Rugby: Taranaki and Hawke's Bay inseparable

Taranaki first-five Jack Cameron kicked a 77th minute penalty to even the game. Photo / Getty Images

Hawke's Bay and Taranaki proved perfectly matched in an intense Air NZ Cup rugby match drawn 24-24 at New Plymouth.

Both teams were coming off losses from the previous week, but it was Taranaki who looked the more focused early on, controlling the ball well in close and moving it fluently through the backline.

The result was a well-organised try after barely three minutes to influential first five-eighth Jack Cameron, who converted to give Taranaki an early 7-0 lead.

A Mathew Berquist penalty closed the gap and Hawke's Bay slowly began to play their way back into the match, building on a solid scrum which was put under little pressure by the Taranaki eight.

Hawke's Bay's support play and off-load in the tackle was oustanding and played an important part in tries to wing Jason Kupa after 20 minutes and midfield maestro Jason Shoemark three minutes later.

Although Berquist missed one conversion, he landed a later penalty to cancel out another Cameron three-pointer and Hawke's Bay looked well in control.

Both teams were reduced to 14 players at the 30 minute mark when Australian referee Nathan Pearce sent Hawke's Bay prop Sona Taumalolo and Taranaki No 8 Jarrad Hoeata to the bin after a stoush at the breakdown.

Neither team could take advantage, and Hawke's Bay went into the break with a useful 18-10 lead.

Taranaki's defence around the fringes at the breakdown was exposed early on, but once things tightened up after halftime Hawke's Bay's running game just couldn't find the same penetration.

A Berquist penalty 13 minutes into the second half pushed Hawke's Bay's lead out to 11, but Taranaki dug deep and responded almost immediately.

From Cameron's towering restart, Hoeata won possession and offloaded to hooker Laurence Corlett, who found lock Jason Eaton in perfect position to crash through some despairing Hawke's Bay defence and score.

Cameron couldn't add the extras, but Taranaki were rejuvenated and at six points down with 20 minutes to go, looked threatening with the ball in hand.

A Berquist penalty pushed Hawke's Bay's lead out to nine again with 15 minutes remaining, but Taranaki remained composed and with Cameron on target tied the game up with three well-taken penalties.

Hawke's Bay 24 (Jason Kupa, Jason Shoemark tries; Mathew Berquist con, 4 pen) Taranaki 24 (Jack Cameron, Jason Eaton tries; Cameron con, 4 pen). Halftime: 18-10.

- NZPA