News

Otago has beaten the Counties Manukau PIC Steelers 40-22 in their Mitre 10 Cup contest at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Sunday.

The home side raced out of the blocks and scored three tries in the opening quarter of the match before Tai Lavea’s side fought back to take the game into the final minutes.

But just when it looked like the visitors might steal the game, Otago scored again to secure victory and protect their position in the Championship top four.

“I think we let them in too easy in that first half,” skipper Orbyn Leger said post-match.

“When we started playing footy, we looked good but we let them in at the end again there.”

The PIC Steelers looked a better side in the second half when they played a more expansive style and threw the ball around and it came on the back of the halftime message from Lavea.

“Keep the ball in hand and trust what we did during the week and our ability to play,” Leger said about that message.

The PIC Steelers remain in sixth place on the Championship table while Otago move up to second with the win.

It is back to Pukekohe next Sunday for the PIC Steelers when they meet Wellington at Navigation Homes Stadium.