 | vs |  | | 30 | - | 6 |
The mighty Mapies start to the 2008 season didn't get the result we had hoped for. Not all doom and gloom for Hawkeye tho as it was a very talented Wellington side which has been tipped to take out the Comp.
A shakey start, and altho we looked good until around the 60 odd minute mark and a few dodgy kicks from Berquist and Dagg and it was curtains from then on. Not the result our 100 game hero Micheal Johnson would have hoped for but signs of promise for the squad.
Wellington extracted a fair measure of revenge when they beat Hawke's Bay 30-6 in an Air NZ Cup rugby match in Wellington tonight.
Hawke's Bay, whose giant-killing run to last year's semifinals was launched by their second round 8-6 win over Wellington, had no answer as their hosts scored four tries to none for a bonus-point win on a drizzly night.
Wellington's new coach Jamie Joseph would have been pleased with the performance of Cup debutants Daniel Kirkpatrick at first five-eighth and second five Michael Hobbs, son of former All Black skipper Jock, who is currently the chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Hobbs gave an unflustered display and capped his night with a deserved try.
World under-20 championship star Kirkpatrick stamped his class on the match, running his backline at every opportunity. He also kicked well, stroking over two penalties and two of four conversion attempts. Come back to Hawke's Bay after University Daniel - all will be forgiven.
Hawke's Bay, brought more experience to this year's encounter with hooker Hikawera Elliot joining the All Blacks squad this week as a standby and backs Zac Guildford and Jason Shoemark having Super 14 experience.
They also came into the match riding a string of seven wins in pre-season matches under the leadership of halfback Danny Lee.
But last year's runners-up powered by three former All Blacks in John Schwalger, Ross Filipo and Chris Masoe, were too strong on the night, particularly in the second half.
 Wellington dominated the opening minutes and opened the scoring via wing Hosea Gear who dotted down to complete a series of forward drives in the 10th minute.
Kirkpatrick stretched the lead out 10 minutes later with his first penalty.
But Hawke's Bay took control and dominated territory. Crucially, little errors let Wellington off the hook time and again.
First five-eighth Matt Berquist replied with a penalty in the 25th minute and cut the deficit to two points with another on the halftime hooter.
After a laboured performance in the second half, Wellington found a little bit more rhythm with improved connections between pack and backs.
Kirkpatrick stretched the lead with his second penalty early in the second half but Wellington had to wait until the 63rd minute to get their second try after Hobbs followed up on a charge down as fullback Israel Dagg attempted to clear.
Sprightly halfback Alby Mathewson got Wellington's next try, finishing off a piece of opportunism brilliantly from a line-out a few minutes later.
Then prop Jacob Ellison had the simplest of tasks scoring the final try on the stroke of fulltime after substitute wing Tomasi Palu had charged down another attempted clearance. Wellington 30 (Hosea Gear, Michael Hobbs, Alby Mathewson, Jacob Ellison tries; Daniel Kirkpatrick 2 con, 2 pen)
Hawkes Bay 6 (Matt Berquist 2 pen)
HT: 8-6 |
