Miter Cup 10: Hawke’s Bay scores after the siren to end 38-year drought against Canterbury

The 38-year drought is over, and maybe they can thank the T-shirts.

An attempt by captain Ash Dixon after the full-time siren secured Hawke’s Bay an impressive 20-19 Miter 10 Cup victory over Canterbury in Napier on Saturday night.

Equipped with a special one-of-a-kind t-shirt to support the farming community facing the adversity of one of Hawke’s Bay’s worst droughts, fans of 5082 at McLean Park were able to celebrate the end of a different drought.

His Magpies hadn’t beaten Canterbury since 1982. Sixteen losses and two draws in that time.

READ MORE:
* 10 Miter Cup: Tony Lamborn leads the way as the Southland Stags face off at home
* Three-time defending champion Canterbury reached ominous form in the Farah Palmer Cup.
* Miter Cup 10: David Havili sends a reminder to the All Blacks in Tasman’s win over Waikato

And here they were, with a 10-0 lead at halftime and the Reds and Blacks looking vulnerable, a week after losing the Ranfurly Shield, then also their large contingent of All Blacks.

But there they were, 19-10 after a three-shot comeback in the third quarter from Canterbury.

However, after Jonah Lowe’s try in the 68th minute got the hosts back in with a shot, there they were, still behind, 19-15, but after a huge scrum shunt penalty win at the mermaid, still in the mix.

Another penalty shortly after had them kicking for a short-range lineout, and then it all started.

Captain Dixon made the pitch, Tom Parsons took it, the puck was put in, bodies came from everywhere to push, and the crowd of 5000 suddenly made the noise of 50,000 as the bypass proved unstoppable and Dixon exploded over the line to seal a famous victory.

Since that 21-13 victory on Thursday, Aug. 26, 1982 at Nelson Park in Hastings, this had not been accomplished, a date before the Magpies’ lineup had been born.

After an initial loss to Southland, they are now well and truly back on track, jumping, at least temporarily until the round is over, to the top of the Championship standings.

For Canterbury, it only adds to their headaches. As if admitting the log o ‘Wood wasn’t bad enough, they are now back-to-back defeats to championship division rivals, placing them fourth in the Premiership.

The visitors were their worst enemies from the start, careless in their execution, ever since a simple seventh-minute penalty attempt by Brett Cameron hit the post.

Five minutes later, they killed a try after Manasa Mataele made an excellent break on the field but couldn’t find the finishing touch. He teamed up too late with Mitchell Drummond, who was then suffocated just before the line, and then Brendon O’Connor earned a penalty in the breakout.

The visitors barely enjoyed much more ball in the first period, as the magpies took over.

After a brilliant opening play by several teammates, Lolagi Visinia stormed close to the quarter mark, but the TMO confirmed he was behind, thanks to the hard work of Mataele and Whetukamokamo Douglas.

But after a Lincoln McClutchie penalty opened the scoring in the 21st minute, Visinia couldn’t refuse the next time he crashed, six minutes later.

A long ball from McClutchie, passed by O’Connor, sent the powerful winger exploding 20 yards from the right touch and launching himself at Andrew Knewstubb on the try line.

McClutchie’s charming conversion made it 10-0, and it stayed that way until halftime, when the home crowd sniffed a surprise.

The Magpies immediately began the second spell in style, with Visinia athletically gathering the kickoff and her team entering the Canterbury red zone.

But, in the blink of an eye, the momentum was reversed via a Billy Harmon fumble win and, a couple of penalties later, the visitors were suddenly attacking from a short-range lineout, with the hooker Shilo Klein benefiting from his first points from the side.

They had their second attempt in the 56th minute when rookie lock Sam Darry, Blues 2021 signing, sank and Cameron’s extras up front put Canterbury ahead.

When the time came, they extended their lead to nine, after Josh McKay came in from 50 yards, having latched onto a beautiful pass from Ngane Punivai.

But when Lowe made his best front rower impression and reached out to place the ball over the line from the ruck, Hawke’s Bay wasn’t done.

It seemed they had packed their chance when a short-range lineout with eight minutes to go was followed by a risky Fakatava folau that went too long, and when Canterbury continued to apply strong defensive heat and win penalties.

But, of course, they were not made.

Take a look

Hawke’s Bay 20 (Lolagi Visinia, Jonah Lowe, Ash Dixon tries; Lincoln McClutchie scam, pen) Canterbury 19 (Shilo Klein, Sam Darry, Josh McKay tries; Brett Cameron 2 scam). HT: 10-0.

MVP Points: Visinia World 3, Danny Toala 2, Navigator 1.