Waikato have suffered their first loss of the season going down 27-20 to Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Round 7 of the Bunnings NPC.

The home team opened the scoring with a successful penalty from Cameron Millar to lead 3-0 after 6 minutes.

However Waikato scored the first try after a chip kick from D’Angelo Leuila saw Bailyn Sullivan time his run to collect the ball and pass to Damian McKenzie in support to race away and score. McKenzie added the extras and Waikato led 7-3 after 13 minutes.

Both Leuila and Sullivan connected again 2 minutes later for Waikato’s second try, when Leuila again put in another perfectly weighted chip kick for Sullivan to run onto. This time Sullivan needed no support as he went on to score under the posts. McKenzie was again successful with the conversions and Waikato stretched their lead to 11 points.

But Otago was able to answer right back with Josh Dickson scoring the home side's first try. Millar added the extras and Waikato’s lead was reduced to 4 points midway through the first half.

There would be no change to the score as Waikato went into the halftime break 14-10 up.

In the second half it took another 13 minutes before any more points were recorded, but it would be Damian McKenzie who would be successful with a penalty shot at goal for Waikato to regain a 7 point advantage.

However Otago was able to convert a penalty 3 minutes later before Waikato replied through McKenzie again with another successful penalty as Waikato led 20-13 with 20 to play.

Unfortunately 2 quick tries from Otago in the final 12 minutes saw Otago take back the lead and hold on to hand Waikato their first defeat of the 2022 season.

Otago 27 (Josh Dickson, William Tucker, Josh Timu tries; Cameron Millar 3 conversions, 2 penalties)

Waikato 20 (Damian McKenzie, Bailyn Sullivan tries; Damian McKenzie 2 conversions, 2 penalties)

HT: 10-14

Article added: Tuesday 20 September 2022