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Hawke’s Bay celebrates after beating Otago 28-9 to raise the Ranfurly Shield in Dunedin.
A red card to wing Slade McDowall marked a terrible path for Otago to end his short tenure in Ranfurly Shield against Hawke’s Bay on Sunday.
McDowall was sent off the field in the 72nd minute for hitting Jonah Lowe with his shoulder, and in doing so ruined any chance of Otago avoiding a 28-9 loss to the Bay at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Leighton Keith / Stuff
The Ranfurly Shield paid a week-long visit to Taranaki, then Otago took him away.
The news may have been bad for Otago, who had only secured the shield a week earlier against Taranaki, but the smile on Hawke’s Bay captain Ash Dixon’s face couldn’t be helped.
Winning the shield should ensure that Dixon never forgets his 100th game for his province, as the challengers scored 4 attempts to close.
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In fairness to McDowall, this game was probably lost before he got his marching orders. But his departure certainly didn’t help.
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Otago’s Vilimoni Koroi receives a yellow card, while Hawke’s Bay captain Ash Dixon argues that it should be red. Hawke’s Bay won 28-9 to win the Ranfurly Shield.
Otago winger Vilimoni Koroi also experienced a moment of madness in the 63rd minute, and that also increased the odds that his team will retain the famous log.
Until Koroi took Caleb Makene into the air as he darted skyward to catch a high ball, this game was up for grabs.
Referee Cam Stone had no choice but to send Makene in the trash.
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Referee Cam Stone sends Otago wing Slade McDowall for a dangerous tackle during Ranfurly Shield’s failed defense against Hawke’s Bay.
Dixon tried to convince the whistler that it was a red card infraction and he was far from happy, but within minutes he was in a much more upbeat mood; because when replacement lock Isaia Walker-Leawere scored the third try for the Bay, it was time to start preparing the shield for their third home in as many weeks after being in the hands of Taranaki and Canterbury.
For Otago, this loss, a repeat of Bay’s raid in 2013, was the fourth shortest shield tenure in the history of the great ancient trophy.
Aside from red and yellow cards for foul play, glorious skills were also in sight.
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Otago No 10 Josh Ioane shoots a penalty during the Ranfurly Shield match against Hawke’s Bay in Dunedin.
It’s impossible to miss Hawke’s Bay corridor, Folau Fakatava. You can’t when someone has a haircut like that. With a prominent blonde straw at the back of his bonce, Fakatava looks like he’s been tagged by a young street artist.
It’s certainly eye-catching, to put it mildly, but there’s a lot to No. 9 that jazzy ‘does.
Fakatava’s attempt at minute 51 was a portion of individual magic; After a quick penalty bunt, she dove into a hole, quickly shifted to full speed, and ran 38 meters to score.
If you were a Bahia fan, it was wonderful to see.
The first half was such a turgid affair, in contrast to the action in the second period.
A 37 minute wait for the first try at a rugby game is not good value for money.
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Hawke’s Bay wing Jonah Lowe is forced to move quickly as he tries to keep an attack on Otago alive.
Until right wing Lolagi Visinia scored for the Bay, there was reason to fear this was going to be a disaster; Both sets of players would have lamented their decision-making, lamentable handling, and inability to complete the promising waves on the field for much of the first verse.
And the Bay just struggled to get their hands on the ball.
When Otago’s left wing Joni Nareki came close to scoring but was held back on the line, it seemed only a matter of time before the shield holders finally scored a five-point. Incorrect.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Otago Freedom Vahaakolo wing of Otago meets Hawkes Bay defense at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
The bad news for Otago was that they had to settle for just two penalties to Josh Ioane, while Bay, against all odds, scored the only try of the first spell.
That summed up Otago day. Nothing went right. The Bay deserved this victory.
Hawke’s Bay 28 (Visinia World, Sailing Sail, Isaiah Walker-Leawere, Kurt Baker tries; Lincoln McClutchie 2 with, Caleb Makene with) Otago 9 (Josh Ioane 3 pen). HT: 7-6.
MVP Points: Ash Dixon 3, Navy Sail 2, Jonah Nareki 1.
