Round 2 of New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup is done and dusted. Here’s a run down of what happened.
Otago v Wellington (Thu 25 Aug)
Fast improving Otago thumped last year’s Championship finalists Wellington 44-21 on Thurdsay night. The men from the deep south pulled out to a comfortable 28-0 lead, led by their Highlanders Faddes (13) and Tom Franklin (4) who scored tries and provided go forward. Wellington came back in the second spell with busting runs by Hurricanes stars Vaea Fifita (4) and Matt Proctor (13) and Umanga-Jensen (12) (yes a relation) all willing their team forward. But Otago held on, scoring a try and adding penalties to finish their second game with a 40-point haul at 44-21.
Auckland v Northland (Friday 26 Aug)
Friday night’s game between Auckland and the Taniwha (Maori monster) from Northland was played in atrocious weather but the rugby was slightly better. Most impressive was Auckland’s ability to play to the conditions and utilize an effective maul led by All Black Stephen Luatua (8) whograbbed two tries. Auckland kept Northland under pressure with a high kicking game from Simon Hicky (10) and Super Rugby players Nainai (14) and Vince Aso (11) provided the class and finishing out wide. Final score Auckland 37-15 Northland.
Taranaki v Hawkes Bay (Sat 27 Aug)
The 2014 ITM Cup Winners Taranaki faced off against last season’s Championship division winners Hawkes Bay on a fine afternoon in New Plymouth. Taranaki is known as a traditionally strong forward side but it was the Magpies who scored two quick tried to lead 14-10 at the break. The Taranaki engine got going in the second spell with two tries to break the deadlock, both starting from a solid forward platform. Hawkes bay was kept in the by Ihia West (10) whose kick and re-gather for Hawkes Bay kept them in touch at 31-21. The Taranaki forwards kept on relentlessly hammering the Hawkes Bay forwards with endless phases resulting in Marty McKenzie (15) going over out wide from close range. The score was stretched out when a desperate Hawkes Bay attack met an in-your-face Taranaki defence who picked up a couple more easy tries. Final Score Taranaki 55-26 Hawkes Bay.
Game of the Round: Shield Challenge
Waikato v North Harbour (Sat 27 Aug)
This week’s match between Waikato and North Harbour doubled as a Shield Challenge as it was played at Waikato’s home stadium. There is one rule about Shield Challenges, you never take them lightly. And Waikato came out with a roar, putting on wave upon wave of pressure on the Harbour line. Their reward was three unanswered tries to Isaac Boss (9), Loni Uhila (3), and Nathaniel Apa (13) – all from close range, to race out to a 19-0 lead early. As the minutes went by the men from North of the Bombays gradually found some rhythm and Michael Little (12) and Bryn Hall (9) scored either side of the break, bringing the score to 19-15, North Harbour had one hand on the ‘Log o’ Wood’. They had two hands on it for a brief moment when Vaenga (13) dived over the line from 20m out only to have the ball cruelly knocked out of his grasp. From there the intensity and tackles were fierce, errors by North Harbour and a late try by the Mooloo men ensured the Shield ensured the Mooloo men live to fight another day. Final score 26-15
Video Highlights:
Manawatu v Southland (Sat 27 Aug)
A Manawatu Turbos team stacked with Hurricanes Super Rugby players hosted Southland on a drizzly Saturday night. Manawatu opened the scoring early through Hurricanes flanker Callum Gibbons his Hurricanes teammate Ngani Laumape (12) who dotted down twice to give the Turbos a commanding 24-0 lead at the break. Southland came with more intensity after the half and some powerful forward work got them their first try before impressive Southland fullback Junior Ngalaufe scored from broken play. The relentless scoring continued with Laumape bagging a hattrick from an intercept for Manawatu and the gap closed to 31-24 before a Southland produced a stunning 50m team try to put Fukafuka (6) into the corner for a try with 3min to go, for which the kick would seal a draw. The kick was successful. The score 31-31. Play resumed and with 81min elapsed Southland conceded a ruck penalty on their own 40m line wide out. Otere Black (10) kicked it to give Manawatu a dramatic win 34-31.
Highlights:
Canterbury v Tasman (Sun 28 Aug)
With the score remaining at 19-14 with just 20 min remaining this game was tight and Canterbury was given a real test in their second game of the season against a quality Tasman side. In front of a big AMI stadium crowd the men from the South scored four unanswered tries in the final quarter to restore their dominance and stretch their lead to a comfortable 45-14. Standout players for Canterbury included Rob Thomson (12) and Jordy Barrett (15) the younger brother of Beauden Barrett, who scored 25 points and including a try.
Counties Manukau v Bay of Plenty (Sun 28 Aug)
An entertaining game at Ecolight Stadium was also locked up tight at the break with the Bay of Plenty Steamers ahead 15-11. Counties came out after the break and exploded onto the park scoring three tries within 10min, led by Rio Sevens player Sione Molia (13) and Sam Vaka (13) from the Chiefs. The Counties Manukau Steelers racing out to a seemingly unassailable lead at 39-15 with 20min to go. But the Steamers had other ideas and stunned the local crowd with 3 quick tries of their own to pull the score back to 39-31 and create a tense final few moments with the Steelers holding on 39-34.
All the Mitre 10 game highlights can be found here.
