N. Otago shows what it can do

OAMARU: North Otago returned to better form when it defeated West Coast 4019 at Whitestone Stadium on Saturday.

But while it was a moraleboosting win, North Otago still lies in ninth place.

In the Lochore Cup section, it is one competition point behind Wairarapa Bush, Mid Canterbury and West Coast and five points behind King Country.

North Otago coach Nigel Walsh was happy enough.

‘‘We got four tries and a bonus point in the bank which is what we were up to today,’’ Walsh said.

‘‘We showed some good form and we showed potentially what we can do. I think in the past we’ve been guilty of trying too hard and this week we tried to relax and just get them to play their game and enjoy it.’’

Walsh said the good start was important ‘‘but we did take the hammer off late in the first half when we gave five penalties away and let West Coast get back into the game’’.

North Otago opened the scoring in the first few minutes when prop Ralph Darling broke through and powerful No 8 Mika Mafi provided the finish.

Mafi was in the action shortly after but this time he provided the assist for a Josh Buchan try.

And before the opening quarter of an hour was up lock Josh Clark put centre Hemaua Samasoni into space. The ball went through several more sets of hands before halfback Inoke Naufahu finished off a nice try.

The visiting side rallied when No 8 Amenatave Tukana crashed over from a lineout. Hooker Troy Tauwhare scored in similar fashion to cut the lead to 1914 at halftime.

North Otago regained control through tries to Tyler Burgess and Glen Sturgess.

Walsh believes the win is the boost the side needed going into the final games against South Canterbury and WairarapaBush.

‘‘The boys have got to realise that today we beat a top four side by 4019. The boys have got to take a lot of confidence out of that and I believe we can grow from there.

In other Heartland results, WairarapaBush upset South Canterbury 2724, Wanganui downed Buller 4514, Thames Valley edged Poverty Bay 3734, Mid Canterbury accounted for East Coast 567 and HorowhenuaKapiti defeated King Country 3630.