End of the road for Taranaki

Waikato book a semi-final berth

aikato booked their place in the Air New Zealand National Provincial Championship (NPC) semi-finals with a tough 26-20 win over Taranaki at Yarrows Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

This was the first time this season that Taranaki have been downed at home. The result means that Taranaki miss-out on the semi-finals. The home team were not helped by a poor recent run, losing their last three games.

Tries by wing Sosene Anesi and No.8 Steve Bates, was helped by ranging kicks by fullback David Hill - which gave the points to Waikato.

The visitors deserved the win for their spirited fight back having been 13-9 down at half-time, after conceding two first half tries.

Tension was never too far beneath the surface in the opening stages, with both teams playing for NPC survival.

With Taranaki building some momentum, Waikato prop David Briggs caught Taranaki captain Paul Tito in with a sneaky elbow to the face.

Referee Lyndon Bray send Briggs to the sin bin, giving the home side the advantage when Brock James landed the penalty, followed by two tries in quick succession to pull away.

Firstly, the ball was spun wide to former New Zealand Sevens star Shayne Austin, who went over for an unconverted try out wide.

Taranaki winger Sailosi Tagicakibau then showed he has real pace by rounding Waikato winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, beating another defender out wide and going over for a try.

Waikato fullback, who David Hill landed two penalties shortly after, kept the visitor in the game at 13-9 approaching the half hour mark. The score stayed unchanged till half-time.

Waikato started the second half with good spells of pressure on the Taranaki line. They were rewarded when fullback Hill landed his fourth penalty. The Mooloo men had closed the gap to just one point as they trailed 13-12 with 25 minutes to go.

The visitors got the try that they wanted, putting them in the lead when flying winger Sosene Anesi crossed out wide for the try.

Hill landed the conversion and Waikato were 19-13 ahead with ten minutes remaining. Waikato No.8 Steve Bates got a crucial try when he picked up a lose ball close to the line and barged his way over for a vital score.

Hill got the conversion, taking it to 26-13 with five minutes remaining.

Taranaki went on a late charge when No.8 Brent Thompson smashed his way over from a close-range ruck, taking the home side to within six points. The home team tried everything to sneak a win but the Waikato defence was not breached again, and it ended with Waikato winning 26-20.

The scorers

For Taranaki:
Tries: Austin, Tagicakibau, Thompson,
Con: James
Pen: James

Waikato:
Tries: Anesi, Bates.
Cons: Hill 2
Pens: Hill 4