North Otago's run of excellent form in recent games came to an end during the weekend when it lost outright to Southland in a U-Bix Cup cricket match played at Centennial Park.
"We were beaten by better team and the loss reflects a lack of cricket" coach Gavin Laird said last night.
"North Otago cricketers have really only had one Saturday this year and the weekend's results shoed it," Mr Laird said.
"The start of play was delayed by rain until 12.17pm on Saturday and when won the toss it elected to bat.
North Otago took the first initiative when Alex Lemon took the wicket of Joe O'Connell in the first over of the match but a second wicket partnership of 74 between Allan Thompson and Peter Nicholson put visitors back on track.
Paddy Bleach bowled an economical spell of 14 overs taking the wickets of Paul Henry and Nicholson for 17 and 20 respectively.
Thompson was bowled by John Crombie with the total at 122 and only four runs were added before rain stopped play once again at 3.30pm.
An excellent captain's knock by Shane Brown when play resumed saw Southland through to the declaration at 215 for five. His innings of 62 not out included 11 fours and one six off 64 balls.
North Otago batted for two hours until 8pm on Saturday evening in very gloomy conditions and succumbed to be 78 off five at stumps.
Play started on time yesterday with North Otago still needing 138 runs for first innings points.
However it only managed 153 with Crombie providing the only resistance, scoring 50 runs, including five fours, in 125 minutes and 98 balls. He was out playing a pull shot to a good running catch by O'Connell.
For Southland Grant Soper and James Rogers took three wickets each.
Southland had 44 runs on the board before lunch and the declaration was 190 for five. Crombie was North Otago's only wicket taker in this innings capturing three for 66 of 14 overs.
This left North Otago needing 253 runs in four hours.
Southlander Richard Wilson had been 'run out without facing a ball' with the bat but he made amends with the ball. He destroyed the North Otago innings with a fine spell taking eight wickets for 39 off 14.5 overs.
Only Andrew Rowland 23, Crombie 24 and Mark Wilson 20 made double figures as North Otago were all out for 103.
North Otago play U-Bix leaders South Canterbury next weekend and will need an outright win to stay in the hunt.
"Plenty of practice with be required this week," Mr Laird said.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series
Southland vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
Southland 215 ( S.N. Brown 62no, A.N. Thompson 45, P.N. Cowan 32no, P.J. Nicolson 20, P.J. Henry 17, P.D. Bleach 2-17 ) & 190-5dec ( A.J. O'Connell 67, A.N. Thompson 36, S.H. Brown 29no, N.M. Scully 28, J.B. Crombie 3-66 )
North Otago 153 ( J.B. Crombie 50, K.J. Mansfield 18, M. Wilson 18, C. Hore 16, D. Kinney 13, Soper 3-27, Rodgers 3-43, R. Wilson 2-33, Gibson 2-42 ) & 103 ( J.B. Crombie 24, A. Rowland 23, M. Wilson 20, R. Wilson 8-39 )
Southland won by 149 runs
Full scorecard for the match