Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Mitre 10 Cup: Semifinal finish a great platform for improving Taniwha

By Andrew Johnsen
Sports editor·Northern Advocate·
22 Oct, 2017 10:10 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Fullback Solomon Alaimalo crosses for a try during Northland's 49-21 Mitre 10 Cup Championship semi-final defeat to Wellington. Photo / photosport.nz

Fullback Solomon Alaimalo crosses for a try during Northland's 49-21 Mitre 10 Cup Championship semi-final defeat to Wellington. Photo / photosport.nz

Northland's Mitre 10 Cup semifinal loss wasn't the storybook ending they and their fans were hoping for, but all signs point to an extended period of success ahead.

Heading to Wellington was always going to be a tough ask and although they led 14-6 at one point, the Lions had too much firepower and eventually ran out 49-21 winners.

However, when you look at the bigger picture, Northland are in a great position to build on their playoff finish in the years to come.

There was plenty to like in the early stages of the Wellington clash where, like the week before, they looked the hungrier side.

The forward pack, and in particular openside flanker Kara Pryor, immediately put Wellington on the back foot as they made their way up the field with relative ease.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Second five Jack Goodhue was also heavily involved as he made two plays in the lead up to the opening try. His second pass gave Pryor some room down the right wing before he offloaded back in to industrious wing Jordan Hyland for the five pointer.

Solomon Alaimalo also got across the line early as he continued another standout campaign.

However, Wellington proved too strong once they got their noses in front, crossing for six tries to Northland's three.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

There were a lot of bright spots in the 2017 season for the Taniwha though.

A well fostered resolve defensively was a trademark of the side through the season as their increased experience became telling.

Northland have built a strong base predicated on hard work, defence and a bit of flair and should coach Derren Witcombe retain the bulk of the squad, there is no reason why they can't go further next season.

The return of the likes of cult figure Rene Ranger and budding star Jack Goodhue added firepower to a strong backline while Northland's scrum was arguably the best in the competition, giving Wellington plenty of worries in the semifinal.

Goodhue is in line to be heavily rewarded for classy Mitre 10 Cup and Super Rugby campaigns with an All Blacks call-up for their end of year tour.

His size and strength are valuable assets but it's his decision-making and distribution that could see him really flourish. He is a natural centre, one who offers something different to Ryan Crotty and Anton Lienert-Brown.

Northlanders got to enjoy Ranger again before he heads to La Rochelle in France's top flight competition for the next two years.

The dreaded midfielder was imperious on attack and showed an array of underrated skills including deft grubbers and a knack for creating breakdown turnovers.

It wasn't the ending he and the Northland side were hoping for but a similar output next year will have them contending once again.

Wellington 49 (Wes Goosen 2, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Trent Renata, Tolu Fahamokioa, Regan Verney tries, Jackson Garden-Bachop 3 pen, 5 con)
Northland 21 (Jordan Hyland, Solomon Alaimalo, Sam Nock tries, Dan Hawkins 2 con, Sam Nock con). HT: 16-14.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Sport

Māori All Blacks beaten by Scotland

05 Jul 05:39 AM
Northern Advocate

'Incredible': Northland retirees become world champs in new sport

27 Jun 07:00 PM
Sport

NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

25 Jun 10:36 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Māori All Blacks beaten by Scotland

Māori All Blacks beaten by Scotland

05 Jul 05:39 AM

Visitors bounce back after a flying start from the hosts in Whangārei.

'Incredible': Northland retirees become world champs in new sport

'Incredible': Northland retirees become world champs in new sport

27 Jun 07:00 PM
NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

25 Jun 10:36 PM
How Paralympic aspirations helped Eligh Fountain overcome mental battles - On The Up

How Paralympic aspirations helped Eligh Fountain overcome mental battles - On The Up

25 Jun 06:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP