Otago rise from the bottom
Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:15
In a dour old match up in Nelson, Otago eked out their second win of the NPC season, beating Tasman 13-11 on Sunday.
The win lifts Otago off the bottom of the log.
There was no score in the first half, which was largely dominated by the home side who played with the wind on a wintry day at Trafalgar Park.
Otago had the wind after the break and flyhalf Glenn Dickson opened the score with a penalty seven minutes into the half.
Tasman took the lead when Chris Jack scored a try and then each side goaled a penalty before, with just 10 minutes to play, Ben Smith broke through the middle and prop Halani Aulika scored from five metres out to level the scores. Dickson kicked the winning penalty.
* The wind was also a factor in New Plymouth - where Counties Manukau actually led 16-15 at the break, but added only a penalty in the second half as Taranaki went on to win 28-19.
The win moves Taranaki up from seventh to third on the log.
Counties dominated the early part of the match as Tim Nanai-Williams kicked two penalties and prop Simon Lemalu scored a try after an excellent break by Tana Umaga, playing inside centre.
The home side came back to take the lead through a Willie Ripia penalty and tries by David Smith who beat Ahsee Tuala with ease and fullback and fullback Kurt Baker after George Pisi had started a move which went nearly the length of the field.
Then just on half-time Nanai-Williams put the visitors back ahead.
There was just one try in the second half despite Taranaki's domination. Perky Tyson Keats scored it and Ripia finished Counties off with the boot.
* Defending champions Canterbury and arch rivals Auckland both cemented their places in the top four of the NPC with impressive Round Seven victories.
Canterbury joined Southland at the top of the table with a nail-biting 27-23 win over Northland in Whangarei on Saturday.
Northland had a last-minute chance to steal a match in which they were always behind in, but botched a tap penalty from in front of the Canterbury posts.
Canterbury captain George Whitelock said he was relieved the team could win for the fans back home in earthquake ravaged Christchurch.
Northland have not beaten Canterbury since 1999 and captain Jared Payne said letting in three 'easy tries' in the first half did not help their cause.
* Auckland beat Wellington 21-15 in heavy rain at Eden Park, as flyhalf Matt Berquist shone for Auckland by scoring 16 of his side's points with a try, three penalties and a conversion.
Auckland's other try, the opening points of the match was scored by hardworking lock Liaki Moli who spun through the Wellington defence after a series of phases to set up an easy conversion for Berquist.
Wellington replied with a penalty through 19-year-old debutante first five Lima Sopoaga in their first serious thrust into Auckland territory.
Sopoaga showed great composure to kick another four penalties in the game, his last coming in the 63rd minute to keep Wellington in sight of snatching a win.
Berquist potted another penalty before Auckland's forwards drove hard and deep into Wellington territory for halfback Toby Morland to set Berquist for a sharp run through a thin Wellington defence.
Berquist missed the conversion for Auckland to take a 15-6 lead into their dressing room.
The flow of the game followed similar lines in the second half with Wellington running into a brick wall defence well-marshalled by Auckland skipper Daniel Braid.
* A long-range penalty by Richard Buckman three minutes after the final hooter had gone salvaged a 27-27 draw for Hawke's Bay against Waikato at McLean Park on Saturday.
A 73rd minute three-pointer from Trent Renata looked to have sealed the win for the Mooloos until some desperate last ditch all-out attack from the Magpies saw Waikato stray offside and the Hawke's Bay right wing step up to fire the ball between the posts.
It was a remarkable come-back by the home side who trailed 6-12 at the break and were outscored by four tries to two by their opponents.
* The Southland Stags had no trouble in dismissing another challenge to their most prized possession, the Ranfurly Shield.
Southland produced some impressive running rugby to down North Harbour 47-21 and retain the Log o' Wood in their national provincial championship match in Invercargill on Friday.
After stumbling to their first loss of the season last week, 22-33 to Northland, Southland looked a more focused, cohesive unit and dominated Harbour from the whistle in a seven-try win.
Southland coach Simon Culhane had demanded a more intense defensive effort, but it was the Shield holders' attack which impressed.
* On Thursday Bay of Plenty jump-started their season with a comprehensive 41-13 drubbing over Manawatu at Baypark Stadium.
Unlikely hero Tristan Moran completed a dream game for a prop, scoring two tries in two minutes and helping his side to assert their dominance over Manawatu.
BOP's 'old school' forward play proved effective in the wet conditions, as they dominated that match in the tight exchanges.
Some excellent handling from BOP centre Cory Aporo earned him a try, before he set up wing Lelia Masaga for a bonus point try.
Manawatu did manage a try through No.8 Bertus Mulder, but it turned out to be little more than a consolation score, as Manawatu's forwards were out thought and out muscled.
All the Week Seven results and scorers:
Tasman 11-13 Otago:
The scorers:
For Otago:
Try: Aulika
Con: Dickson
Pens: Dickson 2
For Tasman
Try: Jack
Pens: Alfeld 2
Taranaki 29-19 Counties Manukau:
The scorers:
For Taranaki:
Tries: Smith, Baker, Keats
Cons: Ripia 2
Pen: Ripia 3
For Counties Manukau:
Try: Lemalu
Con: Nanai-Williams
Pens: Nanai-Williams 4
Northland 23-27 Canterbury:
The scorers:
For Northland:
Tries: Murray, Eyre
Cons: Munro 2
Pens: Munro 3
For Canterbury:
Tries: Fruean, Romano, Ross
Cons: Brett 3
DGs: Brett, Ellis
Auckland 21-15 Wellington:
The scorers:
For Auckland:
Tries: Moli, Berquist
Con: Berquist
Pens: Berquist 3
For Wellington:
Pens: Sopoaga 5
Hawke's Bay 27-27 Waikato:
The scorers:
For Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Newland, Kaka
Con: Kirkpatrick
Pens: Kirkpatrick 3, Buckman 2
For Waikato:
Tries: Tokula, Messam, Renata, Smith
Cons: Renata 2
Pen: Renata
Southland 47-21 North Harbour
Scorers:
For Southland:
Tries: Lynn 2, Saunders, Mackintosh, Cowan, Horton, Koonwaiyou
Cons: Robinson 6
For North Harbour:
Tries: Tuitavake, Harris, Afoa
Cons: Harris 2, Botica
Bay of Plenty 41 Manawatu 13
The scoreres:
For Bay of Plenty:
Tries: Tristan Moran 2, Cory Aporo, Lelia Masaga, Cullum Retallick, Grant McQuoid
Cons: Mike Delany 2, Colin Bourke, Daniel Waenga
Pen: Mike Delany
For Manawatu:
Try: Bertus Mulder
Con: Craig Clare
Pens: Isaac Thompson 2
* For all the Round Seven teams, CLICK HERE!
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