Ioane the hero as Otago reach decider
Otago will contest next Friday’s Championship final after snatching a last-gasp 20-19 victory against Hawke’s Bay in an awfully messy Mitre 10 Cup encounter at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Neither side were at their best during a scrappy semifinal last night but Otago, who finished the regular season in second, will have a shot at promotion thanks to Josh Ioane’s successful second attempt at landing a match-winning penalty.
Otago struggled with a Ranfurly Shield hangover after their triumph in Waikato last weekend and coming down from that high was tough against a resilient Hawke’s Bay side familiar with the taste of victory under the roof.
The Magpies won 31-25 in their round two clash Dunedin in August and Otago’s Shield success earned them hosting rights for a semifinal rematch, with Ioane’s strike through sailing through the posts for the blue and golds after the hooter had sounded.
The Magpies had made a habit of winning against Otago of late and it looked as though that trend would continue after Ioane’s first penalty attempt in the final minutes fell short, but the home’s side first-five would make no mistake a second time.
Waikato in Hamilton await for Otago again after the Mooloos earlier secured hosting rights for the decider by overcoming Northland. Hawke’s Bay were two tries ahead early but which side wanted the ball was anyone’s guess as it was turned over repeatedly during an untidy first quarter that lacked any fluidity or cohesion.