Otago 30 (2 Vahaakolo, Hohneck, Jackson tries, Hickey 2 penalties, 2 conversion) bt
Northland 7 (Ranger tries; Hawkins 1 conversion)
HT: 13-0 OTG
FULLTIME .... Otago outclasses Northland four tries to one under the roof in Dunedin, without the services fringe All Black Josh Ioane and big wing Vilimoni Koroi.
The star duo was suspended for ‘breaking team protocol’ earlier in the week after a few too many drinks, but thankfully for them, their teammates put on a clinical display.
Northland had their opportunities especially in the second-half where they spent large periods in Otago's half but mistakes let them down, which was down to the home-sides defence.
Otago dominated the first half and got on the board after 15th minutes through Freedom Vahaakolo who was Otago’s best.
After a dangerous lineout-drive, Jona Nareki got in behind the Northland defence before passing to Freedom Vahaakolo to score in the corner.
Five minutes out from halftime, Otago punished a Taniwha mistake. After a great kick from Hickey, Pisi Leilua takes the lineout quickly but doesn’t go 5 metres. From the penalty which is taken quickly, a great pass from Hickey puts Vahaakolo over in the corner for his second of the evening.
Otago started the second half brightly. Five minutes in, Otago produces a brilliant lineout drive which comes down just short of the line and Josh Hohneck picks the ball up and crashes over.
Northland got one back, 20 minutes from time. After a great scrum from Northland, Nock snipes down the short side before offloading to Jone Macilai who shows great hands to offload to Rene Ranger to score.
Three minutes from time, Otago put the nail in the coffin. Otago produced a perfect lineout drive and replacement hooker Rickey Jackson crashes over for his first Mitre 10 Cup try.
The win means Otago leaps to the top of the Championship points table with just two rounds to come.
79 min - From the kick-off Giovanni Leituala breaks down to Northland's 10m line and offloads but it goes to ground. Northland regathers it and Northlad will start their attack. Kalani Going makes a great run down to halfway. From the next phase, Robinson knocks the ball on. Scrum Otago on halfway.
77 min - OTAGO TRY - From the lineout Otago produce a perfect lineout drive and replacement hooker Rickey Jackson crashes over for his first Mitre 10 Cup try. Hickey converts the try. 30-7 OTG
75 min - From the lineout, Otago set the lineout maul before Arscott snipes down short sode and gets 5m short of the line. After 6 phases the ref blows a penalty for Otago for Northland being offide. Hickey will go for touch and give Otago lineout just 5m out.
73 min - Northland produce a great scrum, but Pryor comes off the scrum early to be offside. Otago will go for touch and will have a lineout on Northland's 22.
72 min - From the scrum, Robinson makes another great run but knocks on in contact. Otago put a grubber kick in behind but Northland regather just 5m out from own line. Nock puts a checky box-kick over the top which Ranger regathers. Northland gets down to halfwya but Pryor knocks the ball on. Scrum Otago on halfway.
70 min - From the lineout, Otago set the lineout drive but Northland defend it well and trap the ball in. Scrum Northland 10m out from their own line.
68 min - From the scrum, Northland enagage early giving away a free-kick. Otago will clear down to halfway. Northland will take it quickly and start their attack on halfway. After five phases Otago win a breakdown penalty. Hickey will go for touch and give Otago a lineout 15m out from Northland's line.
67 min - From the lineout, Northland set the lineout drive, which Otago defend perfectly and collaspe the maul and the ball is trapped in. Scrum Otago 5m out.
65 min - A scrappy lineout is gathered by Leilua and Northland build their attack. After five phases, Otago give another offide penalty away. Northland will go for lineout, which is just 5m out.
63 min - From the kick-off Tom Robinson makes a great run down to halfway. Northland are looking dnagerous on attack getting down just short of the 22. Otago is under pressure an dgives away an offside penalty. Northland will have a lineout just 10m out.
60 min - NORTHLAND TRY - From the scrum, Ranger crashes over. After a great scrum from Northland Nock snipes down the short side before offloading to Macilai who shows great hands to offload to Rene Ranger to score. Hawkins converts the try. 23-7 OTG
58 min - Ater 10 phases again, Northland go wide but a great tackle on Ranger who is brought down just 7m out from the line. As Ranger tries to offload Otago gets their hand on it but goes to ground. Northland scrum 7m out centre field.
