STARTING STRONG: Northland looking for a victory over Manawatu to kick off their Mitre 10 Cup campaign. Photo/Photosport.nz
Northland put up a huge fight, but ultimately it was Manawatu's impact players off the bench that gave them a tense 34-27 win in the opening round of the Mitre 10 Cup.
In a back and forth contest, both sides were willing to throw caution to the wind.
They combined for eight tries through high-octane enterprising rugby.
Flanker Kara Pryor and fullback Solomon Alaimalo were the standouts for Northland, but it was the imipetus that Manawatu first-five Otere Black brought from the bench that got them across the line.
Full match commentary is below.
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A valiant effort, but not quite enough for Northland to get the win. Manawatu's bench proved too much to handle for the home side.
Here's what Manawatu captain Heiden Bedwell-Curtis had to say.
"It was a fast game, the lungs were burning up quite a bit. The bench added a lot and we managed to get the win. We stuck to our guns and came out with the win."
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80' - Northland lineout on Manawatu 22, they don't control it. The ball goes out and the referee blows the whistle for full time.
FULLTIME: Manawatu 34-27 Northland
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80' - Kara Pryor makes a break for Northland in what is most likely their last attacking chance. They get forced back to the 10 metre line but pick up the penalty. Looks like there is time for one last lineout.
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77' - TRY! Jason Emery looked to have blown a try when he didn't pass but had enough strength to crash over from close range. He had three guys outside but manages to do it himself. Otere Black converts.
Manawatu 34 - 27 Northland
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76' - A midfield stalemate is ended as Manawatu get the penalty after Northland leave their feet at the ruck. Manawatu lineout on the 22.
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73' - Game is all tied up, Manawatu get the scrum feed 47 metres out from the Northland try line.
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71' - TRY! Manawatu try to drive over but Northland hold on. Otere Black then gives a cross-field kick to Ambrose Curtis, who beats the defence of Northland's Jone Macilai. Otere Black hits the sideline conversion.
Northland 27 - 27 Manawatu
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68' - Manawatu heap the pressure on Northland. They spread the ball wide but great cover defence stops them from scoring. The ball is unplayable but Manawatu were going forward so they get the five metre scrum feed.
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65' - Manawatu concede a penalty and again are marched 10 metres for backchat. Right into goal-kicking territory. Peter Breen lines up the penalty 42 metres out, and he nails it.
Northland 27 - 20 Manawatu
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64' - Manawatu have the lineout but Norhtland disrupt. Manawatu recover in their half and get the penalty after Jack Ram goes off his feet.
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61' - TRY! Sam Nock gets stopped, but Manawatu has no answer for a rampaging Jack Ram. Peter Breen misses the conversion 15 in from touch.
Northland 24 - 20 Manawatu
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59' - Northland's Solomon Alaimalo makes a break down the sideline and passes back inside. Manawatu scramble to stop the attack, but Northland go wide. Jordan Olsen crashes over but the TMO finds the ball not grounded. Great defensive play from Manawatu's Ngani Laumape. Northland have a scrum five out from the line.
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57' - Northland attempt to counter-attack from their own 22 but weren't able to makes the break. Peter Breen misses touch but Northland turn over the ball.
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56' - TMO couldn't find anything conclusive. Northland still has the penalty on their own five metre line. A freshly bandaged Peter Breen kicks for touch, only goes as far as the 22.
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56' - Manawatu on the attack, Jason Emery makes a bust an almost goes throuhg but they are penalised. Touch judge has the flag out. Touch judge cited a stomp, but the ref is going upstairs to check.
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54' - Northland build pressure, but Matt Matich was penalised for leaving his feet at the ruck. Manawatu survive. Otere Black puts the penalty kick in touch on halfway.
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53' - Northland spread the ball wide to Kara Pryor, who makes yet another break. They break into the 22 but Manawatu's Ambrose Curtis makes a try-saving tackle. Otere Black finds touch for Manawatu.
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51' - Manawatu come through the gate at the ruck but Northland's Solomon Alaimalo recovers well. Peter Breen kicks it for touch. Manawatu's Ambrose Curtis makes the mistake of stepping in touch as he caught the ball, giving Northland the lineout.
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49' - Northland look likely to break through the Manawatu defensive line but Michael Faleafa knocks on. Manawatu make another two subs in the halves: Jamie Booth is in at halfback for Toby Morland and Otere Black replaces Sam Malcolm at first-five.
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47' - Manawatu chase excellent box kick from Toby Morland to force a five metre scrum for themselves. However, they are penalised at the scrum and are marched a further 10 metres after Toby Morland backchats the referee.
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45' - Manawatu make two loose forward substitutions: Valentino Mapapalangi in for Jackson Hemopo and Callum Gibbins in for Antonio Kiri Kiri.
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45' - Northland's Sam Nock puts a great box kick for Manawatu's Ambrose Curtisvto try take. Plenty of pressure on Curtis who knocks it on. Northland get the feed at the scrum.
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41' - Northland's Jordan Hyland penalised for obstructing the defence straight off the kick-off. Sam Malcolm nails the penalty attempt from 40 out.
Manawatu 20 - 19 Northland
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Both sides making their way back onto Toll Stadium. Northland have made one substitution. Jordan Olsen comes on at hooker to replace captain Matt Moulds. Manawatu have also made a change, with Hunter Prescott coming on at hooker for Tim Cadwaller.
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The first half was nothing, if not exciting. Manawatu took the early ascendency through tries to Ngani Laumape and Heiden Bedwell-Curtis. Sam Malcolm added two conversions and a penalty to give Manawatu a handy 17-0 lead after 22 minutes.
