Shield goes to daring Mooloos
Against all odds, the Ranfurly Shield is back in the Waikato.
The Mooloo men stunned Hawke’s Bay 36-30 at Napier’s McLean Park on Friday night to claim New Zealand rugby’s most coveted prize once again.
In what was their 10th successful challenge for the Log o’ Wood, Waikato capped off what had been a wretched national provincial championship season with the ultimate silver lining. Oh and by the way, avoided relegation to the championship division. A second-half hat-trick to captain Brad Weber sent the Magpies packing in what was their 12th defence of the log.
Appropriately, on the very same night Waikato Draught were celebrating their 70th birthday. And it was sure to be a long celebratory bus trip home for the Mooloo men. The Mooloos rightfully went for an all-out attack, nothing-to-lose approach, perfectly summed up by their sensational length-ofthe-field try early in the second half.
Just moments earlier the Magpies had made a big statement, winning a scrum penalty after tackling their hearts out from relentless Waikato pressure.
Referee Nick Briant had a question mark on the pass and TMO Mark Johnson had to enter the field to get his verdict across, which only heightened the drama for an edgy crowd, but the try stood. It proved the decisive moment, Waikato suddenly up 24-15.
West closed the margin by three and then had the chance to claw another three back with 17 minutes left, but the Bay opted for touch, and Waikato lock Peni Iowane jumped up and nabbed the lineout, then Robbie Fruean dropped a high ball.
Even Ben Tameifuna’s yellow card and tries to Lewis Marshall and Brendon O’Connor couldn’t change the outcome, though it did make for a tense final few moments.