Week 8 review - Mid Canterbury end North Otago home winning streak

Mid Canterbury ended North Otago's home winning streak at four games this season and claimed the Hanan Shield with a 25-22 win in their Meads Cup match in Oamaru.

Winger Brenton Connell scored two tries, including a brilliant individual touchdown, while fullback Richard Fridd added the other, all in the first half, in the upset win that saw both teams secure home semifinals.

The bonus point was enough to earn North Otago the top qualifying spot, by one point over Mid Canterbury, heading into the Meads Cup semifinals next weekend.

North Otago held the lead for most of the first half, thanks to the boot of second-five Glenn Dickson and a try to winger Stephen Sasagi, but a lapse five minutes before halftime allowed Fridd, then Connell, to dot down, stretching the visitors' lead to 25-16 at halftime.

Two Dickson penalties were the only scoring in the second half as Mid Canterbury, who dominated at scrum and lineout time and frustrated North Otago's attacking game, held on in the final minutes.

The loss ended North Otago's seven-year and 14-defence hold on the Hanan Shield, played for between North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury.

Scores:

Mid Canterbury 25 (Brenton Connell 2, Richard Fridd tries; David Maw 2 pen, 2 con) North Otago 22 (Stephen Sasagi try; Glenn Dickson 5 pen, con). Halftime: 25-16.