Magpie fightback topples Taranaki
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:06
The Hawke' Bay Magpies continued their climb up the Air New Zealand (NZ) Cup table into third position, with a gutsy 18-14 win over Taranaki in Napier on Thursday.
Trailing by 14 points after 20 minutes, Hawke's Bay scored 18 unanswered points 20 minutes either side of half-time to claim their third consecutive Air NZ Cup victory, to cement their position in the top four of the competition.
Taranaki went into the match on the front foot after an impressive 39-21 win over Northland last week, but their backs who starred in that victory, just didn't seem to fire in Napier.
Taranaki secured two tries in the first 20 minutes of the game thanks to their forwards playing at pace - with locks Jason Eaton and Craig Clarke and loose forwards Chris Walker and Scott Waldrom playing major roles in securing Taranaki possession.
The Hawke's Bay defence faltered under the battering. From a five metre line-out, Waldrom was driven over for the first try which Willie Ripia duly converted.
The second Taranaki try came when Waldrom won a loose ball to spark another series of forward charges which ended with scrumhalf Brett Goodin planting the ball on the try-line. Ripia converted for a 14-0 lead.
However, the Hawke's Bay pack finally got into their stride and the next 20 minutes saw a role-reversal as Taranaki found themselves pinned in their own half.
After conceding the second try the Magpies replied immediately, with energetic prop Sona Taumalolo scoring in the left corner off the blindside of a ruck close to the line.
Matt Berquist converted and shortly afterwards added a penalty (after an Eaton infringement close to the posts). Hawke's Bay might have profited more from this period, yet spilled the ball on numerous occasions.
Wing Zac Guildford had another productive game, setting up Hawke's Bay's only try of the second half.
The Magpies spread the ball wide from another surge, as Guildford handled twice in the movement, making the final pass for centre Sam Giddens to go over in the right corner.
Berquist missed the conversion but redeemed himself when he slotted a second penalty, which ended scoring in the game. Taranaki were unable to recapture their first-half momentum, failing to penetrate a smothering Magpies defence for the rest of the match.
The Magpies will however have some concerns for their next encounter, as their captain, Danny Lee, came off early in the second half with a badly bruised hand.
Taranaki managed to secure a bonus point from this encounter having finished within seven points of Hawke's Bay, though remain outside the top eight on the tournament table.
Scorers:
For Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Taumalolo, Giddens
Cons: Berquist
Pen: Berquist 2
For Taranaki:
Tries: Waldrom, Goodin
Cons: Ripia 2
Teams:
Hawke's Bay: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Jason Kupa, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Sam Giddens, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Danny Lee (captain), 8 George Naoupu, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Johnson, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Matt Egan, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Hikawera Elliot, 1 Faka'anaua Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Josh Keys, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Adam Bradey, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Daniel Waenga, 22 Mark Jackman.
Taranaki: 15 Asalemo Malo, 14 Nathan Hohaia, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 Shayne Austin, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Brett Goodin, 8 Taiasina Tuifua, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Chris Walker, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Hamish Mitchell, 2 Laurence Corlett, 1 Tony Penn (captain).
Replacements: 16 James Annabell, 17 Shane Cleaver, 18 Tom Ryder, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Brendan Haami, 21 Corey Niwa, 22 Jack
Cameron.
Referee: Chris Pollock
TMO: Kelvin Deaker
