Mitre 10 Cup Rugby: Hawke's Bay Magpies crush Southland Stags

Magpies captain and hooker Ash Dixon (right) was the player-of-the-match tonight. Photo/Duncan Brown

The Hawke's Bay Magpies were down to 13 men at one stage but they still opened their Mitre 10 Cup Championship rugby campaign with a 31-10 win against the Southland Stags in Invercargill tonight.

Lock Michael Allardice and No 8 Gareth Evans were both sinbinned in the second half.
"The way the boys played for each other when we were down to 13 men was really pleasing," Magpies coach Mark Ozich said afterwards.

His troops didn't concede any points while Evans and Allardice were off the field.
Captain and hooker Ash Dixon deserved the player-of-the-match award.

"Ash led from the front. His set piece play, his scrummaging and his carries were outstanding. His leadership has been superb all week," Ozich added.

The Magpies opened the scoring in the 12th minute when prop Mark Braidwood scored from a lineout drive. First five-eighth Tiaan Falcon slotted the conversion from wide out.
The Magpies pack had 24kgs more than the Stags engine room and it showed. So it wasn't a surprise when the visitors opted for another lineout drive when they were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute.

It was the right decision as openside flanker Josh Kaifa celebrated his debut with a try. Falcon was again on target with the conversion and the Magpies led 14-0.

The Stags opened their account in the 23rd minute when winger Isaac Te Tamaki scored. First five-eighth James Wilson converted.

Wilson narrowed the gap with a 30th-minute penalty.

Dixon extended the Magpies lead with a 39th minute try. Falcon added the conversion to give the visitors a 21-10 halftime lead.

Canterbury referee Jamie Nutbrown awarded the penalty when a Stags defender failed to release in a tackle situation.

The Magpies had the bonus point for four tries when Dixon scored his second try in the 47th minute following another lineout drive. Falcon maintained his 100 per cent success rate.

Falcon had the final say with a 67th-minute penalty.

Scorers:
Hawke's Bay Magpies 31 (Ash Dixon 2, Mark Braidwood, Josh Kaifa, tries; Tiaan Falcon 4 cons, pen), Southland Stags 10 (Isaac Te Tamaki try; James Wilson con, pen ). HT: 21-10.