Southland’s woes continue
Southland’s losing streak has extended to 17 games after their 26-10 loss to Northland in Whangarei last night.
Although Northland’s lineout was a mess, they dominated in every other aspect of the game in the first half and over the second 40-minute period defended resiliently.
Their forwards continually muscled their way up the field and the backs were well directed by first five-eighth Jack Debreczeni and at times this was the best the Taniwha had played this season, particularly with their loose forwards Jaycob Mate, Kara Pyror and Matt Matich.
Southland were just too one dimensional on attack and it was all too easy for Northland to read what they were going to do.
The first half the Stags were woeful, but the second half when they played better, they should have scored a bucket load of tries, yet only got one.
With New Zealand Rugby jumping in to fix the Blues, maybe they need to do the same with Southland, because surely there’s only so long this province can keep losing before their status as a Mitre 10 Cup team comes into question.
The veteran James Wilson kicked a penalty for Southland in the 10th minute after a bright start from the Stags.
Northland should have scored a try a few minutes later when Rene Ranger broke down the left, he then passed the ball to Pryor, but his subsequent pass to the man outside him was forward.
But four minutes later the try did come, with Pryor this time throwing a better pass outside him to Matich, which put him in space to score.
In the 22nd minute Northland halfback Northland 26 Sam Nock picked the ball up from a ruck and saw some slack defence on the blindside, so darted that way for his team’s second try.
Debreczeni threw a nice floating pass out wide to the waiting lock Murray Douglas who ran in comfortably for the next try as Southland’s nice start had become a distant memory.
The Stags did play better in the second half, but the Northland defence continued to hold strong, while basic errors hindered Southland’s momentum.
Despite this, Southland were constantly camped inside the opposition’s half and they finally got some reward when lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit stuck out an arm from a ruck close to the line for a try.
It was the wakeup call Northland needed and they started to not only play better, but get out of their half and with four minutes to go Douglas got his second try of the night.