BATTLERS: Bay of Plenty Lakers halfback Kale Pomare bulldozes his way over for a try against Waikato Development. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
BATTLERS: Bay of Plenty Lakers halfback Kale Pomare bulldozes his way over for a try against Waikato Development. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
The Bay of Plenty Lakers lost 22-16 in a tit-for-tat game against Waikato Development yesterday.
It was a game played in the type of miserable conditions where you can tell exactly how hard a player has worked by how muddy their uniform is.
The Lakers led for long periods of the game, but in the end they put themselves under pressure with one error too many, allowing Waikato to snatch victory at the death.
The first 15 minutes was an arm wrestle, as both sides looked to find their feet in slippery conditions, until Bay of Plenty made a break from their own half.
They shifted the ball right near halfway and created an overlap for centre Dylan Shortland on the outside. He took off and beat the Waikato fullback, with a good show of strength and footwork, to score the first try of the match.
Waikato hit back in the 25th minute through winger Dallas Kutia. They had marched their way upfield before putting in a low kick on the right-hand side. Bay of Plenty fullback Kihiroa Wihapi attempted to shepherd the ball over the dead ball line but it curled away from him and Kutia raced in to score.
BALL MOVEMENT: Bay of Plenty Lakers forward Jason Whareaitu looks to pass the ball. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
The Lakers extended their lead to 10-4 on the back of a penalty 40m out from the try line. They worked their way inside the Waikato 10m before halfback Kale Pomare showed great strength to drive over the try line from close range.
Once again, Waikato refused to go away and minutes from halftime had the scored locked up at 10-all. They got into good field position on the back of consecutive penalties before Karl Siteine, who had been strong all afternoon, bounced out of half a dozen tackles to score under the posts.
Bay of Plenty started the second half in dominant fashion, with the best of possession and territory. Twenty minutes into the half that pressure paid off when five-eighth and captain Johnson Peri spun out of a tackle to score under the posts. Bay of Plenty led 16-10.
TRY TIME: Halfback and captain Johnson Peri scores a try for the Bay of Plenty Lakers. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Waikato levelled the scores again with a try under the posts, on the back of an uncharacteristic error by Bay of Plenty's Jeremy Siulepa, and with 15 minutes to play it was game on.
Both sides through everything at their opposition but it was Waikato's Tane Paki who came up with the match-winner. He scooped the ball up from dummy-half, on the right-hand side of the field, and threw a big dummy inside before racing down the blindside to score.
Waikato fullback Aaron Jolley nailed a tricky conversion to secure a 22-16 win.
Bay of Plenty coach Paniora Daniels said his side's errors kept Waikato in the game.
"The game was what we expected, it was always going to be a grind with this weather and they brought a decent side down.
"We lapsed in some places and let them in, most of their tries were off our mistakes. Initially when we stuck to our plan it came off pretty well, but we were guilty of letting them back in the game," Daniels said.
Bay of Plenty now await confirmation from New Zealand Rugby League that they have done enough to finish top in their pool and go on to represent the northern region in the New Zealand Championship against the winners of the central and southern pools.
