Round 7 Wrap: Golden Point Lions stay on top

Tasman Mako got home in the last play of their game with Waikato to retain their unbeaten record in Hamilton with a 27-25 win.

With a game more, Wellington sits atop the table by three points after its 30-25 golden point win over third-placed Bay of Plenty.

Hawke's Bay, despite its 19-63 loss to Taranaki in Napier, is in fourth place, two points ahead of Taranaki, who have a game in hand.  

Auckland continued its late run for a top-eight place by beating Southland 27-19 and is in ninth place with a game in hand.

Northland, third from the bottom, was satisfied by winning their first game in eight against neighbours North Harbour.

Manawatū 26 Southland 21

Southland too long to take advantage of its early possession and it wasn't until 17 minutes into the contest that wing Viliame Fine cut back in then straightened to score the first try. Manawatū also failed to takes its chances, an excellent break by halfback Jordi Viljoen was undone when his pass was picked off easily by defending first five-eighths Byron Smith, with a certain try gone begging.

Six minutes into the second half, a blindside run by Southland halfback Jay Renton created room inside for flying wing Michael Manson to run in a try. At 14-0 up, Southland looked well on the way, but in the 54th-minute Renton failed to find touch and Manawatū ran the ball back with second five-eighths Jason Emery, on the sideline kicked infield where Viljoen ran onto the ball to score. Things got worse when Fine was red-carded for a tackle attempt that saw his shoulder onto the head of home first five-eighths Drew Wild. Manawatū used their extra man to advantage with hooker Malakai Hala-Ngatai scoring within three minutes. And in the 65th-minute wing Pena Va'a had the strength to cross to claim the lead for Manawatū. But in the 75th-minute replacement hooker Nic Souchon went over under the posts to assist Southland to 21-21 with four minutes left. However, failing to control lineout ball saw Manawatū strike 34 seconds after the final hooter when centre Kyle Brown scored the winning try. 

Manawatū 26 (Jordi Viljoen, Malakai Hala-Ngatai, Pena Va'a, Kyle Brown tries; Reece MacDonald 3 con) Southland 21 (Viliame Fine, Michael Manson, Nic Souchon tries; Byron Smith 3 con). HT: 0-7

Hawke's Bay 19 Taranaki 63

Taranaki, and lock Josh Lord especially, looked hungry from the outset at McLean Park and hooker Bradley Slater scored the first of nine tries they posted in the seventh minute. The lineout maul was in action again five minutes later to provide the foundation for a backline move that saw wing Vereniki Tikoisolomone cross for the first of his two tries. The Bay put a temporary stay on proceedings with a lineout maul try for lock Tom Parsons, and then seven minutes later, another lineout variation saw flanker Sam Smith cross for a second try. But the Taranaki procession revived in the 27th minute with wing Kini Naholo taking an inside pass to score, and four minutes later, Slater crossed for his second from a lineout maul.

The second half offered no respite for the home team. Six minutes into the half, Naholo was too strong close to the line and scored. His third was spectacular as forwards and backs combined on an 80-metre play with 30 minutes left. Naholo ran 50m before setting up Tikoisolomone for his second. Replacement hooker Ricky Riccitelli picked up a try from a maul, and halfback Adam Lennox scored the last to achieve a record win for the defending champions in Napier. The Bay got one back two minutes from the end when replacement tighthead Lolania Faleiva scored two minutes from the end.

Hawke's Bay 19 (Tom Parsons, Sam Smith, Lolania Faleiva tries; Lincoln McClutchie 2 con) Taranaki 63 (Bradley Slater 2, Vereniki Tikoisolomone 2, Kini Naholo 3, Ricky Riccitelli, Adam Lennox tries; Josh Jacomb 6 con; Jayson Potroz con; Ethan Reti 2 con). HT: 12-28

Northland 47 North Harbour 24

Shaun Stevenson gave the visitors first points at Whangarēi when slipping a kick in-goal for wing Sofai Maka to run onto it to score. But Northland struck when halfback Sam Nock paused at a midfield ruck long enough to spot a hole, and he raced through it to run 55m to score untouched. In the 20th minute, a similar gap 22m out opened up for first five-eighths Rivez Reihana to score. Hooker Shiloh Klein took advantage at a tap penalty to pull back the margin, but it was the home team that led 14-12 at the turn.

