Mooloos send Magpies packing
WAIKATO were back to their best as they relegated Hawke’s Bay last night.
The outcome was black and white from the get-go, as the Mooloos beat the Magpies 46-22 in Hamilton.
Waikato’s rugby was scintillating and scrappy in patches at FMG Stadium Waikato, with outstanding offloads and clinical running punishing Hawke’s Bay, who drop back to the championship after one season.
Individual errors offered them a route back into the contest but Waikato’s advantage on the scoreboard left the Magpies chasing thin air, with Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara scoring a brilliant brace.
The premiership semifinals are a long shot for the Mooloos after a four-match winless streak prior to clipping the Magpies.
However, there’s a slim chance nonetheless if they can win in Wellington in the final round of the Mitre 10 Cup next weekend.
Sean Botherway made four changes to the starting XV that lost 48-27 to Northland, which was the Taniwha’s first win in two years.
This was an entirely different Waikato side that took to the field in Hamilton, though, compared to the one beaten so badly in Whangarei.
Slack hands ended promising breaks for Waikato in the first few minutes, but captain Whetu Douglas again showed the way with a brilliant inside ball that set Jordan Trainor free in centre-field, before he offloaded to Tavuyara to score.
It was a case of right place, right time for the Fijian winger, who touched down for his sixth try in his debut NPC season.
Pele Cowley had a try chalked off after a long TMO review, but Trainor added his first penalty to take the Mooloos’ lead to 10-0 in the opening quarter from the next play.
Ihaia West put the Magpies on the board with a 23rd minute penalty, but Willis Halaholo then crashed over under the posts as Waikato turned the screw.
Tau Koloamatangi reached out to score his first try of the season five minutes before halftime, with Hawke’s Bay’s staring relegation ANTHONY AU-YEUNG/GETTY IMAGES in the face as the Mooloos led 24-3.
Trainor added another three as the siren sounded to round off a brilliant first 40 for Waikato.
The Mooloos had another try disallowed by TMO Aaron Patterson because of Trainor’s marginal knock-on in the act of scoring.
Trainor then had a kick charged down, before Tevita Taufui pulled back second-rower Geoff Cridge in his attempt to score.
The second-five eighth saw yellow and Hawke’s Bay were awarded a penalty try.
After a few close calls, the Magpies were hit hard by Trainor’s bonus-point try in the 55th minute, after Waikato’s fullback finished off another excellent move down the right.
Tony Lamborn and Mason Emerson then touched down for Hawke’s Bay to reduce the deficit to 34-22.
But Tavuyara crossed for his second of the game and seventh of the season with 10 minutes to go. Jason Robertson scored Waikato’s sixth, as they cut loose to keep their semifinal hopes alive.