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Bay of Plenty have survived a major Waikato comeback to steal a 33-30 win after the siren in Hamilton on Sunday, and ensure the Miter 10 Cup first division semifinal race goes to the end.
Just when it looked like the Steamers were going to go the wrong way, after watching the Mooloos come from 19-3 down to rack up 27 unanswered points at FMG Stadium Waikato, blind end Joe Johnston broke the hearts of the home team. by diving under posts for an 83 minute attempt.
Down 30-26, the visitors had one last chance with a short-range lineout, but Waikato repelled it magnificently, only to be later awarded a penalty in the resulting scrum. Then The Bay seized their last chance in style.
Michael Bradley / Getty Images
Bay of Plenty celebrates its latest win over Waikato in Hamilton on Sunday.
The bonus point win, a fourth straight win, and one that also saw them win the Chiefs Country Cup, suddenly takes them to fourth place, at 26 competition points, with a crucial final round match against North Harbor ( fifth in 25) to come to Tauranga next Sunday.
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As for Waikato, it’s a second straight loss, their first at home of the season, although they left with a couple of bonus points, matching them with runner-up Tasman, with 29 points, before a clash of the final round against Northland at Kaikohe next Saturday.
It also means Auckland (34) is the only team guaranteed of a place in the semi-finals heading into the final round, while the battle for relegation remains a hot topic as well, with Wellington and Canterbury tied at 24.
Michael Bradley / Getty Images
Joe Johnston goes for the Steamers’ winning try at FMG Stadium Waikato.
Waikato will regret what had been an excellent comeback, in a game in which they dominated time with the ball, but had coughed up the first points and had lost Rivez Reihana’s first five-eighths to a failed HIA in the first quarter.
The Steamers opened the scoring in just the fifth minute with a fabulous field effort ended by second five eighth Dan Hollinshead, a late match replacement for Chase Tiatia, then winger Joe Webber pocketed a double for the Mooloos to look down. . the barrel.
Desperately needing to force a response, they found their inspiration with an immediate hit from center Quinn Tupaea, who scored a brilliant individual try from a mighty 25-meter bust to keep the hosts in the contest.
While the Bay continued to threaten, they were guilty of too many driving errors and instead it was all Waikato in the final stages of the middle.
Michael Bradley / Getty Images
Captain Otere Black makes plans with the ball in hand during Sunday’s game.
Pillar Ollie Norris finished a prolonged period of attack in the 36th minute, then after siren Beaudein Waaka, moving to the top five from fullback, scored a penalty to make the score 19-18 at the break.
Then, just four minutes into the second verse, Waikato suddenly had their first lead of the day, when Samisoni Taukei’aho, new to the field, scored with a superb lineout game.
But if livewire midfielder Xavier Roe’s inside ball was good, his next five minutes later was exquisite, as he made a backflick for a flying Liam Coombes-Fabling, who was later joined by Tuapea, who walked away for his second try, the bonus from your team. point and a 30-19 lead.
Suddenly in need of their own resurgence, the Steamers found it right away, with the midfield bust of Mathew Skipwith-Garland seeing No. 8 Sam Dickson running for the visitors’ bonus point attempt.
It turned into a tit-for-tat penalty game for holding the ruck, as both sides took turns controlling the ball and winning turnovers.
After an impressive move from deep within their turf, the Steamers probably thought it wouldn’t be their day when Emoni Narawa stepped forward only to get a cruel bounce off the ball as he waited to pick it up.
But they were soon to make peace with their impressive ending.
TAKE A LOOK
Bay of Plenty 33 (Joe Webber 2, Dan Hollinshead, Sam Dickson, Joe Johnston tries; Kaleb Trask 4 with) Waikato 30 (Quinn Tupaea 2, Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei’aho tries; Beaudein Waaka 2 scam, 2 pens). HT: 19-18.
MVP Points: Quinn Tupaea 3, Xavier Roe 2, Joe Webber 1.