A defensive collision five metres from North Harbour's line resulted in a penalty, which Northland tapped, worked a move and saw No8 Simon Parker go through to score. Reihana ran a kick back at the visitors, and it was second five-eighths Corey Evans whose footwork saw him score. More errors five metres out created a chance for Reihana to score his second on a great day out. He earlier landed a dropped goal conversion from wide out after the ball fell off the tee. Stevenson scored at the start of the fourth quarter, but poor defence allowed fullback Jordan Trainor to score and make a bridge too far for North Harbour. Replacement Tevita Latu added another before Moses Leo ended the scoring for the visitors with a try.

Northland 47 (Sam Nock, Rivez Reihana 2, Simon Parker, Corey Evans, Jordan Trainor, Tevita Latu tries; Reihana 5 con; Lisali Milo-Harris con) North Harbour 24 (Sofai Maka, Shiloh Klein, Shaun Stevenson, Moses Leo tries; Tane Edmed 2 con). HT: 14-12

Canterbury 36 Counties Manukau 28

T This one will have the statisticians pondering. Home team Canterbury rattled on 36 points without an answer in the first half, then couldn't score a point in the second. The midfield had a day out with centre Jone Rova opening the try-scoring after 10 minutes while his inside partner, second five-eighths Dallas McLeod was next in, after a quick tap penalty back on halfway, diving into the corner after 18 minutes. A delayed pass had wing Chay Fihaki in eight minutes later. Flanker Tom Christie got one off a lineout maul in the 30th minute. McLeod got his second in the 35th minute, but it was halfback Nic Shearer's try after a brilliant kick from beyond halfway found space in the corner for a 50:22 which produced the try. Two minutes later, first five-eighths, James White produced a similar kick. Then, as the ball was recycled from play following a lineout, White again put Fihaki in for the try.

Into the second half, with the wind at their back, but down a man for a head clash, Counties Manukau had replacement hooker Ioane Moananu patrolling the left flank when receiving the ball. He charged ahead and kicked, and then, as Shearer failed to cover the ball, Moananu got it to score. In the final quarter, the visitors ran three tries to replacement Gibson Popoali'i, fullback Simon-Peter Toleafoa and No8 Hoskins Sotutu.

Canterbury 36 (Jone Rova, Dallas McLeod 2, Chay Fihaki 2, Tom Christie tries; James White 3 con) Counties Manukau 28 (Ioane Moananu, Gibson Popoali'i, Simon-Peter Toleafoa, Hoskins Sotutu tries; AJ Alatimu con; Riley Hohepa 3 con). HT: 36-0

 

Wellington 30 Bay of Plenty 25

Back at SKY Stadium, Wellington settled and opened the scoring in the 10th minute, with Riley Higgins making the most of a back movement off a ruck for the first try. Bay of Plenty responded from a lineout maul six minutes later, with hooker Kurt Eklund scoring. Wellington turned on their lineout maul with replacement prop Leni Apisa scoring in the 26th minute.

Five minutes into the second half, untidy play on Bay of Plenty's line by Wellington was not punished, and Higgens tidied to give wing Julian Savea the ball to score beside the posts. The close contest was heightened when Bay No8 Nikora Broughton went low from a ruck to score a try and get within four points of Wellington. Penalty goals to first five-eighths Jackson Garden-Bachop took Wellington to 25. Six minutes from full-time replacement hooker Taine Kolose scored from a maul, and with the conversion, the Bay was three behind. With 25 seconds left, Wellington infringed, and Lucas Cashmore kicked the penalty goal to take the game to golden point. Higgins wrapped up the win with a kick to the in-goal that saw replacement halfback Kyle Preston win the chase to score the winner.

