North Otago got their 2024 Heartland Championship campaign underway on Saturday. A tough first round 16-14 loss to Horowhenua-Kapiti, in a low scoring match dominated by penalties.
The home side were on the backfoot early, when Horowhenua-Kapiti first five Brandyn Laursen slotted an early penalty to put the visitors on the board first.
North Otago responded with a try to hooker Ryusei Kato, off the back of a rolling maul, before first five Greg Dyer added the conversion to extend the lead out to 7-3.
Horowhenua-Kapiti took back the lead through second five Connor Paki who crashed over for a try. Laursen added the extras before pushing the score out further with his second penalty of the match, from 40m out, to give the visitors a handy 13-7 lead.
Excelsior winger Seva Druma got the home side back into the lead when he snatched the ball in a run against the play. A wayward tip-on pass from Horowhenua-Kapiti didn't find it's man, Druma pounced and got his hand on the ball instead and ran in unouched for North Otago's second try. Dyer converted to give the home side a 14-13 lead heading into the break.
A low scoring second half gave both sides ample opportunities to put the game away, but North Otago's high penalty count ultimately gave Horowhenua-Kapiti the upper hand. A late penalty to Laursen was enough to seal the win for the visitors.
North Otago 14 (Ryusei Kato, Seva Druma tries; Greg Dyer 2 con)
Horowhenua-Kapiti 16 (Connor Paki try; Brandyn Laursen con, 3 pen)
