Bay of Plenty retain First Division status

5.15pm

BAY OF PLENTY 37 HAWKE'S BAY 21

Bay of Plenty rugby captain Mark Weedon can retire a happy man.

The 34-year-old Steamers lock brought the curtain down on a 16-year first-class career by leading Bay of Plenty to a win over second division champions Hawke's Bay in their promotion-relegation match in Rotorua today.

Weedon, who had planned to bow out against Waikato two weeks ago, had his retirement plans wrecked when Southland and Northland both snuck ahead of the Steamers in the NPC first division.

Today's win meant Bay of Plenty, promoted last season, retain their first division status for 2003.

Weedon said it was a good result to finish on, even if the game as a spectacle didn't do much to enthuse the crowd of only 3000 at International Stadium.

"I don't want to spend any time analysing the match -- but we'll definitely take the win," the former Crusaders Super 12 lock said.

"We played poorly yet still managed to sneak away with a win, which I think speaks volumes for the level of first division rugby we've been playing all season and the organisation and communication we were able to get going, particularly in our defence, in the second half."

The teams scored three tries each, but first five-eighth Glen Jackson's 22 points from four penalties, two drop-goals and two conversions repelled Hawke's Bay's challenge for promotion.

Weedon said Jackson, who last week signed for a further two years with Bay of Plenty, was the key player in the team.

"He's such an asset for this side and him staying is really crucial to Bay of Plenty's growth in the next couple of years."

Hawke's Bay led 14-3 early in the game after flanker Michael Johnson and fullback Jacob Kennedy, on loan to Hawke's Bay from Bay of Plenty, scored a try each, both converted by Richard Kinnear.

However, once Bay of Plenty settled into a momentum, started by flanker Dave Duley's 28th minute try, they kept their second division opponents on the backfoot.

Jackson added a penalty goal and a 39th minute drop-goal that grazed the crossbar to his two earlier penalty goals to give Bay of Plenty a 17-14 halftime lead.

Jackson started the scoring again in the second half with a penalty before Dale Rasmussen swooped down on a loose ball for a converted try that took the Steamers out to a 27-14 lead.

Prop Simms Davison forced his way over for a try in the 58th minute following a lineout and Jackson's conversion effectively ended Hawke's Bay's brave challenge.

They hit back to narrow the margin to 34-21 with a try from captain and No 8 Mutu Ngarimu but Jackson's second drop-goal nine minutes from the end restored the 16-point buffer.

Poor handling and ball retention meant the game never rose much beyond the mediocre, with the Steamers guilty of not treasuring the glut of possession they secured, bombing at least four try-scoring chances.

Ngarimu was gracious in defeat, conceding they were outplayed by a superior team.

"I wouldn't say there's a huge gap between the divisions, particularly in the lower half (of division one), but one thing you can't afford to do against first division opponents is lose the ball," he said.

"We got away with it in second division but first division teams are so quick to punish any turnovers."

Ngarimu was also resigned to losing some of the Magpies' young talent to first division provinces.

"We'll have to try and keep away the sharks that'll be swimming around now, but there're guys in this team who aspire to play first division rugby and they will be hard to keep."

Bay of Plenty 37 (Dave Duley, Dale Rasmussen, Simms Davison tries; Glen Jackson 4 pen, 2 drop-goals; Jackson 2 con)

Hawke's Bay 21 (Michael Johnson, Jacob Kennedy, Mutu Ngarimu tries; Richard Kinnear 3 con)

Halftime: 17-14

- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES