Player of the match and Magpies No 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u on the way to his try. Photo/Duncan Brown
A superb second half saw the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team beat Northland 55-41 in last night's Mitre 10 Cup Championshp seventh round clash at Napier's McLean Park.
The hosts trailed 38-24 at halftime and did well to keep the Taniwha tryless in the second half. More importantly with their five competition points the Magpies kept their semifinal hopes alive.
"That second half was much improved. We showed what we can do when we apply ourselves and get our execution right," elated Magpies head coach Mark Ozich said afterewards.
"Good things float off the back of that," he added.
The Magpies decisions to turn down two early kickable penalties paid off when co-captain and openside flanker Gareth Evans scored from a lineout drive in the fifth minute. Fullback JJ Taulagi converted.
Two minutes later Northland replied with a 45 metre penalty to first five-eighth Jack Debreczeni.
Centre Stacey Ili had his first try for the Magpies in the 11th minute courtesy of a clever pass from first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie. Four minutes later blindside flanker Jaycob Matiu scored his first try for the Taniwha and Debreczeni added the extras.
Outside defensive lapses caused problems for the Magpies in their previous outing against North Harbour and Taniwha fullback Matty Wright exposed this weakness again when he scored in the 18th minute after Debreczeni took out two defenders. Debreczeni slotted the conversion.
Magpies No 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u replied with a solo try in the 20th minute. Taulagi kicked the conversion and the hosts led 19-17.
Taniwha centre Rene Ranger beat two defenders before he sent winger Jordan Hyland in for a 24th minute. Debreczeni was again on target and the visitors led 24-19.
Wright had his second try in the 29th minute and the Taniwha's bonus from a clever cross kick from his pivot who added the conversion.
Another classy pass from McClutchie sent Ili in for his second try and the Magpies bonus in the 33rd minute. Four minutes later Ranger beat two defenders on the way to the tryline after a slick pass from his pivot who succeeded with his sixth consecutive kick at goal.
Northland led 38-24 at halftime. Thirteen missed tackles were too many from the Magpies.
The Magpies had to be first to score in the second half and second five-eighth Pasqualle Dunn did in the 47th minute after the Magpies opted for a scrum when they were awarded a penalty by Wellington referee Nick Hogan in front of the posts. Taulagi slotted the conversion from wide out.
Debreczeni opened the Taniwha's second half account with a 52nd minute penalty. Five minutes later Magpies substitute hooker Ben Power scored from a lineout drive.
This recipe worked for Power again in the 61st minute and the score was 41-all. Northland were down to 14 men at this stage after openside flanker Kara Pryor was sinbinned.
Three minutes later Dunn had his second try after another outstanding burst from Mikaele-Tu'u and a clever pass from winger Mason Emerson. Halfback Brad Weber slotted the conversion.
Another break and offload from Mikaele-Tu'u and superb support play from Weber led to Taulagi's 74th minute try which Weber converted.
Mikaele-Tu'u was outstanding and deserved his player-of-the-match award.
"Full credit to the other boys for helping me out," he said afterwards.
"Being in the middle of Storm Week we didn't train much but when we did we trained well," Mikaele-Tu'u added.
Taniwha captain and hooker Jordan Olsen agreed the visitors fell off the pace in the second spell.
"We went to sleep in the second half. We knew we had to play 80 minutes and we switched off in the second half and couldn't string any phases together."
Match highlights
Heartstopper: When Wellington referee Nick Hogan asked television match official Bruce Dockary to check for a potential second movement when Magpies second five-eighth Pasqualle Dunn scored in the 47th minute. Fortunately there wasn't.
Turning point: When Magpies fullback JJ Taulagi scored in the 74th minute and Brad Weber converted to end the scoring. This thriller could have gone ether way until then.
Player of the match: Magpies No 8 Marino Mikaele Tu'u. Outstanding line breaks and offloads. Magpies lock Tom Parsons and Northland first five-eighth Jack Debreczeni were close behind him.
Scorers: Hawke's Bay Magpies 55 (Stacey Ili 2, Gareth Evans, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Pasqualle Dunn 2, Ben Power 2, JJ Taulagi tries; Taulagi 3, Brad Weber 2 cons), Northland 41 (Matty Wright 2, Jordan Hyland, Rene Ranger, Jaycob Matiu tries; Jack Debreczeni 5 cons, 2 pens). HT: Northland 38-24.
■ Magpies loosie Devan Flanders was awarded the Graeme Lowe Award for the Hawke's Bay Rugby Academy Player of the Year at tonight's pre-match function. With New Zealand under-20 rep Flanders involved in the pre-game warm-up injured Magpies captain Ash Dixon received the award on Flanders behalf.
Otane prop Hayden Rapana received the PGG Wrightson Award for the Hawke's Bay Country Player of the Year award. The award not only recognised Rapana's on-field contributions to the division two champions but also his work as club captain for the Otane Sports Club.
■ Napier Boys' High School 1st XV captain and hooker Tyrone Thompson has been named on the bench for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team when they take on Tonga Schools in Brisbane today. NBHS tighthead prop Patrick Teddy will start for the New Zealand Barbarians Schools against the New Zealand Maori under-18 team in Wellington today. NBHS blindside flanker Josh Gimblett will be on the Barbarians subs bench.