Otago beats Tasman with last-minute penalty

A penalty right on fulltime allowed Otago to escape with a 19-16 ITM Cup rugby win over Tasman in Nelson today.

With time up, referee Matt Muir earned the ire of a parochial Trafalgar Park crowd when he penalised Tasman directly in front of their posts, Glenn Dickson stepping up to land the easiest of kicks.

It was another slap in the face for a Tasman side that had attacked constantly throughout the game but managed only one try.

Otago also scored once, when winger Buxton Popoali'I was given space out wide 12 minutes after the restart to cross out wide from a set piece well inside their own half.

Dickson's conversion gave Otago a 16-9 lead after the teams had gone to the break level at 9-all.

But Tasman gave their supporters some hope of a late victory when lock Riki Hoeata crashed across in the corner, Andrew Goodman also landing the difficult sideline conversion to level the scores once again.

When Tasman winger Robbie Malneek made good ground into Otago's half with time virtually up, they appeared to be making their final bid for victory. But the ball was turned over, Popoali'I making another damgerous run into Tasman's quarter before Muir finally ended Tasman's hopes.

It's been a similar scenario for Tasman throughout the season, Tasman playing most of the attacking rugby but coming away empty-handed.

Otago's set piece remained solid throughout, with former All Black prop Kees Meeuws and lock Tom Donnelly, central to the operation, with Otago's scrambling defence also playing a mjaor part in their victory.

Otago 19 (Buxton Popoali'i try, Glenn Dickson 4 pens, con) Tasman 16 (Riki Hoeata try, Andrew Goodman 3 pens, con). Halftime: 9-9.