Rugby: Braidwood pilfers ball and Bay steal draw

Magpies fullback Zac Guildford steps past Lions second five-eighth Wes Goosen during a classy return from a four-game suspension. Photo / Darren Taumata

Lions 22 Magpies 22
Wellington

Mark "Cracker" Braidwood take a bow!

Should the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team secure a home final in the ITM Cup Championship, the crucial turnover substitute prop Braidwood secured which led to winger Robbie Fruean's try as the Magpies scrambled a draw at the Cake Tin last night will no doubt be toasted more than once.

The Magpies retained their three-point lead on the points table and if they win their remaining two games and a semifinal there will be a home final. Again, the Magpies displayed their tremendous character.

"They've definitely got character but I don't know if they've got brains," a delighted head coach Craig Philpott quipped afterwards.

"In the first half we played some good rugby into the wind during the first 20 minutes. But in the second half when we had the wind we didn't use it in the way we should have ... that will be talked about and as long as we learn from it we will be OK," Philpott said.

The Magpies produced plenty of razzle-dazzle in the opening minutes. This early domination was rewarded when halfback Chris Eaton stepped Lions halfback Frae Wilson and winger Jason Woodward and scampered away for the first try in the 10th minute which first five-eighth Ihaia West converted.

The visitors kept the foot on the throat and the Lions had missed five tackles by the 15-minute mark.

However some poor defence from the Magpies, West, Fruean and second five-eighth Billy Ropiha in particular, saw Woodward score in the 19th minute. Woodward added the extras and it was 7-all.

Eaton was unlucky to be sinbinned for a deliberate knockdown in the 26th minute by North Harbour referee Brendon Pickerill. Two minutes later the Magpies were pinged for not rolling away and Woodward was again on target.

A West penalty attempt which would have been an equaliser bounced off the posts in the 33rd minute. The Lions extended their lead in the 36th minute when prop Reggie Goodes crashed over for a try off a lineout drive.

Wellington deserved their 15-7 halftime lead. While the Magpies had started well, their second quarter was messy.

They couldn't convert opportunities and the Lions capitalised on their mistakes. With 62 per cent of possession and 54 per cent of territory, the Magpies should have been ahead at the interval.

After a couple of early penalties when lineouts were opted for, the Magpies opened the scoring in the second half when captain and openside flanker Brendon O'Connor scored off a lineout drive. West slotted the conversion.

Magpies fullback Zac Guildford, who made a classy return from a four-game suspension, did well to steal a crucial turnover when the Lions were hot on attack early in the second half. As well, he almost held up Lions flanker Vaea Fifita when he scored in the 53rd minute.

Woodward added the conversion and the Lions led 22-14. West closed the gap with a 64th-minute penalty from 45 metres.

As was the case with last last week's Ranfurly Shield defence against Auckland, there was a tense finish. O'Connor unfortunately spilled a ball when he had punched a gap off a set move in the 67th minute.

In the tricky wind, Magpies substitute hooker Jorian Tangaere was unlucky to have a crooked lineout throw in the 76th minute.

When Braidwood and Fruean had their moments of glory with two minutes remaining the appropriate result was delivered. O'Connor was again outstanding in the fetching role while No8 Trent Boswell-Wakefield made the most of his first starting XV appearance for some time.

The tight five was cohesive and enjoyed numerous dominant patches.

Considering the number of changes to the backline, they got a pass mark and the game time the second-stringers had could prove useful at the business end of the season.

Wellington's best were Fifita, captain and No8 Ardie Savea and lock James Blackwell.