Rugby: Waikato sneak past Steamers

Waikato halfback Brad Weber's incisive burst brought the game's first try. Photo / Getty

Waikato 29
Bay of Plenty 12

Waikato ended a forgetful ITM Cup season on a positive note last night, beating Bay of Plenty 29-12 to consign the Steamers to the competition's wooden spoon.

The clash at Waikato Stadium was reflective of both sides' lowly positions in their respective divisions, with low stakes and little quality between the Super Rugby franchise partners.

Bay of Plenty harboured faint hopes of sneaking into the fourth and final playoff place in the Championship but they never realistically looked like securing the four-try victory they required. Instead, Waikato were able to snatch their fourth win of the season, enough to lift them into fifth spot in the Premiership.

Neither side was in danger of relegation in the ITM Cup - Wellington's woeful season secured Waikato's fate and Bay of Plenty had nowhere else to go - but it certainly seemed like a scrap between cellar dwellers.

Both teams were missing direction for much of the match, eschewing commitment to a gameplan in favour of throwing around the passes in a bid to run in the tries. Unfortunately for the small crowd, the skill levels were lacking and free-flowing rugby rarely materialised.

It wasn't due to a dearth of heart - there was plenty of feeling between the neighbours - but the player failed to translate those attitudes into real action.

There were a couple of highlights, chief among them Brad Weber's incisive burst for the opening try and a rumbling intercept run from Waikato hooker Epalahame Faiva that earned him the congratulations of his teammates and, unfortunately, a serious-looking ankle injury.

For Bay of Plenty, fullback Byron McGuigan completed a couple of fine moves to keep his side in the contest, before their slim chances were extinguished by Declan O'Donnell's late try.

But those moments were exceptions, rather than the rule.

Waikato 29 (Weber, Faiva, O'Donnell, Payne tries; McKenzie pen, 3 cons)
Bay of Plenty 12 (McGuigan 2 tries; Hollinshead con)
HT: 10-5