[ad_1]
Northland has celebrated a double family milestone in style after handing Ross Wright and his brother Matt an unforgettable 10-Cup victory at Miter on Saturday.
Not only did Taniwha’s 35-25 win over Taranaki in Whangārei take Taniwha to the top of the championship standings, at least for a day, but it was also the perfect way to honor his special milestone brother.
Loose-headed mainstay Ross was presenting in his 100th match, becoming the province’s 24th centurion, and on the same day it was fullback Matt winning his 50th match. Would you believe it, there were half centuries for Kara Pryor and Sam too. Nock.
Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
Northland mainstay Ross Wright joined his daughters to lead his team in their 100th game.
And while Matt was forced to retire at the end of the first half with a shoulder injury, and Ross headed to the bench after 49 minutes, the rest of the Cambridge men in blue ensured it would be a day of folklore. for the Wright family.
READ MORE:
* Miter Cup 10: Alamanda Motuga’s hat-trick helps Manukau counties beat Manawatū
* ‘They’ll be bubbly’: All Blacks expect warmth from Wallabies and Dave Rennie at Bledisloe Cup opening
* Miter Cup 10: Salesi Rayasi double elevates Auckland to victory over Bay of Plenty
Northland’s win by bonus points now has the recent fighters three out of four to start the season, while Taranaki, fresh from the disappointment of losing the Ranfurly Shield to Otago last Sunday, now has more headaches.
The Ambers and Blacks had rebounded from 15-0 and looked in position to watch the home game at Semenoff Stadium when they were up 20-18, only because of their poor discipline to catch up, as Jone Macilai and Pryor scored. late, each side of the visitors dropping 14 men.
Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
Both teams received a warning from referee Angus Mabey for their “silly penalties” on the breakdown.
Dan Hawkins’ precise boot was also a blessing.
While Taranaki enjoyed 67 percent of the ball in the first half, they were guilty of being his worst enemies in the break, so often on the wrong side of referee Angus Mabey’s whistle.
In a quiet opening of the game, where the hosts were able to withstand several waves of pressure from Taranaki, it was Taniwha winger Scott Gregory who opened the game, in the 26th minute.
The exponent of sevens jumped from inside his own half, and after Sam Nock finally picked up the bouncing ball and ran down the middle, he found the starter of the move to his left for Gregory to run for the first try.
Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
Scott Gregory is congratulated for scoring Northland’s first try of the day.
So successful was the tactic, why not try again? And so did Gregory a couple of minutes later, with another precise nudge from his own territory rolling toward the touch in the corner. And after Taranaki fed off his lineout, throwing long rather than straight, the hosts opted for their own throw and expertly seized their opportunity, attacking, with blocking Josh Goodhue as the beneficiary.
However, on one hole, 15 down in the half hour, Taranaki was able to breathe a sigh of relief right at half time, with a good line from substitute co-captain Lachlan Boshier and many numbers lined up to the left, with a simple finish. for the second five eighth Daniel Waite.
A penalty from Jayson Potroz within minutes of the second spell, then reduced the deficit to five, then, in the 48th minute, they were back on equal footing as the fullback approached, which came after a monstrous 80-meter touch. -finder by Stephen Perofeta and a non-direct Northland shot.
Potroz then hit the wide right conversion and the visitors had their first lead of the day.
That lasted less than five minutes, though, as a Hawkins penalty brought Northland to the front, but Potroz responded in kind to make it 20-18 for the visitors.
When Mabey’s whistle began to dominate, and both teams received a warning for what he told them were “dumb penalties” on breakdown, Hawkins’ boot passed Taniwha by one.
But soon after, Taranaki’s discipline was going to hurt them even more, with Jared Proffit pressing for a hit off the ball with the ball in touch, and Northland going to the lineout and then attacking wide, where Macilai brilliantly struck at Codey Rei for a sublime finish in the 66th minute.
Fiona Goodall / Getty Images
Jone Macilai made a crucial try in Northland’s win over Taranaki.
Hawkins’s big conversion made it 28-20 with 13 minutes left, and then when Perofeta (offside) was banished to the trash as the scapegoat for repeated infractions, Taniwha opted for scrum, spun wide toward Gregory, then Pryor bounced. in the left corner.
Hawkins also converted that bonus point attempt, and while rookie Rob Rush was given a yellow card with five minutes to go and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens came close, the Taniwha had done quite a bit on their special day.
TAKE A LOOK
Northland 35 (Scott Gregory, Josh Goodhue, Jone Macilai, Kara Pryor tries; Dan Hawkins 3 with, 3 pen) Taranaki 25 (Daniel Waite, Jayson Potroz, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens tries; Jayson Potroz 2 scam, 2 pens). HT: 15-7
MVP Points: Scott Gregory 3, Dan Hawkins 2, Kara Pryor 1.
