Pipped by our Bogey Team PDF Print E-mail
Written by Mr BMR789   
Saturday, 16 August 2008

Jason Kawau's 71st minute try set up Southland's 20-16 victory over Hawke's Bay in Napier on Saturday night, and finally rewarded his side's dominance of territory.

Turning around a stodgy first half, from both teams, they threw the ball around in the second and while Southland had the greater share of ground and ball, they struggled to make an impact.

However, when down 13-16 and with time ticking away, the opening came on the blindside after first five-eighths Blair Stewart whose goal-kicking kept the southerners in touch, ran back against the tide, set up a ruck, and the ball was moved for second five-eighths Kawau, who had been sharp in mid-field throughout the game to dive over in the corner.

Stewart added a fine conversion from the sideline to give Southland the impetus it was not prepared to concede.

Hawke's Bay stormed back onto attack by opting for a lineout in the Southland 22m area rather than taking a shot for goal. Hawke's Bay fired several rolling mauls at the line, but Southland's defence was staunch, the ball was held up and Southland cleared.

A mighty 50m penalty goal by first five-eighths Matt Berquist saw Hawke's Bay take a 9-6 lead over Southland in what had been a tryless and uninspiring first half.

The tempo was lifted after the break as both teams threw the ball around.

Southland scored first after the break when a charge down of an attempted clearing kick by Bay halfback Danny Lee from a five-metre lineout. Flanker Tim Boys was onto the ball and was deemed by the television match official to have got sufficient downward pressure on the ball ahead of a despairing Lee.

Hawke's Bay was undaunted however and it was flanker Karl Lowe who took a short pass from Berquist just inside his own half and then broke four attempted tackles from the Southlanders on a superb run which saw him awarded a try as he rolled over the goal-line in the tackle.

That put Hawke's Bay back in front 16-13.

Southland suffered lineout problems in the first half as the Bay poured through on uncontrolled ball with good effect and it took heavy efforts from the southern defenders to hold out the Bay thrusts.

Several opportunities went begging for Southland in the last quarter. Handling mistakes, stout Bay defence and wrong options all proved costly.

Hawke's Bay No.8 George Naoupu had a fine game with his covering play while in the backline centre Jason Shoemark made some telling tackles, as did blindside loose forward Michael Johnson.

Southland also suffered some turnover problems at vital stages of the second half as it started to play catch-up rugby.

Prop Jamie Mackintosh marked his return with a lively game although several times called for infringements in breakdown situations.

Scorers:

Southland 20 (Tim Boys, Jason Kawau tries; Blair Stewart 2 con, 2 pen)
Hawke's Bay 16 (Karl Lowe try; Matt Berquist con, 3 pen).

HT: 6-9
 
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