FITTING THE BILL
SBW under starter’s orders
IF YOU give a good team enough chances to beat you, they probably will. Most of the time, anyway.
In the end Hawke’s Bay had to settle for a 22-22 draw with Wellington last night, after Ihaia West’s last-minute conversion sailed the wrong side of the Westpac Stadium.
But that was still enough for the Ranfurly Shield holders to maintain their three-point lead atop the national provincial rugby championship table, as they and the Lions eye the playoffs. This was a game Wellington ought to have won, but their reward could still be a grand final on McLean Park in a few weeks.
The Lions had led 15-7 at halftime, then 22-14 and finally 22-17 with time almost up. But a succession of failed ‘exit plays’ ended with Magpies right wing Robbie Fruean swooping in to score in the 79th minute to make it 22-22.
The aftermatch reactions were predictable. Hawke’s Bay coach Craig Philpott was a little confused about his side’s second half, after it had been so good in the first, but delighted by their resolve and execution at the end.
Wellington’s Earl Va’a was less enthused.
‘‘We were a little confused up in the coaches box at our decisions to close this one out,’’ Va’a said, particularly a 72nd-minute penalty attempt by Jason Woodward, from 41 metres out and into a stiff wind.
‘‘We have a shot at goal that barely goes 30 metres, which means that we probably shouldn’t have taken it. Two plays later they’re in our 22 and we had about another three possessions to get out of our 22 and we didn’t do that,’’ said Va’a.
Woodward’s dusty penalty didn’t determine the result. But it was interesting in the sense that Va’a didn’t want it taken.
‘‘There were messages being called out from our runners on the sideline not to kick for goal. [But] obviously we’ve got to back the boys’ decision if they feel they can,’’ Va’a said.
Woodward was involved in another curious second-half incident, when referee Brendon Pickerill sinbinned him for a deliberate knockdown. Hawke’s Bay halfback Chris Eaton received the same punishment for a first-half knockdown, although the 10 minutes were about as similar as things got.
Woodward appeared to have his hand turned upwards and was attempting to intercept the pass, rather than bat it down. Va’a was of a similar view and indicated he would raise the incident with the relevant parties.
But the bottom line was that Wellington looked to have the game won and couldn’t manage it, just as they hadn’t been able to do at home to Otago two weeks prior.
‘‘Pretty disappointed. We had that game in the bag and we just need to learn to close games out,’’ Wellington captain Ardie Savea said. He’d again been a standout for the Lions, but it was little consolation.
Woodward, after fine work from Matt Proctor and Vaea Fifita, had scored Wellington’s first try, with prop Reggie Goodes getting the second. Fifita scored after halftime, with Eaton, Brendon O’Connor and Fruean the Magpies’ tryscorers.