Otago fullback Josh Ioane has inspired his side to a gutsyNPC win over Hawke's Bay at Dunedin.
Playing in his 50th NPC game, Ioane produced an individual piece of brilliance to score Otago's first try and lead the hosts to a 18-13 victory over the Magpies.
Acting as first receiver, Ioane attacked the tiring Hawke's Bay defence, fooling prop Mark Braidwood with a dummy pass, before stepping inside first-five Caleb Makene to dot down between the goalposts.
The game didn't all go Otago's way, as the visitors struck first in the opening 20 minutes, after a powerful maul.
No.8 Devon Flanders won lineout ball off Hawke's Bay's throw just five metres out from the tryline, before shuffling the ball back to hooker Tyrone Thompson to crash over for the score.
Otago reduced the lead to 7-3 through the boot of first-five Cam Millar, after No.8 Rupeni Tamani won a penalty at the breakdown.
Hawke's Bay seemed to score their second try, with Thompson stopped just short of the line, but settled for the penalty instead to tie the game up at 10-10 at the break.
In a carbon copy of Hawke's Bay's first try, Otago claimed a lineout just five metres out, with hooker Ricky Jackson the beneficiary of a strong maul to score.
Millar would extend Otago's lead with another penalty goal, before relentless pressure from Hawke's Bay saw lock Josh Hill yellow-carded with less than 10 minutes to play.
Replacement prop Lolani Faleiva seemed to crash over for the try, but further investigation from the referee and TMO showed a knock-on in the lead-up.
With a win out of reach inside the last minute, Hawke's Bay settled for the losing bonus point, with another penalty goal from Godfrey.
Otago now travel to Invercargill to play rivals Southland, while Hawke's Bay take on Manawatū at Palmerston North.
