Quarter-finals beckon for Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty 35 Hawkes Bay 7

This is one of those occasions where you can tap the side of your nose and sagely tip in advance "the Bay to win" and know you're sure to be right.

This result also means Bay of Plenty are almost certain to nab a spot in the Air New Zealand Cup quarter-finals, where they will play the first or second top qualifier.

BoP had this contest at Mt Maunganui in hand by halftime, at which point they had scored three of the four tries they needed for a bonus point. The clincher came 15 minutes after the break when New Zealand Colt Lance MacDonald took advantage of an overlap on the right to score.

Barring a monumental upset when they play Manawatu next Thursday night, coach Andre Bell can start preparing to tackle one of the heavyweights early next month.

BoP were all over Hawkes Bay in the first half, playing with a breeze at their backs.

They dominated the territory, and even though Hawkes Bay, courtesy of good work by Bryn Evans at the lineout, were able to get a good measure of possession, it tended to be at the wrong end of the park.

BoP butchered two certain tries - midfield pair Cory Aporo and Tahjon Mailita getting in each other's way, then Aporo passing the ball into touch, wing Charles Baxter having come inside for the pass - before referee Jonathan White sent Hawkes Bay hooker Danny Logan to the sin bin.

That was the cue and Simms Davison, in his 50th appearance, and Murray Williams crossed while Hawkes Bay were one short.

Baxter got the third, slicing between two defenders near the right corner and the game was up for the visitors.

Hawkes Bay would have suffered their third 'blob' of the championship had replacement Fakaa'nalua Taumalolo not forced his way across just before the end.

Bay of Plenty: S. Davison, M. Williams, C. Baxter, L. MacDonald, G. Cowley tries; Williams 2 pen, 2 con
Hawkes Bay: F. Taumalolo try; A. Clarke con.
HT: 25-0