57 min - Northland regather their own kick-off and start their attack on Otago's 22. After 10 phases Northland are looking dangerous just 5m out from Otago's line before Otago give away an offside penalty. Northland take it quickly and continue to attack the Otago line.
53 min - PENALTY OTAGO - From the lineout, Northland throw a poor pass which forces back to the 10m line. Hawkins puts a terrible cross-field kick which finds Jona Nareki who gives it to Hickey who breaks into the backfield. Hes brought down just short of the 22 and at the ruck Northland give away a breakdown penalty. Hickey will have a shot at goal which he slots over. 23-0 OTG
51 min - From the lineout, Macilai breaks into the backfied and gets into the 22 of Otago. Just as Northland is looking dangerous, Coltman steals the ball at the ruck. Hickey's clearing kick is charged down but Otago regather and on the second-attempt Hickey clears down to the 22.
50 min - From the lineout, Otago goes wide straight away but Northland show great defence and win a breakdown penalty. Hawkins finds touch and Northland will have a lineout on their own 10m line.
48 min - From the lineout Northland steal it out. Under-pressue Hawkin's clears to just inside his 22.
47 min - From the kickoff, Otago put up midfield bomb. Gregory goes up to gather and is tackled in the air. Penalty Northland. Ref going upstairs to look at dangerous play.
After review, it has been found a Leilua has blocked an Otago kick chaser so penalty has been reversed. Otago will have a lineout after a great kick from Hickey inside Northland’s 22.
45 min - TRY OTAGO - Otago take the lineout. They set the lineout drive which comes down short inches from the line. Josh Hohneck picks the ball up and crahses over. Hickey converts from out wide. 20-0 OTG
44 min - From the lineout, Otago attack through midfield before they put midfield bomb up which Gregory gathers it. Northland clear to down to Collins who counter-attacks. Coltman breaks into the backfield and brought down just short of 22m line. At the ruck Northland give away penalty.
42 min - Northland regather the kick-off and can only clear down to their own 22m line. Otago build their attack from the lineout but Matt Whaanga knocks the ball on. Northland clear down to their own 10m line. Lineout Otago.
SECOND-HALF underway ....
HALFTIME ..... A good half of rugby under the roof in Dunedin. Otago has dominated the first-half scoring two tries through winger Freedom Vahaakolo. Northland had chances but where let down by mistakes when they got inside Otago's 22. Hickey and Hammington used their boot well to get Otago out of trouble.
40 min - From the lineout, Northland build their attack around halfway but give away a penalty for obstruction. Otago will have a lineout just inside Northland's 22. From the lineout, Otago set-up the lineout maul and just as it looks dangerous Otago knock-on and that will be halftime.
39 min - From the scrum otago clear well down to Northland's 10m line. Lineout Northland.
37 min - From kickoff, Hammington clears straight away down to his own 10m line. From the lineout, Northland start their attack and look dangerous through Matich. Just as they look like they could cause trouble they knock the ball on. Scrum otago 13m out from their own line.
35 min - TRY OTAGO - Northland are taking just short of the 22. Ranger throws a poor pass to Macilai who puts it down. Hickey puts a great kick in that goes out on Northland's 5m line. Northland take it quickly but don't throw the ball 5m, so Otago will have penalty. they take it quickly and attack Northland's line. A great pass from Hickey puts Vahaakolo over in the corner for his second. Hickey misses the conversion. 13-0 OTG
33 min - From the scrum Otago clear well. Northland will have a lineout on Otago's 10m line.
32 min - From the lineout, Northland set the lineout-drive and the maul goes to ground with the ball not coming out. Scrum Otago 7m out from their own line.
30 min - From the lineout, Otago attack through midfield but Northland turn the ball over. The Taniwha counter-attack through Ranger who gets down to Otago's 22. At the breakdown Otago give away a penalty. Northland will have a lineout 5m out.
28 min - From the kickoff, Otago clear well down to halfway where Northland start their attack. Northland go wide but Tom Robinson knocks the ball on. Scrum Otago on halfway.
26 min - PENALTY OTAGO - From the lineout, Otago put a bomb up and Jone Macilai knocks the ball on and Otago start there attack on Northland's 22. Otago are looking dangerous through Charles Elton who goes just short out wide. otago come back centre field where Northland give away a breakdown penalty. Hickey will have a shot from in front. He slots it over. 8-0 OTG
24 min - From the linout, keep it tight with the forwards. After 10 phases a poor pass from Hawkins goes to ground which Otago regather a ckear down to Northland's half. The Taniwhastart their attack again but Jone Macilai is thrown into touch just inside Otago's half. Lineout Otago.
