Northland upsetWaikato to claim place in semifinals
NORTHLAND snapped a fourmatch losing streak to march into the Mitre 10 Cup’s championship semifinals in winning form after stunning premiership contenders Waikato in Kaikohe yesterday.
Amid all the uncertainty in the premiership, with semifinals and a potential relegation battle to decide, Waikato and Northland were certain of playing beyond the final round because their top-four finishes were already guaranteed.
The Taniwha were simply more clinical and enthusiastic, winning 28-17 to climb up to third in the standings, and they can wait on today’s results to learn whether they travel to Hawke’s Bay or Otago in next weekend’s semifinals.
Mooted national provincial championship changes mean Northland are chasing a championship title that might not guarantee promotion, while Waikato are after their first toptier title since 2006 when they contest the premiership semifinals, but the Taniwhawill be more confident after their bonuspoint victory against the Mooloos.
Waikato’s first top-four finish in the premiership since 2011 looks unconvincing after three consecutive defeats but the
Mooloos will take some solace in finally returning to the semifinals. The manner of their defeat was poor nonetheless.
they failed to score a point in the second half and their hopes faded when Quinn Tupaea was sinbinned in the final quarter.
Knowing their semifinal place was secure after Counties Manukau beat Southland 25-17 on Friday, the Taniwha were slow out of the blocks but improved and rode their luck after the Mooloos squandered chances.