Both sides satisfied after game

OTAGO started well, Southland came home strongly but the blue and golds got up in the last score of the game to win their preseason match 4543 in Invercargill on Saturday.

Both sides came away from the game well satisfied although the two coaches wanted more preseason games as the start of the Mitre 10 Cup looms this week when Otago takes on Auckland at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

Otago coach Tom Donnelly was happy with the side’s firsthalf effort after which his team was up 2612.

‘‘We were pretty keen to start well and bring some intensity to the game straight away and we did that well. The boys got off their line well and hit hard. We got a lot out of it, seeing how guys could perform when they are under pressure and at that next level,’’ he said.

‘‘The game sort of became a bit stopstart. We started to give away a few penalties and that let them back into the game.’’

Southland scored with a few minutes to go and looked to have the game won. But a good tackle by Vilimoni Koroi enabled the ball to be turned over and that led to a try to Taylor Haugh which won the game.

Haugh impressed as did centre Josh Timu while veteran prop Josh Hohneck worked hard.

Donnelly said the defence to the rolling maul could have been better but that was just time on the training paddock.

No serious injuries were picked up. Otago made a few changes early in the second half and players then understandably took a while to get used to the game

Ideally, Donnelly would have liked another couple of warmup games but it was just time to get on with it and get ready for Auckland.

Southland coach Dale

MacLeod was happy with his side’s effort.

‘‘We were a bit slow to start with but that was understandable as we have not played a game together. But we made some adjustments and came back really well. We probably had the better of the last 60 minutes.

‘‘We are trying to focus on making adjustments in a game.’’

Otago led 3312 early in the second half but Southland came back and led 4340 with time almost up.

MacLeod said Southland could have won it if it had managed to carry the ball and put it out right at the end. No 8 Charles Alaimalo lost the ball and Otago pounced.

The Southland forwards showed good heart and carried well, MacLeod said.

The only concern was that hookers Greg PleasantsTate and Tali Tuapati both suffered finger injuries. With Flynn Thomas out for the season with a shoulder injury, Southland can ill afford any more injuries in the hooking department.

Southland faces Hawke’s Bay in Invercargill on Sunday.