RUGBY: Lowe aims for Magpies semifinal

SHANE HURNDEL Hot on the heels of one long wait comes another for in-form Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's openside flanker Karl Lowe.
The Clive captain had to wait for eight matches before a starting XV Air New Zealand NPC appearance for the Kelt Capital Magpies. Now after a man-of-the-match performance in that game, Saturday's 43-15 win against Wanganui at Napier's McLean Park, he faces an eight-day wait to see if it was enough to secure him a spot in the Magpies October 15 semifinal at the same venue.
"I'll just have to go hard at training and see what happens. When you're up against Nui and Tafai you can never be confident," Lowe said referring to New Zealand Sevens star Tafai Ioasa and Nui Bartlett who had pipped him for starting line-up berths in previous matches this season.
"It was definitely different starting to coming off the bench. I found it a lot faster but I enjoyed it and the forwards worked together well as a pack," Lowe said.
With Lowe, fellow flanker Michael Johnson and prolific tryscoring tighthead prop Arizona Taumalolo prominent, the Magpies forwards, as they have done to all of their previous opponents this season, outmuscled the visitors' pack.
Taumalolo scored two tries to give him five in NPC outings to date which is a mighty feat considering it was only his second starting XV appearance.
While the Magpies forwards deserve plenty of kudos for their contribution to the Bay's superb first half which saw them establish a 36-0 lead the backs, while cohesive on defence, lacked the sparkle on attack they had displayed in previous outings. And all of the home team deserves a burst for the way they went off the boil in the second half when Wanganui played with a lot more passion with a strong breeze at their backs.
However Magpies coach Brendon Ratcliffe wasn't too concerned.
"We achieved what we wanted with that outstanding first half shutdown. It's time people focused on the positives instead of hunting for the negatives and lots of credit is due," Ratcliffe said.
Experienced Wanganui second five-eighth and captain Darin Balcombe marshalled his backline's defensive effort well in the second half. Promising Wanganui fullback Asalemo Malo made the most of his limited opportunities on attack and scored two tries.
Openside flanker Peter Rowe had a high workrate in the losing pack where No.8 Semisi Taulava enjoyed some memorable moments.
Canterbury referee Kevin Rowe was forced to retire with a calf injury six minutes into the match. He was replaced by Dannevirke's Sean Edwards.
It was Edwards' fifth first class fixture but first NPC match.
"I was always going to be first on if Kevin got injured. I enjoyed it after the initial shock," Edwards, 37, said. "Now I've had a taste I want some more NPC games," added Edwards who has been refereeing for the past eight season.
The Magpies have the bye next weekend when their semifinal opponents will be decided.