10.00pm
BAY OF PLENTY 52 SOUTHLAND 32
Bay of Plenty denied Southland a semifinal chance in the NPC first division rugby competition tonight with a 52-32 win in Invercargill.
They scored seven tries to four in a game resembling sevens rugby but Bay of Plenty were clearly their hungrier side for victory.
Hooker Jason Rutledge gave the homeside a brilliant start with the first of his two tries in just the third minute and Richard Apanui converted it and added a penalty for their 10-0 lead.
But by the 18th minute Glen Jackson had converted a try each by hooker Aleki Lutui and second five-eighth Grant McQuoid and Bay of Plenty had overtaken the lead 14-10.
McQuoid also got two tries.
Wayne Ormond's try for Bay of Plenty in the last act of the first half saw the two teams tied 24-24 but fullback Damon Kaui crossed for a try just four minutes after the break and Bay of Plenty never looked back.
'They guys were pretty confident at halftime that we could turn it around, with a slight breeze behind us," BOP captain Clayton McMillan said.
"We probably would have been reasonably happy with four wins (in the competition) but five really tops it off. The boys are just bubbling."
Glen Jackson, who had a fine game from first five-eighth and kicked 18 points, said: "I've been pretty happy with my season, but it helps with the guys I've been playing with -- Grant McQuoid and Kevin Senio -- because the second five-eighth and halfback are positions we've had problems with."
Southland finished with their best season in recent years.
Though they managed a bonus point for scoring a minimum of four tries, they were denied a chance to challenge Auckland and Wellington, both on 28 points, for a place in the semifinals.
A win with a bonus point would have moved Southland to 28 points as well.
Bay of Plenty 52 (Grant McQuoid 2, Anthony Tahana, Aleki Lutui, Damon Kaui, Wayne Ormond, Taufa'ao Filise tries; Glen Jackson 2 pen, 6 con)
Southland 32 (Jason Rutledge 2, James Jousy, Brett Roberts tries; Richard Apanui 2 pen, 3 con)
Halftime: 24-24
- NZPA
NPC points table
