NPC: Hawke's Bay enters final
Hawke's Bay had to survive a determined Northland fightback before claiming their place in the Championship final with a 26-21 win in Napier on Friday.
In a typical semifinal containing evidence of nervousness, handling issues and bursts of applied determination, it was ironic that some fine running play produced most of the scoring movements in the game.
Northland scored three tries to Hawke's Bay's two, but the difference was the goal-kicking of Ihaia West who landed 16 points, including a 56 metre penalty at a crucial stage of Northland's recovery.
Northland had chances in the first quarter with some strong surges generated by the Pryor brothers, Dan and Kara in the loose forwards, but sound defence from Hawke's Bay kept their line intact.
And heading the way in driving the ball out of danger, and into attacking situations, lock Mark Abbott set a high example while captain Brendan O'Connor was always to the fore in supporting play.
One Northland breakout got flying wing Jone Macilai into space and it stretched the home defence but they managed to ease their way out of trouble when an in-pass fell to Bay centre Robbie Fruean.
But in the 26th minute, Macilai had the final say when he completed a fine Northland build-up by producing a superb try with his inside arm depositing the ball in the corner by millimetres.
The try had the effect of putting some adrenalin in the Hawke's Bay system and from a scrum turnover the ball was moved wide where centre Robbie Fruean continued to make inroads, as he had in the opening 30 minutes, to create room for wing Shannan Chase to find fullback Richard Buckman outside him and he was able to cut back through tackles to regain the lead for his side.
Earlier, West had landed two penalties, the second producing his 100 points for the campaign, to one landed by Northland's Dan Hawkins.
Some frenetic action almost saw Northland score, but prop Ross Wright lost the ball over the line and Hawke's Bay cleared only to lose Buckman as he attempted a tackle, missed and suffered a leg injury, two minutes from half-time.
It was no surprise that Abbott would play several roles in the Bay's next try, in the 45th minute. Several times he featured in taking the ball downfield, and when West worked an inside pass in front of the goalposts Fruean had a head of steam that was never going to see him being stopped.
Scrumhalf Chris Eaton, created something from nothing when surrounded by Northland chasers as he went to cover a kick ahead, but the waves parted and he charged downfield, and only a Northland knock-on of a pass from O'Connor, halted the movement.
Hawke's Bay had their reward as West landed a penalty goal to regain the 12-point lead.
Northland made good use of a West downfield kick that was too long. With fullback Matthew Wright running onto the ball at speed he found Dan Pryor outside him and he linked with wing Latiume Fosita, whose inside pass found Pryor – who scored.
As seven points separated the sides, West was able to halt the potential momentum when landing a 56m penalty goal.
Just how crucial that proved was seen when Northland's prop Namatahi Waa worked hard to score a 76th minute try, but Northland were left needing to score a converted try as Hawkins missed from a handy position.
Hawke's Bay had no intention of letting Northland in, and the game finished with a series of scrums five metres from the Northland try-line after Hawke's Bay gained the feed back from the visitors and when a penalty was awarded, West wasted no time kicking the ball for touch.
Scorers:
For Hawke's Bay:
Tries: Buckman, Fruean
Cons: West 2
Pens: West 4
For Northland:
Tries: Macilai, Pryor, Waa
Pens: Hawkins 2
