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Captain Tony Lamborn couldn’t have asked for a better way to start Southland’s Miter 10 Cup party after his team upset Hawke’s Bay 16-10 at Invercargill on Sunday afternoon.
Having been a member of the Blues’ revival at Super Rugby this year, Lamborn knows how tough bribery and determination can pay big dividends and that reflected Southland’s performance at Rugby Park as they ignored bad weather to secure a memorable victory over the Bay.
For No. 8 Lamborn and new coach Dale MacLeod, this was a great way to mark their new partnership after the championship team scored just one win last year.
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Veteran Jason Rutledge, second from right, and his Southland teammates enjoy a rare win over Hawke’s Bay.
The final moments were dramatic, and home fans would have reason to be upset that they couldn’t witness this dramatic victory on the field.
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A 5-meter scrum to the Bay, which had All Blacks running back Brad Weber in the park in the second period, in the closing seconds could have killed Southland, but the home team managed to secure a turnover that allowed the jubilant Josh Moorby finish the match. I play by placing the ball on the dead ball line.
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Southland’s Jason Rutledge and Raniera Takarangi celebrate victory over Hawke’s Bay in winter Invercargill.
Two attempts were made per side, and the starting hookers did the business: Greg Pleasants-Tate for Southland and Ash Dixon for Hawke’s Bay.
Southland had to absorb the pressure in this match and attack like soldiers defending a chest of treasure and in the final minutes they were forced to
In the second half, the bay turned down several kickable penalties, backing up its starting drives to secure more points. Various lineout failures proved costly.
One sailed around the back when no one jumped and another also went into space because he couldn’t hit the target.
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After a terrible three-year streak, the Southland players had every reason to be excited about their tough 16-10 win over the Magpies.
Anyone who has ever had the privilege of venturing into the Deep South will know that when a strong southern wind sweeps across the southern plains, a rain cloud or two won’t be far off.
If such weather conditions hit during a rugby match, you pose the question to the forwards: Do you want to take control of this? And if they don’t, you ask them nicely if they’ve lost their minds.
However, it took a while for Hawke’s Bay to grasp the basics of playing in such conditions, and as a consequence, his daring attempts to pass the ball through the back often took off.
As for the attempts in the first half, there were two and none involved complicated movements from behind. They both went to the Bay Boys, and Dixon thrived out of the starting drives both times.
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Southland winger Matthew James stretches Hawke’s Bay defense during the Miter Cup 10 game at Invercargill.
The first came when a kick on goal was rejected, and after the ball was pushed into the corner for Bay to set up the inevitable.
The second, across the park, was a carbon copy of that. Dixon, again, rose from the drenched ground, with the five points.
Southland had every right to be disappointed that they did not rack up more points in the first 40 minutes.
Dan Carter played all 80 minutes on the return of his rugby club to Southbridge.
The first five eighths, Scott Eade, kicked two penalties, and a good play from a scrum should have resulted in a try if center Isaac Te Tamaki hadn’t lost the ball as he dived over the line.
Southland, not to be left behind, counterattacked with a similar effort five minutes after the restart; Pleasants-Tate emerged after a drive with the winning ticket.
When Pleasants-Tate made his second attempt, he was able to thank Lock Mike McKee for his conscientiousness and energy, after he charged with a clean kick to bring Southland within inches of the line.
Southland 16 (Greg Pleasants-Tate 2 attempts; Scott Eade 2 pens) Hawke’s Bay 10 (Ash Dixon 2 tries) HT: Hawke’s Bay 10-6.
MVP Points: Tony Lamborn, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Ash Dixon.
