Bay duo battles for promotion
The Battle of the Bays is shaping as the decisive contest in the race to win promotion from the Mitre 10 Cup Championship.
Hawke’s Bay extended their unbeaten start to the season in round six of the National Provincial Championship, beating Waikato 27-34 on the Mooloos’ home turf in Hamilton, while Bay of Plenty were too strong for Taranaki in New Plymouth, prevailing 31-17.
Those results left the Magpies at the top of the table with 28 points from five wins and a draw, seven clear of Bay of Plenty, who have 21 points.
The bay teams appear to have a firm grip on the top two spots – and hosting rights for the semifinals – and it will surprise no-one if they meet in the final at the end of October.
Hawke’s Bay now await a visit from Taranaki next weekend, while Bay of Plenty are away to Northland, with the regular season clash between the two to follow in round eight.
Canterbury continued to right themselves after starting their season with three losses, thumping Northland 42-12 in Whangarei on Friday night to make it three wins in a row, cementing themselves in the hunt for the Premiership semifinals.
Owen Franks made his first appearance since his shock omission from the All Blacks’ World Cup squad and was impressive as six of his team-mates got on the scoresheet.
Next up for Canterbury is a visit from Manawatu¯ , which ■ Hawke’s Bay 27 (Lincoln McClutchie, Folau Fakatava, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Mason Emerson tries, McClutchie 2 con, pen) Waikato 24 (Solomon Alaimalo, Quinn Tupaea 2, Simon Parker tries, Rivez Reihana 2 con). HT: 10-14.
■ Canterbury 42 (Sam Gilbert, Brodie McAlister, Josh McKay, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Fergus Burke, Cullen Grace tries; Brett Cameron 3 con, 2 pen) Northland 12 (Sean Sweetman, Jack Debreczeni tries; Debreczeni con). HT: 22-7. ■ Bay of Plenty 31 (Chase Tiatia, Emoni Narawa, Dan Hollinshead, Fa’asiu Fuatai, Joseva Ravouvou tries; Hollinshead 2 cons, Jason Robertson con) Taranaki 17 (Jayson Potroz, Teihorangi Walden tries; Daniel Waite 2con; Daniel Waite pen). HT: 17-10.
■ Manawatu¯ 31 (Brayden Iose, Ngani Laumape 2, Rhys Pedersen tries, Otere Black 4 con, pen) Southland 26 (Greg Pleasants–Tate, Lewis Ormond, Logan Crowley, Raymond Nu’u tries, Marty McKenzie 3 con). HT: 7-26.
■ Auckland 28 (Blake Gibson, Caleb Clarke, Harry Plummer, Salesi Rayasi tries; Plummer 3 cons, Daniel Kirkpatrick con) Counties Manukau 13 (Joe Royal, Sikeli Nabou try; Orbyn Leger pen). HT: 7-3.
Premiership standings: Tasman* 24, Auckland 19, Canterbury 18, Wellington* 16, Waikato 16, North Harbour* 14, Counties-Manukau 11.
Championship standings: Hawke’s Bay 28, Bay of Plenty 21, Otago* 15, Taranaki 14, Manawatu¯ 11, Northland 5, Southland 2.
*Playing on Sunday.
Mitre 10 Cup, round six:
should provide a good chance for the red-and-blacks to make it four wins out of four.
The Turbos picked up their second win of the season – and second in a row – on Saturday, as Ngani Laumape scored twice to help them come from behind in Invercargill, winning 31-26 and extending Southland’s losing
streak to 27 matches.
Southland’s first win in nearly three years had been on the cards as they led by 19 points half an hour in, but they didn’t score again after that as the Turbos ran in 24 unanswered points.
Auckland made hard work for themselves on Saturday night, Akira Ioane, Tumua Manu and Jonathan Ruru all spending time in the sin bin, reducing Alama Ieremia’s side to 14 men for half an hour of their clash with Counties Manukau.
The defending champions won 28-13 in the end in Pukekohe, the final whistle coming well after 9.30pm, which prompted Ieremia to say afterwards that it was the weirdest game he’d ever been involved in.
Awaiting Auckland are Wellington at their Eden Park home, while Counties Manukau will make their way to Invercargill, looking to hand Southland their 28th consecutive loss.