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Taranaki have secured a spot in the 10 Miter Cup championship semifinals after a flurry from the third quarter saw them fight to beat Manawatū 35-19 at Feilding on Sunday.
Having started the competition so strongly, with victories over the Bay of Plenty and Canterbury (that one for the Ranfurly Shield as well), the wheels had fallen off the amber and blacks, losing five of their next six.
But they have at least made sure to finish third or fourth on the championship ladder, thanks to their bonus points victory at Manfeild, against a team of Turbos that remains one point behind Counties Manukau at the bottom of the standings with a round to play.
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Bradley Slater scored two attempts in quick succession when Taranaki beat Manawatū at Feilding.
After losing their first seven games of the campaign, Manawatū managed to find a happy hunting ground in their temporary setting in the most famous motor racing venue, when they broke their duck with a victory over Southland last weekend. And after going up 12-3 at the end of the first half of this one, it looked like they could repeat the dose.
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However, spinning with the wind, four attempts by Taranaki in the space of 14 minutes early in the second half sealed the deal, as hooker Bradley Slater landed a quick double to the back of the lineout units, then each one of the visiting wingers: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Lewis Ormond – joined the account.
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Taranaki winger Lewis Ormond looks to unload during the match at Manfeild.
While the Bulls had taken the lead thanks to an early penalty from Jayson Potroz, the Turbos responded with the first attempt of the game in the 18th minute, and it was also a beauty, with running back Bryn Wilson the runner-up, after a frank of Ben Wyness and then good. interaction from the baseline to the touch of the right hand.
For the most part, the hosts seemed the most likely to score the most points, in fact finally extending their lead in the 35th minute, when blocking Liam Mitchell broke through after a sustained period on Taranaki’s 22 meters.
With a golden opportunity to try to narrow the gap just before halftime, Stephen Perofeta missed his penalty touchfinder from the half, kicking, only for the Bulls to put a huge bypass on the Turbos’ scrum advance and give him a breather to the number 10. The visitors soon earned another penalty, but captain Lachlan Boshier was content to opt for sticks, and Potroz scored to make it 12-6 at the break.
With less than five minutes into the second stage, Taranaki was inches from finding his first attempt, but Teofilo Paulo’s desperate entrance to the goal line saw Lisati Milo-Harris hit. It didn’t matter in the end, though, as two minutes later the Bulls made a brilliant starting line that saw Slater take a nosedive.
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Fullback Jayson Potroz sends the ball to Taranaki, who secured a spot in the championship semifinals.
And in the blink of an eye, on the back of a Boshier fumble penalty, it was an action replay on the other side of the park, with Slater again on the back of a strong momentum and working his way for its super fast twice, and suddenly amber and black were up 20-12.
But while Taranaki enjoyed the initial route, the Turbos responded directly with expansive and deft work, with the Josiah Maraku bust priming winger Nigel Ah Wong to turn it into a one-point ball game.
That was for a minute or so, however, as soon after the restart, a Potroz bomb was bounced and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens pounced, flying into the right corner.
And five minutes later, after returning to the Manawatū red zone, Daniel Waite sent a brilliant long pass for Ormond to fly into the left corner for the bonus point and the killing blow.
TAKE A LOOK
Taranaki 35 (Bradley Slater 2, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Lewis Ormond tries; Jayson Potroz 3 with, 3 pens) Beat 19 (Bryn Wilson, Liam Mitchell, Nigel Ah Wong tries; Ben Wyness scam, Stewart Cruden scam). HT: 12-6.
MVP Points: Lachlan Boshier 3, Jayson Potroz 2, Bradley Slater 1.
