ITM Cup: Sopoaga leads Southland to victory

Northland winger Jone Macilai takes on the Southland defence. Photo / John Stone

Southland 27
Northland 18

The geographic opposites produced a compelling contest packed with brilliance, errors, attraction, repulsion, and even the ITM Cup's version of the NFL 'deflategate'.

Southland, directed by Lima Sopoaga in his first match since starring for the All Blacks on debut in Johannesburg, overcame Northland 27-18 in Whangarei. A second half burst took them to an 11-point lead. Northland clawed back a late try to replacement halfback Kurt Davies after stoic Southland defence but the visitors had enough late territory to secure the win.

Sopoaga played a significant role on attack, including backhand passes and crisp timing running into the line or feeding robust runners like fullback Junior Ngaluafe and No 8 Bill Fukofuka. The first five-eighths kicked 12 points and provided a valuable safety net on cover defence.

The forward packs dinged into each other like 900kg bar magnets with scrums tic-tacking for dominance, players flying out of rucks as if run over by a mower without a catcher and enough handling errors to rule the culprits out of employment as antique dealers.

The backs counterattacked freely in space. Fullback Matt Wright and left wing Jone Macilai-Tori were incisive for Northland, while right wing Lolohea Loco and centre Kieran Moffat seized opportunities for Southland.

The match literally exploded into action with the opening try to Southland openside flanker Tim Boys in the fifth minute. It wasn't exactly the alleged New England Patriots style but Boys' charge down of a clearing kick from Northland No.10 Dan Hawkins saw the ball pop in his hands. He came up holding what looked like a flaccid frisbee.

Northland 18 (S. Nock, K. Davies tries; D. Hawkins con, 2 pens)
Southland 27 (T. Boys, K. Moffat, L. Loco tries; L. Sopoaga 3 cons, 2 pens)
Halftime: 10-10.