Late Bay charge falls short

Rugby PB v North Otago - Carl Riini

A well-drilled North Otago withstood a last-20-minute charge from LeaderBrand Poverty Bay to win 30-23 at Rugby Park on Saturday.

It was the Bay’s third successive Heartland Championship loss but had they played the way they did in the last 20 minutes for the full 80 and got the bounce of the ball, it could have been a different result.

Another bonus point keeps alive their slim top-four hopes. But with games against Buller (away), league leaders Mid Canterbury (home), second-placed Wanganui (away) and fourth-placed South Canterbury (home), coach Mutu Ngarimu’s side face an uphill battle.

“It’s been the story of our season so far,” Ngarimu said. “We lack urgency at the start of the game, give away soft points and then have to chase the game.

“It’s all very well talking about the fightback, and I am proud of that. At one stage midway through the second half we could have dropped the heads and conceded more points.

“The boys didn’t and that bonus point might yet prove valuable, but it doesn’t stop me from being disappointed and frustrated.”

Co-skipper and lock Murray Hewson said the side were “falling short in a few areas but the boys showed their character and with a bit of luck could have snatched a draw or a win”.

“We’ll keep chipping away and hopefully next week we get a win.”

North Otago went into the game level on points with the Bay and on the back of a 40-10 thumping by Wanganui in Oamaru last week.

They got off to a bad start when first five-eighth Ben Palmer’s kick-off failed to go 10 metres, and 60 seconds later Bay first five-eighth Ethine Reeves slotted a penalty from 30 metres.

Led superbly by prop and captain Ralph Darling, the visitors’ backs and big pack then gave a superb display of hard and straight running, ball retention, support play and commitment and technique at the breakdown that had the Bay on the back foot for the next 15 minutes.

To the Bay’s credit, the tackling — which has left a lot to be desired in recent weeks — was not in question for most of this period of North Otago dominance.

After weathering a battering, including pick-and-go attacks, the Bay’s defence was breached when left-winger Sale Pi’i fielded a clearing kick inside his own half and launched a counter-attack with a huge up-and-under kick.

Bay fullback and co-captain Kahu Tamatea came forward to collect the ball but it bounced and went straight back into the arms of the charging Pi’i, who scored under the posts.

Undaunted by this setback, the Bay hit back with a superb try to in-form Carl Riini, who made it four five-pointers in four games. Riini was moved from wing to centre for this game but showed his winger’s finishing instincts with a try in the grandstand corner.

Prop Sione Ngatu started the move with support from his Ngatapa clubmate and second five-eighth Siua Moala, who handled twice in the move before openside flanker James Grogan offloaded to Riini.

North Otago breaks awayPalmer stretched North Otago’s lead to 13-8 with a penalty on the stroke of halftime.

Another penalty to Palmer three minutes into the second half put his team outside the seven-pont margin but Reeves replied with a penalty.

Tries to openside flanker Manu Taiti and centre Nathan Cargo in the 53rd and 54th minutes, both converted by Palmer, put the visitors in command.

Unfortunately for Tamatea, he was the man involved in Cargo’s try, from a kick-and-chase, with Cargo getting the bounce of the ball.

Down by 19 with 26 minutes remaining, the Bay rose to the challenge and closed the gap with a try to right-winger Leigh Bristowe.

Fa’atau, who until then had not seen a lot of the ball as an attacker, began the move when he received the ball in midfield, accelerated between two players and fended off two more before being brought down. The ball was quickly recycled to the right where Reeves threw a superbly weighted pass to Bristowe. His try made it 30-18, and it was “game on”.

Reeves, in his first start of the season, capped a solid game with a try involving replacement flanker Corban Barbara, Moala, Grogan, halfback Willie Haenga, blindside flanker Tamanui Hill, Hewson and lock Jake Paringatai . . . 30-23 with seven minutes still to play.

By now it was all the Bay as they sensed a sensational comeback. North Otago were reeling as the Bay spread the ball wide at every opportunity.

With three minutes 26 seconds on the clock, Barbara charged down the right wing, drew his man and threw a pass to Riini, who, had he gathered, would have strolled across the line.

With the Bay supporters in the grandstand on their feet anticipating a try, Pi’i intercepted and raced away for what looked set to be a heartbreaking try.

Riini refused to give in and chased the big winger down, just inside the Bay’s 22.

While Pi’i was out on his feet, Riini had the energy to launch another counter-attack but it was to no avail.

Although on the losing side, Haenga and Moala had their best games of the season while Riini and Reeves were not far behind.

Poverty Bay 23 (Carl Riini, Leigh Bristowe, Ethine Reeves tries; Reeves 2 pen, con).

North Otago 30 (Sale Pi’i, Manu Taiti, Nathan Cargo tries; Ben Palmer 3 con, 3 pen).

HT: 13-8 (Nth Otago).