Miter Cup 10: Hawke’s Bay wins second championship in five years

Hawke’s Bay shouldn’t have to wait long to find out exactly what their Miter 10 Cup championship win means.

Their 36-24 win against Northland at Napier on Friday night ensures they are the second tier kings of the NPC, but it won’t be known if there is a top spot to move up to until New Zealand Rugby reveals whether they are renewing the competition. .

Regardless of the decision early next month, no one could argue that magpies are not worthy winners.

The Ranfurly Shield holders were the top team in the championship all season, and to be fair, they wouldn’t look out of place in the Premier final on Saturday night.

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Five years after last winning the championship section, they did not save the best for the final and were forced to work for the silverware, which could potentially be theirs forever.

Vague and overly adventurous in the first half, they didn’t lead the team they beat 33-17 during the regular season until the 45th minute.

Tied 17-17 in the split, wing James Lowe’s second try of the night gave the Magpies the lead. They didn’t look back on the six attempts to four wins.

It was the first of three shots in the space of 13 minutes, as midfielder Neria Fomai and captain Ash Dixon also lunged, leading the Magpies to a 36-17 lead with a shadow of more than a quarter of the match by to play.

Runner Folau Fakatava was outstanding again, teasing the magpies with his electric running game and blazing fast service in the ruck.

But it is more than a live wire on the attack. It was his big shot that caused the fumble in the run-up to Fomai’s second attempt.

Fakatava then took a pass and split Taniwha in half, before taunting his Highlanders teammate Scott Gregory, stomping on it and unloading himself at Fomai.

Northland midfielder Tamati Tua scored a consolation try in the 75th minute, snatching the ball from Stacey Ili’s grasp and running 30 meters.

Hawke’s Bay was in good spirits early on as well, inviting the underdog for early opportunities to strike through reckless play within their own 22.

Fullback Kurt Baker, center Lincoln McClutchie and number 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u were all guilty of being too adventurous and throwing bad passes, leading to a pair of 5-meter scrums from Northland.

The Taniwha needed no invitation. Prop Luatangi Li overcame to put his team up 7-0 in as many minutes.

Hawke’s Bay struck back through Lowe and Fomai, who was primed by a run from Solomone Funaki, to put the hosts 12-7 ahead.

Things seemed to go according to script.

However, Fomai backed his attempt by coughing up the restart and gifting the visitors another golden opportunity.

Northland center Rene Ranger fired into the ruck and unloaded running back Will Grant, who dived to level the scores at 12-12.

Hawke’s Bay’s inaccuracy continued in the strangest ways: hooker Dixon throwing a shaky dart at the lineout.

Former Crusader Jone Macilai also made them pay, fighting his way through a gap and unloading flanker Tom Robinson to finish the job.

Hawke’s Bay winger Lolagi Visinia, having misread the mighty Macilai, made up for his mistake three minutes later, when he finished off a rough play off, tying the score at 17-17.

Hawke’s Bay 36 (Jonah Lowe 2, Neria Fomai 2, Lolagi Visinia, Ash Dixon tries; Lincoln McClutchie 2 scam, Caleb Makene scam) Northland 24 (Luatangi Li, Will Grant, Tom Robinson, Tamati Tua tries; Dan Hawkins, Johnny Cooper scam). HT: 17-17.