Stags survive BoP hunt
Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:47
Southland produced an extraordinary comeback to advance to the Air New Zealand Cup semifinals with an impressive 45-11 rout of Bay of Plenty at Bay Park in Mt Maunganui on Saturday.
The Stags, who qualified for the play-offs despite losing their last two league matches and managed just five wins in 10 starts in the regular league season, produced some of their best rugby of the season in racing past the BoP Steamers.
Southland ran in six tries to Bay of Plenty's one in a game that showed just how dangerous the Stags can be when they hit their attacking straps.
The fast-paced nature of the game gifted players like Southland wing Pehi Te Whare, who claimed two tries, and created numerous opportunities for a side that looks to have a real shot against Wellington in the semifinals next week.
Bay of Plenty looked dangerous early on and inside centre Nigel Hunt showed great strength to barge over for his team's first try.
However, Southland hit back immediately a minute later when Te Whare scored the first of his tries - sprinting through a gap, before passing inside and then recollecting the ball himself before fending off a defender and scoring for the Stags.
Blair Stewart added the conversion for a 7-5 lead.
Bay of Plenty flyhalf Mike Delany regained the lead with a 19th-minute penalty, but Te Whare struck back again.
A prolonged Southland attack followed and Te Whare again pieced the defence before popping a pass inside to All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan, who was rewarded with a good try.
BoP piled on the pressure and had great territorial advantage for 10 minutes, but it was Southland who scored next through big lock Josh Bekhuis - against the run of play right.
The conversion was added by Stewart on the stroke of half-time, with the Stags holding a commanding 21-8 lead.
Stags prop Chris King was sin-binned in the opening stages of the second half, when he killed a Bay of Plenty attacking opportunity right on Southland's line.
Southland was able to withstand the pressure, however, and soon sent the play all the way down the other end of the field.
Bay of Plenty made its way back down field and was gifted another three points through a Delany penalty.
Stewart was able to stretch the lead soon after when he charged down a Bay of Plenty clearing kick and regathered to score Southland's fourth try.
Bay of Plenty put together one of the longest periods of attack of the season as phase after phase saw the home side make its way down field, although the Southland defence was up to the challenge and saw out the sustained pressure.
The pressure was soon turned against Bay of Plenty, when the Stags scored another great try through centre Jason Kawau - which was converted by Stewart.
Te Whare was able to rub some salt in the Bay of Plenty wounds when he picked the ball out of the back of a ruck and had an undisturbed dash towards the line to score his second, as Southland continued their march towards the semifinals.
Southland now head to Wellington to play the Lions in the semifinal next week.
The scorers:
For Bay of Plenty:
Try: Hunt
Pens: Delany 2
For Southland:
Tries: Te Whare 2, Cowan, Bekhuis, Stewart, Kawau
Cons: Stewart 6
Pen: Stewart
Teams:
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, 6 Solomon King, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 John Moore, 3 John McGougan, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Joe Savage.
Replacements: 16 Dean Elmiger, 17 Matt Wallace, 18 Josh Katene, 19 Aiden Kuka, 20 Luke Braid, 21 Josh Hall, 22 Toby
Arnold.
Southland: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Kendrick Lynn, 13 Matt Saunders, 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Pehi Te Whare, 10 Blair Stewart, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 David Hall, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Dion Bates, 5 Hoani Macdonald, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Matt Holloway, 17 Fai Mika, 18 Daniel Ramsay, 19 John Hardie/Joe Tuineau, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Mark Wells, 22 Willie Rickards.
Referee: Steve Walsh
Touch judges: Garratt Williamson, Matthew Stanish
TMO: Ben Skeen
