Rugby: Blood, sweat, no fear

Magpies flanker Brendon O'Connor spilt blood during a player-of-the-match performance last night.

Cross Invercargill's Rugby Park Stadium off the list of graveyards for the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby side.

The Magpies recorded their first win at the venue since 2007 and more importantly kept their hopes of securing an ITM Cup Championship home semifinal with this 23-15 win last night. Magpies captain Mike Coman had every right to praise his troops defence after the victory.

"I was proud of our defence. It's something we pride ourselves on. We put ourselves under pressure with a few errors but our defence got us home."

Coman admitted he was worried at halftime but was impressed with the manner in which the Magpies fought back in the second half.

The Magpies were unlucky not to open the scoring in the 10th minute when winger Zac Guldford was ruled to have made a forward pass when putting fullback Trinity Spooner-Neera over the tryline. Spooner-Neera was denied his first ITM Cup try a day after his 19th birthday.

Six minutes later the Stags opened the scoring with a 37 metre penalty from halfback Scott Eade. There were some anxious moments for Eade who had to wait for Taranaki referee Richard Kelly to award it as his two assistants and the television match official were unable to decide if the high kick was successful.

Magpies first five-eighth Ihaia West equalised with a handy penalty attempt in the 19th minute.

While the Magpies enjoyed the territorial and possession advantage in the first quarter the conceding of soft penalties prevented them from scoring any points. This scenario aplied to the Stags during the second quarter.

However West gave the Magpies a 6-5 lead in the 35th minute when Kelly ruled Southland first five-eighth Marty McKenzie to be offside. The Stags turned down a couple of penalty kicks at goal and we were rewarded for these decsions when blindside flanker John Hardie crashed over for a try just before the halftime whistle.

Both teams enjoyed 50 per cent of the territory in the first half when the Magpies had 55 per cent of the possession. Hawke's Bay's defensive work was outstanding until Hardie's try.

Captain Coman and fellow flanker Brendon O'Connor were prominent in this aspect of play.

The Stags opened the second half well when in-form second five-eighth Willis Halaholo sliced through the Magpies defence and wrong footed Spooner-Neera before touching down in the 45th minute. Eade added the conversion and the hosts led 15-6.

West kept the Magpies in the hunt with a 49th minute penalty from 46 metres out. Three minutes later Guildford scored off a clever unload from second five-eighth Andrew Horrell after the visitors had retained possession for 11 phases. West's conversion had the Magpies ahead 16-15.

Guildford and substitute winger Penikolo Latu sparked a spectacular counter attack which led to a try from West in the 60th minute. West succeeded with his fifth consecutive kick at goal and the Magpies were ahead 23-15.

O'Connor was the Magpies player-of-the-match. Close behind in this battle was Guildford and West who again shone with his tactical kicking and option taking as well as his 100 per cent goalkicking. Busy No.8 Elliot Dixon and Halaholo were Southland's best.