Otago get the better of Auckland
Otago claimed a 34-26 victory over Auckland in Mitre 10 Cup action at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Thursday night.
Otago scored the first try in just the third minute through Sio Tomkinson.
Fletcher Smith then slotted a penalty to give Otago a 10-0 lead before George Moala scored for Auckland to get them back in the game.
Soon after, wing Jona Nareki then scored the first of his brace for Otago. Auckland responded with a Vince Aso try just before halftime. However, Otago hit back when Josh Furnoto scored to give them a 10-point lead at half-time.
Nareki scored his second seven minutes after the break before Moala’s try gave Auckland a glimmer of hope.
Auckland’s fly-half Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald then tried to take a drop kick for the conversion and missed it. Otago secured victory with another try straight from the next kickoff.
Auckland were awarded a penalty try on fulltime but it was too little too late as Otago held on for a 34-26 win.
The scorers:
For Otago:
Tries: Nareki 2, Tomkinson 2, Furno
Cons: Smith 3
Pen: Smith
For Auckland:
Tries: Moala 2, Aso, penalty try
Cons: Hickey 2
Otago:15 Fletcher Smith, 14 Mitchell Scott, 13 Patelesio Tomkinson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Josh Renton, 8 Sione Teu, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Adam Knight, 5 Blair Tweed, 4 Josh Furno, 3 Donald Brighouse, 2 Sam Anderson-Heather, 1 Aki Seiuli,
Replacements: 16 Sekonaia Pole, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Hisa Sasagi, 19 Tom Rowe, 20 Slade McDowall, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Leroy van Dam, 23 Vilimoni Koroi.
Auckland: 15 Jordan Trainor, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 George Moala, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, 9 Jono Hickey, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Ben Nee-Nee, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 1 Sam Prattley,
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Emersen Tamura-Paki, 18 Isi Tu’ungafasi, 19 Jamie Lane, 20 Dominikovich-Murray , 21 Lisati Milo-Harris, 22 TJ Faiane, 23 Latiume Fosita.
Referee: Glen Jackson