Waikato loss saves Auckland
Waikato have been relegated to the Mitre 10 Cup Championship after Bay of Plenty held on to win the battle of the Kaimais 36-32 in Tauranga yesterday.
Canterbury had opened the door for Waikato to survive by beating Auckland 32-27 at Eden Park on Friday night, but the Steamers slammed it shut to send the Mooloos down to the second tier of the provincial rugby competition for the first time since 1986.
Auckland have never played outside the top tier, but Waikato’s calamitous seven-match losing streak – a growing province record – sees them finish bottom and tumble into the Championship ranks
for next season.
Bay of Plenty’s win at Tauranga Domain secures them a home semifinal in the Championship for next weekend after both sides scored five tries each.
Mike Delany’s boot was the difference, though, as the experienced first five-eighth had the Steamers clicking while their threatening backline cut Waikato to pieces.
The hosts led only 19-12 at halftime after Sevu Reece scored a vital try – after making the initial break – just after the hooter sounded to keep the Mooloos very much alive.
Waikato’s players gathered in a huddle, knowing their Premiership status was at stake, as the second half kicked off and Pita Ahki’s try brought them level in the 44th minute.
When Lalakai Foketi returned from the sinbin, after seeing yellow just before Reece’s try, Waikato had run in two converted tries and Ahki’s penalty then put the visitors ahead for the first time, at 22-19.
Waikato at last had some belief but Ahki, who was in the thick of everything, was sinbinned after an hour for a deliberate knock down when the Steamers applied intense pressure on Waikato’s line.
Bay of Plenty finally cracked Waikato’s gallant resistance when Foketi powered over for what was his second try and the Mooloos, with a man down, had 17 minutes to turn things around to avoid the drop.
But the Steamers got a roll on, as Delany added a penalty and Luke Campbell picked up and dotted down to give Bay of Plenty a 36-22 lead before Laghlan McWhannell and Loni Uhila grabbed very late consolation tries for Waikato.
Queues of fans in opposing colours – which extended down the streets well into the first half – poured into a packed Tauranga Domain on a beautiful sunny afternoon where a crowd of more than 5000 was present.
The heat was on both sides to deliver under pressure and after Bay of Plenty came flying out of the blocks, Chase Tiatia strolled over in the 11th minute to open the scoring.
Waikato’s early struggles were compounded when Zac Guildford left the field with injury, but they were back in it minutes later when Atu Moli crashed over to make it 5-5 from their first attack.
Bay of Plenty were guilty of forcing the issue, but the hosts gained control and ran in two tries through Foketi and Terrence Hepetama to lead 19-5 when the halftime hooter sounded.
But after Reece’s surging run, Foketi saw yellow for a cynical knock down as the Steamers scrambled and Reece crucially scored for Waikato, who trailed by just seven at the break.
Ahki then scored 10 points himself to put the Mooloos three in front but his yellow card after Bay of Plenty’s long stint in Waikato’s 22 typified their desperation in defence.
Foketi and Campbell then went over to secure Bay of Plenty’s bonus point and the Steamers were out of sight before Waikato’s late fightback.
A Mooloos mistake ended the game and confirmed Waikato’s relegation after 30 years in the top tier.