Rugby: Magpies go to sleep in final quarter

Magpies hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes is congratulated by lock Tom Parsons and prop Mark Braidwood after his try. Photo/Paul Taylor

Concentration lapses and poor discipline during the final quarter contributed to the Hawke's Bay Magpies 51-34 loss in today's Mitre 10 Cup rugby crossover match at Napier's McLean Park.

Magpies captain Gareth Evans agreed his troops fell asleep during a break in play while injured North Harbour centre James Dargaville was attended to.

"We played well for 60 minutes today. Last week we played well for 40 ... now we have to push for an 80 minute effort," Evans said.

The Magpies won't have to wait long to redeem themselves as they host Northland at McLean Park on Wednesday night in the second match of their "Storm Week" which ends when they take on Canterbury in Christchurch on September 30.

The Magpies deserved their early 10-0 lead after dominating possession and territory. Fullback JJ Taulagi kicked a penalty from 41 metres out in the third minute. Superb ball retention from the Magpies forwards led to hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes try in the sixth minute. Taulagi added the conversion.

North Harbour opened their account with a 40 metre penalty from first five-eighth Bryn Gatland in the 10th minute. The Magpies defensive systems functioned well until North Harbour captain and hooker James Parsons celebrated his 100th game with for the visitors with a 28th minute try. Gatland added the extras to tie the game up.

The hosts took the lead again in the 31st minute when winger Jonah Lowe scored after good buildup work from lock Michael Allardice and first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie. Player-of-the-match Taulagi again converted.

North Harbour again exposed some soft Magpies defence out wide when winger Matt Duffie scored on the halftime siren. It followed a clever tactical kick from fullback Shaun Stevenson.

The Magpies opened the scoring in the second half when Taulagi kicked a 41st minute penalty after Auckland referee Mike Winter pinged Harbour at ruck time. Three minutes later Parsons scored his second try which Gatland converted to put the visitors ahead for the first time.

Clever support play from the hosts saw Taulagi score in the 48th minute. He slotted the conversion and the Magpies led 27-22.

Relentless pressure from North Harbour led to Stevenson's 53rd minute try and the visitors bonus try which Gatland converted. A clever Taulagi break sent Magpies co-captain and halfback Brad Weber away for his 57th minute try which was the hosts bonus try. Taulagi slotted the conversion and the Magpies led 34-29.

Harbour started stronger after an injury spell which saw the visitors centre James Dargaville carried off with a suspected neck injury. Winger Tevita Li tied the game up with his 60th minute try.

A 67th minute penalty from Gatland when Magpies substitute hooker Ben Power was penalised for not rolling away had the visitors ahead again.

Poor discipline from the Magpies again proved costly during the buildup to Gatland's 71st minute try which he converted to extend the lead to 10 points. Second five-eighth Harrison Groundwater scored the visitors final try a minute from fulltime and it was appropriate Parsons added the extras.
Scorers:
Hawke's Bay Magpies 34 (Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jonah Lowe, JJ Taulagi, Brad Weber tries; Taulagi 4 cons, 2 pens), North Harbour 51 (James Parsons 2, Matt Duffie, Shaun Stevenson, Tevita Li, Bryn Gatland, Harrison Groundwater tries; Bryn Gatland 4, James Parsons cons; Gatland 2 pens). HT: 17-15