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Written by Billsy
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Sunday, 15 July 2007 |
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In the last of the pre Air New Zealand cup matches held at Mclean Park Park Napier on Friday night Hawkes Bay met the visiting Bay of Plenty Steamers.
It was the the visitors who came out steaming early on with their scrum, and lineout operating well, and appearing to have the edge in the loose where former Magpie Colin Bourke playing his first game on McLean Park since transferring to the Bay of Plenty particularly impressive.
Had it not been for some ill judged tactical kicking, and handling errors the Magpies could well have found themselves down by more than 12/10 at the halftime break.
Gradually though the Magpie forwards gained the asendency with Grant Webb the former Highlander, George Nauopou, and prop Arizona Taumalolo the pick of a dominating Magpie forward pack.
Taumalolo played without doubt his best game for the Magpies, and impressed by taking short passes off Aayden Clarke, and making huge in roads into the tiring Steamers defence.
Younster Zac Guilford, Clarke, and Captain Danny Lee were other Magpie players to impress. Lee had to leave the field after making a try saving tackle with what appeared to be a broken jaw.
All Magpie fans will be hoping this is not the case.
For the Steamers Colin Bourke, Ngarimu Simpkins, and Mike Delaney impressed, and the Steamers showed given a dry ground and ball with the reintroduction of Coro Aporo they will be a difficult side to beat in the Air New Zealand cup.
Coach Peter Russell can be well pleased with the progress of the Magpies, and the signs are their for a promising cup campaign.
Scorers.
Hawkes Bay 17
Jason Kupa, Zac Guilford tries.
Aayden Clarke 2 Conversions, Penalty.
Bay of Plenty 12
Rena Schuster,Ngarimu Simpkins tries.
Mike Delaney Conversion. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 July 2007 )
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