22 min - From the lineout, Northland set up their attack around halfway. Ater 5 phases Otago gives away a breakdown penalty. Northland will have a lineout just 10m out.
21 min - From the scrum, Vahaakolo, makes a great run off the scrum but Northland wins the ball back. Ranger makes a break down right wing but has the ball stripped by Vahaakolo, as he is tackle. Vahaakolo then throws ball into touch.
18 min - Otago dominate the scrum and win a penalty. Hickey doesn't find touch, so Northland will attack but Pisi Leilu knocks-on. Scrum Otago on halfway.
16 min - From the kickoff, Otago exit well and Northland will have a lineout on Otago's 10m line. Northland win the lineout but on the first hase knock the ball on. Scrum Otago on their own 10m line.
15 min - TRY OTAGO - From the lineout, Otago set the lineout-maul, which gos 15 metres before they release it to the backs. Jona Nareki gets in behind the Northland defence before passing to Freedom Vahaakolo to score in the corner. Hickey will try convert from out wide. He misses wide. 5-0 OTG
13 min - From the lineout, Hawkins puts in a average kick. Lineout Otago on Northland's 22m line.
12 min - From the scrum, Otago build their attack through the backs before Collins puts a grubber-kick in, which goes out on Northland's 5m line.
10 min - From the drop-out, Otago regather and Michael Collins goes for a chip kick which is pretty average but Northland halfback Will grant drops it. Scrum Otago on Northland's 10m line.
8 min - From the lineout, Otago set the lineout drive, which goes 12m before Northland give away a penalty for collapsing the maul. Jono Hickey will have a shot a goal 40m out on the angle. He misses it wide. 22m drop-out Northland.
6 min - From the scrum, Otago go wide Freedom Vahaakolo makes a good run down to the 10m line. Northland give away breakdown penalty. Otago will have a lineout on Northland's 10m line.
5 min - Northland try a trick-play at the lineout but they knock on. Scrum Otago.
4 min - Northland win the linout and start ti build their attack around halfway. After 8 phases Northland aren't really going anywhere but they win a penalty for Otago being offside. Northland will have a lineout on Otago's 22.
3 min - Otago win the lineout against the throw and start their attack. Sione Misiloi makes a great 15m run through midfield. Otago get into Northland's 22 before giving away a penalty. Northland will have a lineout on their own 10m line.
1 min - Otago gather the kickoff and clear down to their own 10m line.
KICKOFF - We are underway.
7:03pm - Perfect conditions under the roof here in Dunedin. Lets hope for some attacking rugby.
*****
Kia ora, folks, and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of this Mitre 10 Cup clash between Otago and Northland.
Updates will begin from 7:05pm.
Forsyth Barr Stadium is the venue for tonight’s Championship clash between second-place Otago and third-placed Taniwha.
Otago has been rocked this week with one-test All Black Josh Ioane and Highlanders fullback Vilimoni Koroi have been axed for disciplinary reasons.
An Otago spokeswoman told Stuff that Ioane and Koroi had "breached team protocol after the game last weekend and as a consequence, they are unavailable for selection this week."
Northland captain Jordan Olsen will play his 50th provincial match when he leads the Taniwha against Otago.
Four changes to the starting side see prop Luatangi Li, lock Temo Mayanavanua, halfback Will Grant and midfielder Kalani Going elevated.
TAB: Otago $1.37 Northland $2.90
Otago: 1-Jamie Mackintosh, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Jack Regan, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Charles Elton, 7-Dylan Nel, 8-Sione Misiloi, 9-Kayne Hammington, 10-Jono Hickey, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Matt Whaanga, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Freedom Vahaakolo, 15-Michael Collins
Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-Jonah Aoina, 18-Hisa Sasagi, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Nasi Manu, 21-James Arscott, 22-Harrison Boyle, 23-Giovanni Leituala
Northland: 1-Luatangi Li, 2-Jordan Olsen (c), 3-Kalolo Tuiloma, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Temo Mayanavanua, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Kara Pryor, 8-Matt Matich, 9-Will Grant, 10-Dan Hawkins, 11-Pisi Leilua, 12-Kalani Going, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Jone Macilai, 15-Scott Gregory
Reserves: 16-Paddy Atkins, 17-Ross Wright, 18-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 19-Sam Caird, 20-Rob Rush, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Johnny Cooper, 23-Brady Rush
