Northland snap losing streak, stun Waikato in the far north
Northland snapped a four-match 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 topfour finishes were already guaranteed.
The Taniwha were simply more clinical and enthusiastic than a sloppy Waikato side, 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 top-tier title since 2006 when they contest the premiership semifinals, but the Taniwha will be more confident after their bonus-point victory against the Mooloos.
Waikato’s first top-four finish in the premiership since 2011 looks unconvincing after three consecutive defeats before the finals but the Mooloos will take some solace in finally returning to the semifinals. The manner of their defeat in a crossover clash played in the ferocious heat in the far north was poor nonetheless.
Their hopes faded when Quinn Tupaea was sinbinned in the final quarter and the Mooloos failed to score a point in the second half.
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.