Wellington (Riley Higgins, Leni Apisai, Julian Savea, Kyle Preston tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 con, 2 pen) Bay of Plenty (Kurt Eklund, Nikora Broughton, Taine Kolose tries; Lucas Cashmore 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 12-8. FT: 25-25

Waikato 25 Tasman 27

Fast following by wing Quinn Tupaea resulted in a first-minute try after a Bailyn Sullivan midfield bust in Hamilton. After bombing a try chance for halfback Xavier Roe, Waikato had first five-eighths D'Angelo Leuila barge over in the 15th minute for their second try. But by the 30th minute, Tasman found its mojo, allowing prop Ryan Coxon to burrow his way over from a goalline ruck to open their scoring. Waikato lost second five-eighths Gideon Wrampling to a yellow card for a blatant late tackle on Tasman's first five-eighths Campbell Parata, fullback William Havili adding a penalty goal from the incident.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Roe threw a dummy and then fed Rampling into space in front of the posts, where he slipped a short pass to lock Lachlan McWhannell, who scored. In the 63rd minute, Tasman's maul powered hooker Samiuela Moli over for the try that got them back in touch with the home team. Impressive strength from wing Timoci Tavatavanawai broke the line five metres out, and he passed to flanker Tim Sail for the try. Waikato had cause to think replacement five-eighths Aaron Cruden had landed a match-winning penalty goal with four minutes left, but after missing an attempted dropped goal, Havili landed a 40m penalty goal two minutes into injury time into the wind to claim the win.

Waikato 25 (Quinn Tupaea, D'Angelo Leuila, Lachlan McWhannell tries; Leuila con, pen; Aaron Crucen con, pen) Tasman 27 (Ryan Coxon, Samiuela Moli, Tim Sail tries; William Havili 3 con, 2 pen). HT:12-10

Auckland 27 Southland 19

First five-eighths Rico Simpson made the most of good work on the goalline by his pack to run in Auckland's first try against Southland at Eden Park. But Southland's packs proved highly effective when unleashing a lineout maul from 20m out, with the result being a try for flanker Leroy Ferguson. On the half-hour a tap penalty five metres out provided a try for Tuaina Tualima. Five minutes later, driving continuity saw Auckland lock Josh Beehre pick up the ball from a ruck to run in a try from 15m out. On the halftime hooter, Auckland exploded from their line through four phases before wing AJ Lam grabbed the ball off the back of the ruck to score.

In spite of their 24-7 lead, it was Southland who did better in the second half. Their lineout maul did the work before the ball was released, and wing Michael Manson dived over in the corner. Then, after eight phases short of Auckland's line in the 65th-minute opposite corner, wing Charlie Powell used his footwork to get over in the opposite corner. However, hopes of an upset foundered on fullback Zarn Sullivan's 73rd-minute penalty goal to deny Southland a loser's bonus point.

Auckland 27 (Rico Simpson, Tuaina Tualima, Josh Beehre, AJ Lam tries; Zarn Sullivan 2 con; Simpson pen) Southland 19 (Leroy Ferguson, Michael Manson, Charlie Powell tries; Jason Robertson 2 con). HT: 24-7

Manawatū 10 Otago 28

Otago and former All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman opened the scoring for his side in wet conditions in Palmerston North when a mobile lineout maul carried him to the line for a try. Up 13-3 when turning to face the wind, Otago benefited from three consecutive penalty goals landed by first five-eighths Cameron Millar.

After a poorly controlled Manawatū pass midway through the second half, Otago flanker Oliver Haig picked up the ball, ran ahead and then kicked goalwards where Manawatū infringed. Opting to play the lineout, Otago worked the mau,l and it was replacement hooker Henry Bell who matched Coltman's effort by scoring a try. Running the ball from the goalline, the home team got the ball wide for fullback Drew Wild to make ground down the left flank before kicking ahead, regaining the ball and passing to supporting replacement back Luke Campbell for their try. But Otago had the final say when centre Hudson Creighton got his hands on a contested cross-kick from Millar to score the try.

Manawatū 10 (Luke Campbell try; Reece MacDonald pen; Brett Cameron con) Otago 28 (Liam Coltman, Henry Bell, Hudson Creighton tries; Cameron Millar 2 con, 3 pen). HT: 10-28

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