Rugby: Proud Marlborough deal lesson to Bay of Plenty

Marlborough's campaign is over, but at least they had the satisfaction of completing their second division programme in style.

Marlborough upset the form book to inflict the first loss of the season on perennial title contenders Bay of Plenty 32-24 in Blenheim.

Also-rans Mid Canterbury also had cause for cheer after earning their first win of the winter when upsetting Hawkes Bay 35-22 in Napier, while the remaining results were far more predictable, with Nelson Bays beating Manawatu 46-22 in Nelson and King Country seeing off Thames Valley 42-33 in Otorohanga.

This weekend's semifinals will see Bay of Plenty play King Country in Tauranga while Hawkes Bay will host Nelson Bays. The two sides ended the round-robin on the same number of points, but Hawkes Bay earned the right to a home playoff courtesy of their win over the 1999 champions in mid-August.

None of Saturday's matches could have influenced the identity of the semifinalists, with the top four sides already guaranteed playoff berths.

But that could not diminish Marlborough's achievement as they improved to finish a commendable fifth in the competition.

Bay of Plenty were without injured lock Jason Chandler and first five-eighths Dean Jennings, but that did not stop them leading 10-0 inside the opening five minutes and seemingly set to stroll towards another win.

It was pride which sparked Marlborough's fightback as they were determined to protect their unbeaten home record this year.

They accomplished that after clawing back to trail 15-17 at halftime after playing into a strong, bitterly cold southerly.

Marlborough were aided by the odd slice of luck, such as when first five-eighths Regan Finch's penalty goal attempt midway through the second half bounced off the upright and into the path of winger Hamilton. Finch's conversion of the subsequent try went over off the inside of the upright.

Flanker Craig Simeon capped off a sustained build-up with the match-clinching try before Bay of Plenty first five-eighths Paul Waiariki scored a consolation try near fulltime.

Mid Canterbury were overjoyed to finally come out in credit in Napier.

"We've been promising to deliver for a few weeks now and we did it in our last match of the season," an elated Mid Canterbury coach Peter McGrath said after the match, their first win in nine games against Hawkes Bay.

Former New Zealand Residents rugby league representative Glen Coughlan scored 15 points for Mid Canterbury, with a try, two penalties and two conversions.

Hawkes Bay coach Mark Shaw now faces a tremendous challenge during the week as he prepares his side for the semifinal against Nelson Bays.

The southerners, boosted by a 21-point haul to goalkicker Warren Johnston, were flattered by the scoreline over Manawatu.

Nelson Bays eventually scored five tries to two, two each to fullback Mark Milne and winger Mark McHutchon, but had to fight back from a 13-14 deficit at halftime before eventually surging clear over the final quarter.

Two injury-time tries helped to inflate the result, with Manawatu much more competitive than the scoreline suggested.

King Country emerged victorious in a 10-try thriller over Thames Valley.

Not for the first time this season, King Country put themselves under pressure after leading 24-3 midway through the first half. They were guilty of going to sleep as a lively Thames Valley forward pack hit back and constantly created turnover ball.

The outcome was not settled until the 80th minute when fullback Kevin Weinberg scored a try for King Country.

- NZPA