Mighty Magpies keep the wins ticking
Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:59
Hawke's Bay Magpies continued their winning ways with a respectable 24-15 victory over Waikato in their eighth round Air New Zealand (NZ) Cup fixture in Napier on Saturday.
The Magpies scored four tries to two to secure their sixth win in eight matches, while the Mooloos slumped to their fifth loss with a display which lacked both passion and precision.
Hawke's Bay lead comfortably at half-time (19-5) in front of a big home crowd, although Waikato showed more enthusiasm in the second spell.
The Magpies attacked from the kick-off and scored their first try in the 5th minute from a fumbled ball by Waikato fullback Dwayne Sweeney - swarming in to secure good ruck possession sending prop Sona Taumalolo over in the corner.
Sam Giddens converted from the sideline to make it 7-0.
Waikato got their game together however after a concerted attack, seeing Callum Bruce stealing through a gap to score an easy try.
Bruce then missed an easy conversion, but Hawke's Bay's lead had been reduced to 7-5 after 14 minutes.
The Magpies doubled their score after 21 minutes when centre Jason Shoemark gathered a loose Mooloo pass and raced close on 50 metres to the posts. Giddens converted to extend the lead to 14-5.
Hawke's Bay scored their third try after 33 minutes from a line-out turnover, as flank Karl Lowe snapped up the loose ball sending right wing Jason Kupa over in the corner to make it 19-5, going into half-time.
Waikato drew first blood in the second half with a try initiated by right wing Tim Mikkelson, who kicked ahead, gathered and off-loaded to scrumhalf Malcolm Barnes who scored under the posts. Bruce converted to close the gap 19-12.
Waikato continued to attack as Bruce narrowed the gap further to 19-15 with an angled penalty after 56 minutes.
However, Hawke's Bay re-asserted their hold on the game after 63 minutes when fullback Israel Dagg broke the line and sent No.11 Zac Guildford racing over in the corner to extend the lead to 24-15.
Waikato had a golden opportunity to narrow the gap once again when prop Hikairo Forbes broke the line with some open space ahead but wing Henry Speight dropped a good pass.
Scorers:
For Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Taumalolo, Shoemark, Kupa, Guildford
Cons: Giddens 2
For Waikato:
Tries: Bruce, Barnes
Con: Bruce
Pen: Bruce
Teams:
Hawke's Bay: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Jason Kupa, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Sam Giddens, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Waenga, 9 Danny Lee/Chris Eaton, 8 George Naoupu/Pama Petia, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Johnson, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Matt Egan, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Hikawera Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo/Josh Keys.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Josh
Keys/Jodie Allen, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Adam Bradey, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Richard Buckman, 22 Mark Jackman.
Waikato: 15 Dwayne Sweeney, 14 Tim Mikkelson, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Trent Renata, 9 Malcolm Barnes, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Tom Harding, 6 Jordan Smiler, 5 Kevin O’Neill, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Aled de Malmanche, 2 Vern Kamo, 1 Hikairo Forbes.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Kent Fife, 19 Matt Blain, 20 David Bason, 21 Sam Christie, 22 James Kamana/Save Tokula.
Referee: Vinny Munro
TMO: Chris Pollock
