Rugby: Spirited Waikato rebound as Bay topple Cantabs

Marty Holah of Waikato stays cool under pressure. Photo / Getty Images

Waikato 31
Wellington 27

Bay of Plenty 35
Canterbury 31

Waikato put their Manawatu blues behind them to stay on track for a premiership final place last night.

In an entertaining ITM Cup game, if of mixed quality, they were too good for a Wellington side who battled for possession and didn't do enough when they had it.

Waikato got a 50-point drubbing from Manawatu last weekend, but rebounded with spirit and in halfbacks Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Sam Christie had two of the more influential figures on the park.

Waikato enjoyed the bulk of possession, and obliged Wellington to plough through a mountain of defensive work, although the hosts could have been clear by halftime with some slicker handling.

Wellington did score two impressive tries. Second five-eighths Michael Hobbs, bound for the Blues on a two-year deal, put centre Alapati Leiua on a route to the tryline in the second minute. Then, spying the numbers 2 and 3 on the Waikato jerseys in front of him, did what any self-respecting back would do and sliced between them for a smart try.

Fullback Trent Renata chimed in with 16 points, kicking six from seven. Wellington's young No 10, Lima Sopoaga, also kicked his goals but it was a struggle for Wellington much of the time.

Relegation to the championship is a real possibility if fellow cellar inhabitants Southland hold the Ranfurly Shield against Taranaki tonight.

So after Waikato had striven unsuccessfully for a bonus point try, Wellington broke out on the hooter, for fullback Apoua Stewart to score a try to secure a bonus point of their own. It may prove crucial.

Just as Otago playing in the second tier championship would seem unthinkable to those used to the province being one of New Zealand's old school senior members, so too would Wellington seem a bad fit.

Wellington play North Harbour in their final game at Albany on Friday night. Waikato host Auckland in their final game on Saturday afternoon when a win should ensure a place in the premiership final.

Waikato 31 (H. Speight, S. Tokula, T. Mikkelson tries; T. Renata 4 pen, 2 con)
Wellington 27 (A. Leiua, M. Hobbs, A. Stewart tries; L. Sopoaga 2 pen, 3 con). HT: 15-17.

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Unburdened by the pressure of expectation, Bay of Plenty threw off the shackles last night to set up an intriguing run into a potential Ranfurly Shield challenge this weekend with an exhilarating win over premiership leaders Canterbury at Mt Maunganui.

Unbeaten leaders after the first four rounds, the Steamers slumped with four consecutive losses to push themselves right back into the relegation zone.

But they're unbeaten this season at Baypark Stadium and last night's penultimate round-robin game showed why, with the Steamers jumping to a 29-3 halftime lead against a strangely subdued and error-prone Canterbury.

But the Cantabs stormed back, scoring four tries in a rampant second half, finally holding their passes and running incisively to cut Bay's lead to 32-31 with four minutes to play.

But Bay weren't to be denied in what was likely to be skipper Colin Bourke's final game on Baypark, with first-five Chris Noakes nailing a last-gap penalty, giving him 25 points in a flawless night.

Bay of Plenty will be looking forward to their final round-robin clash with Southland in Invercargill which, depending on which Taranaki side fronts tonight, might give them a rare Shield challenge.

Bay of Plenty 35 (Toby Arnold, Colin Bourke tries; Chris Noakes 6 pen, dropped goal, 2 con)
Canterbury 31 (Luke Romano, Willie Heinz, Ryan Crotty, Telusa Veainu tries; Tyler pen, 4 con). HT: 29-3.