Rugby: BOP stay on track for playoffs

Colin Bourke of Bay of Plenty. Photo / Getty Images

Bay of Plenty maintained their challenge for a semifinals spot as they beat Otago 40-30 tonight to chalk up a third straight victory in the ITM Cup.

Bay of Plenty, who now have 31 points, made light of the rainy conditions at Rotorua to secure a bonus point by the end of the first half after scoring four brilliant tries.

Otago, were dominated in the setpieces and saw little ball as Bay of Plenty ran the ball at them at every opportunity.

Skipper and No 8 Colin Bourke and hooker John Pareanga had outstanding games for Bay of Plenty while their backs such as halfback Taniela Moa, first five Mike Delaney and wings Lelia Masaga and Jason Hona made valuable contributions throughout.

Moa set up the first try with a break from behind a solid scrum but it was Masaga's brilliance which produced the try as he chipped and regathered to dot down for Delaney to convert.

Otago replied with a penalty by first five Glenn Dickson but Moa quickly helped Bay of Plenty stretch the lead, his quickly tapped penalty resulting in a try to second five Phil Burleigh.

Otago fought back after a skip pass by Dickson found Hayden Triggs and the lock crashed over to close the gap with a converted try.

After an exchange of penalties, Bay of Plenty scored their third try after a strong break by Masaga led to prop Josh Hohneck scoring another converted try.

Dickson who was kicking beautifully, slotted another two penalties to keep his side in touch but Bay of Plenty had the last say in the half with a gem of the try to Bourke after his pack combined like backs down the middle. With Delaney's conversion, Bay of Plenty led 29-16 at halftime.

Delaney added another two penalties including a boomer from 52m early in the second half and at 35-16 it looked as if Otago were dead and buried.

But the southerners came back with two tries in 12 minutes as Bay of Plenty sat on their laurels to try and ride the game out.

Substitute wing Chris Small benefited from a Josh Tatupu breakout to dot down for fellow replacement Chris Noakes to convert and then fullback Ben Smith sliced through the Bay of Plenty defence with a solo effort to score.

Noakes converted to bring the score to 35-30 and set the stage for a thrilling finish.

But Bay of Plenty pushed upfield from the re-start and their powerful scrum did the rest for another replacement, Solomon King to dot down in the dying seconds.

Pareanga in his 50th match for the province was given the conversion chance but from wide out, it was a big ask for the popular hooker.


- NZPA