Rugby: Northland win scrappy affair

Bryce Heem of Northland makes a break. Photo / Getty Images

Northland 19
Tasman 9

Northland opened their national provincial rugby championship campaign with a workmanlike 19-9 win over Tasman in Whangarei tonight.

Ahead 12-6 at halftime, Northland's solid defence kept the visitors tryless in a match which saw both teams concede too much turnover ball.

Barely four minutes after the whistle, nippy Northland halfback Ryan Caine set up the first try with a surging midfield run, Rene Ranger at centre kicked through and blindside flanker Dan Faleafa was the man on the spot to touch down.

Lachie Munro missed the conversion, but Northland took heart and their strength at the set piece kept Tasman under early pressure.

Tasman captain and second five-eighth Andrew Goodman narrowed the margin with a sweetly struck 40-metre penalty, but barely a minute later Northland crossed for their second try.

Fullback Jared Payne kicked intelligently into space, winger Bryce Heem headed the Northland chase and toed ahead for second five-eighth Aaron Bancroft to touch down.

Munro added the extras and Northland led 12-3 after 20 minutes. Goodman's second penalty five minutes later closed the gap to six, but Northland's defence held strong as halftime neared and they went into the break with a 12-6 lead.

Five minutes into the second half, Bancroft crossed for his second after Northland forced the turnover inside their 22 and moved the ball wide.

Hooker Ross Wright popped up in the back line, drew the defence then slotted the perfect pass for Bancroft to score.

Munro nailed the conversion from far out on the lefthand touch, and Northland looked comfortable with a 19-6 lead.

From then on, Tasman were in defensive mode, with only the odd counterattack to ease the pressure.

Their best chance came with 15 minutes remaining, a good chase forcing a five metre scrum as the Northland defence scrambled to cover a Tasman breakout.

Although blindside flanker Jonathon Poff barrelled over from the resulting ruck, replays showed Ranger and Heem did well to get underneath him and referee Shane McDermott - playing advantage from a previous infringement - ruled the ball had been held up.

Goodman nailed the penalty and Northland led 19-9 with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Both teams struggled with ball retention in the closing stages, Northland pushing for the fourth try and Tasman desperate to close the gap to salvage a bonus point from the game.

However neither was able to provide the finish, and the final whistle saw Northland secure revenge for last year's 29-34 loss to Tasman in Nelson.

Northland 19 (Aaron Bancroft 2, Dan Faleafa tries; Lachie Munro 2 con) Tasman 9 (Andrew Goodman 3 pen). Halftime: 12-6.

- NZPA