Otago have locked up the Ranfurly Shield for the season, beating North Harbour 41-26 in Dunedin.
North Harbour mounted a sterling challenge in the first half, but Otago dominated the exchanges in the second and were able to hold a late rally from the northerners.
It was Otago’s seventh win from nine NPC matches this season, and they are at the top of the points ladder, although that would change if Canterbury beat Northland tomorrow.
It was another lively match for the shield, which has had five holders this season.
Otago wasted little time their class on the contest, when fullback Sam Gilbert broke the defensive line from an attacking scrum and halfback Dylan Pledger loomed in support to score.
Irish second-five Ben Brownlee replied for Harbour, after a strong run from centre Mark Telea, and then Telea pounced on a loose pass in midfield from Pledger to put the challengers ahead.
Discarded All Blacks No.8 Christian Lio-Willie capitalised on a period of continuity from Otago, running onto a short pass from Pledger at close range, and Cam Millar’s conversion levelled the scores at 14-14 after half an hour.
With halftime looming, Otago turned down a kickable penalty and opted for a series of attacking lineouts that ultimately saw new centurion Liam Coltman driven over for a try, as the holder reached the break 21-14 up.
For almost 20 minutes after the restart, Harbour repelled wave after wave of Otago attack, but eventually could hold out no longer, with winger Jona Nareki making the telling break and putting flanker Lucas Casey into the left corner.
That try opened the floodgates, as Pledger secured his double, chasing a kick behind the Harbour goal-line.
With 10 minutes remaining, Harbour second-five Sofai Notoa-Tipo grabbed a try back from another surge from Telea, but the conversion missed and the visitors still needed more than two converted tries to pull an upset.
They snatched one of those, when first-five Cam Howell dribbled the ball down the right sideline and found winger Tom Barham with a long pass infield to score.
Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly dashed, when Otago won a penalty on the Harbour 22 and Millar slotted it to extend the margin back into double figures. Moments later, he added another to put the result beyond doubt.
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