BoP stave off Stag fight
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:09
Bay of Plenty (BoP) secured a hard-fought 24-22 Air New Zealand (NZ) Cup victory over Southland in Mt. Maunganui on Thursday, after a threatening second-half display from the Stags.
The Steamers scored just three points in the second half to Southland's 14, but it proved sufficient to seal the win in the end.
The home team had an attacking first half, while Southland's handling errors proved costly throughout the second half. Robbie Robinson narrowly missed a 76th minute drop-goal attempt to try squeeze a lead in the dying stages.
However, BoP took their chances and were able to hold onto the ball, despite their scrum being put under genuine pressure from the Southlanders.
BoP started strong, with blindside flank Solomon King making two powerful surges, the second of which prompted a confident backline move which saw centre Nigel Hunt score and flyhalf Mike Delany landing the conversion.
From the restart, a charge by hooker Jason Rutledge fired Southland up and into the Bay 22-metre area.
At a scrum infringement by a detached Tanerau Latimer, a penalty was awarded, but Stags flyhalf Blair Stewart wasn't able to convert the opportunity.
Stewart redeemed himself though after slotting a penalty goal from 40 metres after prop James McGougan handled the ball in a scrum.
More Steamers attacking play resulted in scrumhalf Ruki Tipuna crossing for the second try.
Southland went on the attack again but solid Bay defence saw flank Tim Boys held up over the line. The Stags then claimed a tighthead, but centre Kendrick Lynn dropped the ball to ruin another scoring opportunity.
With seven minutes of the half remaining, Tipuna raced through Southland's line-out on the halfway to run clear before sending the ball on his outside and an easy run-in try for right wing Lance MacDonald.
Finally the Stags got a try on the board when fullback Robbie Robinson created the space when running into the backline, setting up the movement which allowed All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan to take a tap from a long-arm penalty and cross himself.
The Steamers led 21-10 at half-time.
Southland's handling errors continued to taint their chances into the second half, resulting in frustration and a degree of panic coming into their play.
Delany added a penalty early in the second half to take the Steamers to a 24-10 lead.
However, a change at flyhalf for Southland with Stewart replaced to allow Robinson to move up from fullback, added significant impetus to the backline.
Robinson's kicking was first class, and a long kick cleverly back into the box created a line-out for the Steamers - but Southland won the ball and Robinson ran ahead and then fed a long pass to centre Lynn who raced in for a good try.
Robinson's conversion cut the margin to 22-24, handing the hosts a hard-fought victory.
Scorers:
For Bay of Plenty:
Tries: Hunt, Tipuna, MacDonald
Cons: Delany 3
Pen: Delany
For Southland:
Tries: Cowan, Saunders, Lynn
Cons: Stewart, Robinson
Pen: Stewart
Teams:
Southland: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Matt Saunders, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Mark Wells, 10 Blair Stewart, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Hoani MacDonald, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Dion Bates, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Daniel Ramsay, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Replacements: 16 Matt Holloway, 17 Michael Peterson, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 Pete Copeland, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Willie Rickards, 22 Pehi Te Whare.
Bay of Plenty: 15 Zar Lawrence, 14 Lance MacDonald, 13 Cory Aporo, 12 Nigel Hunt, 11 Jason
Hona, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Ruki Tipuna, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer (captain), 6 Soloman King, 5 Cullum Retallick, 4 John Moore, 3 James McGoughan, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Joe Savage.
Replacements: 16 Dean Elmiger, 17 Matt Wallace, 18 Aiden Kuka, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Josh Hall, 21 Kelly Haimona, 22 Paula Asaeli.
Referee: Kelvin Deaker
TMO: Chris Pollock
