Taranaki have capped an unbeaten season with their 10th straight victory, capturing the NPC championship with a 32-19 win over Otago at Inglewood.
The hometown Bulls never trailled, scoring their opening try through prop Jared Proffit in the third minute and crossing three more times to fend off the southern challenge.
Fullback Stephen Perofeta had the better of his goalkicking duel with one-test All Black Josh Ioane, slotting 12 points off the boot.
Otago responded immediately to Proffit's try, when lock Josh Hill charged down Perofeta's attempted clearance kick and regathered to score.
But slick hands created space for centre Daniel Waite to score midway through the first half and while winger Vilimoni Koroi closed the margin, lock Mickey Woolliams reached out to give his side a 22-12 advantage at the break.
If the southerners hoped to steal victory, they probably needed to be the next to score, but instead conceded 10 quick points, when winger Kini Naholo scored the games' best try soon after the restart and Perofeta padded the margin with a penalty.
Naholo's try came from a hard, angled run from first-five Payson Potroz, who popped a pass around his tackler to second-five Tei Walden. The captain chipped ahead and Naholo won the race.
Suddenly 20 points behind, Otago were their own worst enemies at times, squandering attacking opportunities through mishandling, but they received a lifeline, when Potroz was yellow-carded for delierately knocking the ball dead.
From an ensuing scrum, Ioane ran hard from deep and could not be stopped from close to the line - but that was the final scoring action of the match, as Taranaki skilfully managed time off the clock and Otago continued to shoot themselves in the foot.
Taranaki coach Neil Barnes has been critical of the decision to suspend promotion to the premiership this season, after COVID-19 lockdown forced Auckland, North Harbour and Counties-Manukau out of the competition.
He must be satsified with the championship trophy and return next season to earn a spot in the top flight against full-strength opposition.
Taranaki 32 (Proffit, Woolliams, Naholo & Waite tries; Perofeta 3 conversions & 2 penalties) Otago 19 (Hill, Ioane & Koroi tries; Ioane 2 conversions)
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