However Northland, spurred on by the irrepressible Kara Pryor, scored three tries in the space of seven minutes through Michael Faleafa (two) and Jordan Hyland. Peter Breen converted twice to give Northland the 19-17 lead at the break.
It's hard to separate the two sides, with both teams willing to throw caution to the wind. It makes for a thrilling second forty.
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40' - Northland's Peter Breen puts the ball into touch to end a thrilling first half of Mitre 10 Cup action.
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39' - Manawatu's Newton Tudreu makes a massive break into Northland's territory. He gives it off to Ngani Laumape who in turn passes it again. Northland scramble and cause the knock-on. Northland survive.
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36' - ANOTHER TRY! Northland's Kara Pryor puts a grubber through, Jone Macilai recovers and draws in the defence. He offloads to Michael Faleafa for his second try of the match. Peter Breen converts 10 in from touch.
Northland 19 - 17 Manawatu
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34' - TRY! Northland go the length of the field to score. Northland's Solomon Alaimalo makes a huge break down the sideline and offloads to ever-present Kara Pryor. He shifts the ball to Jordan Hyland who goes over in the corner. Ref goes upstairs but gives the try! Breen misses the conversion.
Manawatu 17 - 12 Northland
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33' - The players get a breather while Northland's Shane Neville is looked at. Seems fine though.
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29' - TRY! Faleafa is awarded the five pointer. Breen converts 15 in from touch.
Manawatu 17 - 7 Northland
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29' - Northland take a tap and inch towards the line through pick-and-go's. Manawatu holding out staunchly. Northland's Michael Faleafa looks to have crashed over but the referee is heading to the TMO.
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28' - Northland take quick tap. Manawatu hold out but are found offside again. The referee warns Manawatu for the amount of penalties in their 22.
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27' - Northland attack the line. Manawatu caught offside. Northland try to crash over but the referee calls it back.
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26' - Northland turn ball over, run it back into Manawatu's half. Get the penalty after Manawatu is caught offside. They turn down the three points and go for a lineout 10 out.
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24' - Northland again penalised with Matt Matich whistled for incorrect entry into the ruck. Manawatu kick for touch, have lineout on Northland's 22.
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22' - Manawatu get the tighthead in the scrum. Manawatu captain Heiden Bedwell-Curtis sells massive dummy and runs over untouched to score under the posts. Malcolm converts.
Manawatu 17 - 0 Northland
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20' - Strong defence after the lineout from Northland causes turnover. Scrum for Northland on own 22.
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17' - Manawatu turn the ball over in Northland's 22. Manawatu's Toby Morland draws penalty by catching Naamatahi Waa offside. Sam Malcolm takes penalty 15 out, makes it.
Manawatu 10 - 0 Northland
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15' - Manawatu's Jason Emery makes another strong run and offloads to Hamish Northcott. Northland scramble but Kara Pryor is penalised on the 22 for being offside. Manawatu go for touch, but lose the throw.
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11' - Sloppy lineout by Manawatu but they secure possession. They go wide to the right but Northland defend well. Manawatu switch to the right, catch Northland short on numbers. Jason Emery provides beautiful offload for Ngani Laumape to score. Sam Malcolm converts simple conversion.
Manawatu 7 - 0 Northland
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10' - Kara Pryor penalised for being offside at the ruck. Sam Malcolm finds touch on Northland's 22.
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6' - Ambrose Curtis makes probing run into Northland's half. Solomon Alaimalo penalised for playing the halfback. Sam Malcolm attempts penalty straight in front from 35 out, but misses.
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3' - Strong runs from Naamatahi Waa and Matt Matich get Northland back into Manawatu 22. Matich looks to have put Michael Faleafa through but the pass was forward.
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1' - Northland recover own kick-off. They pile the pressure on, but Kara Pryor is bundled into touch on Manawatu's 22.
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Northland to kick off, playing from right to left.
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Five minutes to kick-off. Toll Stadium slowly filling up.
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Northland open their Mitre 10 Cup account with an all-Championship clash against Manawatu at Toll Stadium.
Northland will be looking to improve on their winless 2015 season, while Manawatu will want to earn their spot in the Premiership back.
The only lineup change sees Northland's Monty Lama in at right wing, with Wisea Lawebuka moving to the bench.
Northland: Solomona Alaimalo, Monty Lama, Warren Dunn, Jordan Hyland, Jone Macilai, Peter Breen, Sam Nock, Matt Matich, Kara Pryor, Michael Faleafa, Shane Neville, Josh Goodhue, Phil Kite, Matt Moulds (c), Namatahi Waa. Reserves: Jordan Olsen, Matt Talaese, Howard Sililoto, Josh Larsen, Jack Ram, Malcolm MacLeod, Tamati Tua, Wisea Lawebuka.
Manawatu: Jason Emery, Newton Tudreu, Hamish Northcott, Ngani Laumape, Ambrose Curtis, Sam Malcolm, Toby Morland, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (c), Antonio Kiri Kiri, Jackson Hemopo, Kane Thompson, Tom Parsons, Michael Alaalatoa, Tim Cadwallader, Fraser Armstrong. Reserves: Hunter Prescott, Tukiterangi Raimona, Jake Ilnicki, Valentino Mapapalangi, Callum Gibbins, Jamie Booth, Otere Black, Curtis Reid.
Monty Lama is starting, but will be wearing the number 23 on his back.
Celebrating the Knights and Dames appointed in this year's King's Birthday Honours list. Video / NZ Herald