10 Miter Cup: Dominant first half sees Hawke’s Bay beat Wellington, keeping Ranfurly Shield for the summer

Hawke’s Bay produced one of the attempts of the season when they passed Wellington and locked up the Ranfurly Shield for the summer at Napier on Sunday.

Forget defending the shield, the Magpies broke into their job at McLean Park and won it again, 34-18, to comfortably repel the listless lions’ first challenge since 2014.

It also launched Hawke’s Bay back to the top of the Miter 10 Cup championship ladder and into pole position for promotion, while Wellington is now in relegation danger after a fortnight of terror.

It took Wellington until the final 25 minutes to wake up from his slumber at 34-6 down as they finished strong, Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Julian Savea did their best to inspire but were unable to close the gap.

READ MORE:

* Mommy’s Boy is Now a Proud Daddy: The Dramatic Arrival of Wellington Lock Twins

* Hazy childhood memories propel Wellington into a rare Ranfurly Shield challenge

* Wellington ready for a long delayed shot at Log o ‘Wood

Neria Fomai’s wonderful try in the 54th minute delivered the decisive blow, after Bay No. 8 Devan Flanders stole an 85-meter loss. A little deft interaction and then a precise kick from replacement Lincoln McClutchie saw the second five-eighth jump and scored, for a barely credible 28-point cushion.

As in 2014-15, it means Hawke’s Bay will be a shield country for the summer as they repelled a third challenge since taking it from Otago. Magpies were the fourth champions this year, one short of the record five in 1950.

“We were very motivated today to keep the shield and put on a performance that we were really proud of, and that first half I thought we were exceptional,” local captain Ash Dixon told Sky Sport.

For Wellington, last year’s defeated finalists, their once promising season is now on life support after back-to-back losses. With Bay of Plenty toppling Waikato, relegation is now a different threat and leaves them in need of a big win over Manawatu at home, and they hope other results will work out well.

There were many stars for Hawke’s Bay, none brighter than livewire running back Folau Fakatava, whose snipers early on put the hosts on the front foot with a platform from his tough pack.

The Magpies led 27-6 after 25 minutes, an advantage they held until halftime, after an attack that left Wellington clutching black and white jerseys. Both forwards and tight backs ran like possessed men.

Wing Jonah Lowe, not yet signed by the hurricanes, sent a message with a compelling display about the attack. Flanders scored first from a Wellington comedy of errors after a Fakatava kick, then Marino Makele-Tu’u dived from a starting line when the Bay opted to kick to touch.

When Stacey Ili crossed, it was three attempts in eight minutes and one-way traffic.

Wellington’s occasional attacks were forced as passes went behind the runners, and the home line was rarely threatened. Prop Alex Fidow moved closer, but was denied it by the TMO at halftime when video evidence was inconclusive.

When Fomai capped off that brilliant move, Wellington coach Leo Crowley emptied his bench and put the rivals into action.

Ah Kuoi galloped 35 meters to score his first attempt with a tick at the end of 20 minutes and they spent a lot of time in the 22 meter zone of the Bay, but the task was too great as 16 points was the closest the margin.

Hawke’s Bay will travel to Taranaki next weekend to try and keep the top spot, which means they will potentially host a semi-final and a final, but the shield will not be in play.

TAKE A LOOK

Hawke’s Bay 34 (Devan Flanders, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Stacey Ili, Neria Fomai tries; Caleb Makene 3 with, 2 pen, Lincoln McClutchie with) Wellington 18 (Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop with, 2 pens). HT: 27-6.

MVP: 3 Sailors, 2 Jonah Lowe, 1 Marine Makaele-Tu’u