Turbos sneak home in rain
If anyone of rugby ilk wants to experience the full spectrum of emotions, come to Manawatu¯ . That was former Manawatu¯ prop Terry Clare’s declaration after the Turbos at last got the job done in the final seconds on Thursday night, holding off Northland 31-25, four tries to three in Palmerston North.
Since the Turbos were hatched in 2006, it has always been that way, turning bucketeers into nervous wrecks, with the outcome seldom decided until time is up. Noone leaves early.
On Thursday, with scrums loading up in the vulnerable Manawatu¯ red zone, it seemed inevitable Northland would profit from one to tie it up. Firstly, a Manawatu¯ forward was pinged for scooping the ball and when Northland were given the feed, ref Glen Jackson penalised their tighthead prop for angling in and the Turbos whooped.
Jackson partially redeemed himself after the Ranfurly Shield challenge a week previously, even with vice-captain Nick Crosswell heavily in his ear in the countdown minutes.
‘‘That was classic Turbos,’’ Crosswell said. ‘‘Get in the lead and then have lapses in concentration.’’
It rained of course, but coach Peter Russell was happy to celebrate the win rather than dwell on too many negatives. ‘‘At the end of the day a win’s a win,’’ Russell said. ‘‘The last couple of weeks have been pretty down for the boys. It’s our first win and I’m taking that. Five points – I would’ve taken four.’’
One huge negative was losing lock Tom Hughes for the season to a ruptured achilles tendon. He had been on the field for only two minutes and now the Turbos are down to two specialist locks, Fraser Stone and Liam Mitchell, although Crosswell and Sione Tu’ipulotu can cope there.
Jamie Booth and Sam Malcolm were whisked off as a precaution when hamstrings tightened. They have nine days to recover before flying to the desperate Southland, when prop Fraser Armstrong should also be fit. Booth has become the star, proven when, with hamstrings at full stretch, he scored a beauty off Ngani Laumape’s kick.
Memo to Steve Hansen: Leave Laumape with the Turbos at least until they subdue Southland.
Manawatu¯ were a threat when they dashed wide, with Laumape a key component in two tries and ready for Japan when needed. Northland’s battling backs who, aside from NZ 20s fullback Scott Gregory, couldn’t cope with a rampant All Black. Laumape’s inside ball sent Adam Boult away in the slick training-field move and, yes, it came off a lineout.
Laumape’s only remark when approached afterwards: ‘‘I’m focusing on the Turbos, bro.’’ Which is more than fine by Manawatu¯ .
Gregory, on track for the Olympics sevens next year, lapped up those box kicks from Booth.
When leading 24-10 at halftime, the Turbos need to lock teams out.
Where last week Manawatu¯ won every stat and lost the game, this week it was the opposite, seldom going through phases before turning the ball over. Manawatu¯ made 148 tackles to 46, many when defending drives to the tryline.
Last week against Otago they won every lineout. This time they lost five. Again though the Turbos didn’t play the territory game.
‘‘We’ve learned some critical lessons tonight,’’ Russell said. ‘‘Penalty upon penalty, you just can’t survive because teams will go to the corner.
‘‘We also had a lot of possession around halfway and just didn’t utilise the wind and the weather to get into the corners. We started reasonably well, but a lapse in concentration in the bottom corner and it was seven points back on board again. You’ve got to have composure, even on defence.’’
Other sins were too much nervy catching, being forced over the touchline on attack, not clearing immediately from stressed scrums, losing 50 metres off bung lineouts and from one of those, eight minutes from time, Gregory scored and Northland were back in it.
Otere Black on his 50th slotted five of six goals and another of his expert Nrl-type grubbers put Andre Taylor over, off a maul penalty to boot. Johnny Galloway, new to this level, got a jackal and a deserved try, while Samuela Tawake, Crosswell and Mitchell were in the thick of all the combat.
Manawatu¯ 31 (Andre Taylor 2, Johnny Galloway, Jamie Booth, tries; Otere Black 4 con, pen) Northland 25 (Sam Nock, Ross Wright, Scott Gregory, tries, Jack Debreczeni 2 con, 2 pen) HT 24-10.