Rugby: Emerson makes mark with fine try

Magpies winger Mason Emerson scored a spectacular try in his first ITM Cup starting XV appearance.

Stags 28 Magpies 35 Invercargill

When most of the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team look back on yesterday's ninth-round ITM Cup victory it will be the atrocious weather conditions they recall.

Winds reached 90kmh at times and there was torrential rain during the match at Invercargill's Rugby Park Stadium. Magpies captain for the day, loosie Trent Boswell-Wakefield, said he had never experienced such trying conditions.

But 19-year-old Magpies winger Mason Emerson will remember the occasion more because of the try he scored in his first cup starting XV appearance. With the visitors trailing 18-13 in the 42nd minute, Emerson received a nice pass from centre Robbie Fruean and displayed his tremendous pace and physicality when scoring in the tackle of Stags fullback Tausosi Tuimavave.

"It was a pretty cool moment. I've got to be happy with that after going through a lull in terms of tryscoring during the first three Ranfurly Shield defences," Emerson said as he completed his post-game hot and colds.

"I got a good ball from Robbie and I did the basics right on the way to the line.

"I'm looking for more cup time in the future now... that would be ideal."

Emerson's try was the spark the Magpies needed after they were outplayed in the first half. The Stags had more continuity, applied more pressure and had better ball security. Magpies head coach Craig Philpott said: "We struggled to match their attitude in the first half. They kicked a lot into the wind which surprised us. In the second half we made sure we controlled momentum. To rest so many of our key players and come to an interesting place like this and get five points in these conditions ... I would have been happy with four points.

"We determine what we do now," Philpott added, referring to the fact the Magpies can afford to draw their game against Waikato on Friday night to retain the Ranfurly Shield for a second consecutive summer and book a home Championship final, on the proviso they win their home semifinal.

Magpies first five-eighth Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald was the player of the match. His goalkicking, six successes from eight attempts for 15 points, in the challenging conditions and in his cup debut was superb.

His directional play was also solid. Boswell-Wakefield's impressive captaincy was matched by his performance and Lewis Marshall can be proud of his first start in the cup at second five-eighth for the Magpies.

While Magpies winger Ryan Tongia was disappointed with his pass to nobody which led to Stags prop Guy Millar's try in the 24th minute he more than compensated with his two tries in the second half including the 61st minute bonus point try. While the conditions contributed to a certain extent Magpies hooker Jorian Tangaere will be disappointed with his five lineout throws which ended up in Stags hands during the first half.

However Tangaere's defensive work was tireless. The impact off the bench from the experienced campaigners including hooker Ash Dixon, prop Brendon Edmonds and lock Mark Abbott couldn't be faulted.

Experienced Stags lock Josh Bekhuis said the hosts showed promise in the first half but drifted from their game plan in the second. Southland first five-eighth Lima Sopaga did well to slot five of his six attempts at goal and along with second five-eighth Willis Halaholo made the most of limited attacking opportunities.

Roll on Friday night, when the likes of captain and loosie Brendon O'Connor and experienced midfielders Richard Buckman and Andrew Horrell will return to assist the Magpies' quest to add another significant chapter to the history of Hawke's Bay rugby.

They are unbeaten at their McLean Park fortress this season and they are eager to keep that record intact.