Taranaki strike form in second half to thump Hawke’s Bay
Two games into the national provincial rugby championship and Taranaki have produced two quality halves of rugby.
Their problem is the fact that they have not been in the same game, not that there were too many fans complaining as they left Yarrow Stadium on Saturday after Taranaki thumped Hawke’s Bay 55-28.
Few would have seen the margin of the victory through the the opening 40 minutes when Taranaki were off their game as they gifted Hawke’s Bay a 14-point start that could have been worse had they not got a favourable view from the television match official who scratched a Jonah Lowe try because of obstruction.
Slow to react, poor execution and a lack of concentration were the hallmarks of Taranaki’s opening half as they were tormented by
one-test All Black halfback Brad Weber who caused them all sorts of problems with his speed around the fringes.
The bad was forgotten from about the 39th minute, however, as Taranaki captain Mitchell Crosswell scored to give them a momentum swing they never relinquished, although there was a hint of an unlikely Hawke’s Bay comeback about 70 minutes in before the home side finished over the top of their opposition.
The second half was undoubt- edly good as Taranaki’s forwards carried with real conviction and their backs provided the polish as they finished with seven tries that were all converted by Marty McKenzie who ended the match with 25 points to cap off a classy fortnight.
Despite trailing through the first half, Crosswell felt Hawke’s Bay had not built a lot of pressure.
‘‘It felt like if we could hold on to the ball we could open them up and we did,’’ he said.
He was well aware the cost their lapses of concentration had in their defence that would need to improve while he thought they had made advancements in the way they approached the breakdown from a week prior.
‘‘We were soft last week. We talked as a forward group and as loose forwards and we knew we had to be a lot tougher there. While we had some penalties go against us in the first half at least the intent was there.’’
Crosswell admitted to being surprised at just how easy Hawke’s Bay caved in the second half. ’’They are always a tough side, particularly up front, they’re always hard nosed so it was strange. Maybe it was the fact that the momentum swung so much and credit to our guys for carrying so well and creating so many opportunities.’’
Taranaki coach Colin Cooper believed their poor start was down to a combination of the players not doing what they had planned to do, the fact they ‘‘took their eye’’ off Weber and lapses in concentration.
‘‘We said at halftime we needed to get hold of the ball and maintain it, get into their half and work because they spread [across] the field really well. That’s why the pick and go worked really well for us.’’
Cooper felt they got good impact off their bench while he also paid tribute to the work of McKenzie.