Hawke's Bay's hopes of completing a Bunnings Premiership/Ranfurly Shield double for 2021 moved a step closer after their 41-14 win over Waikato in Napier on Saturday.

The win lifted Hawke's Bay to 31 points, eight points clear of Wellington with Waikato two points back and Tasman one point behind on 20 points.

In the Championship, Taranaki continued their run as the only unbeaten team with seven wins, their latest over Manawatu 47-35, with Manawatu in second place 12 points behind.

Hawke's Bay's remaining competition game is away to Manawatu next weekend while Taranaki will host Southland in a fortnight, the week before the semifinals.

Hawke's Bay 41 Waikato 14

Shield holders Hawke's Bay signalled early intent in their defence by scoring within the first two minutes, hooker Jacob Devery going over from a lineout maul to rock Waikato. The visitors responded with their own mauling try 13 minutes later. Bay second five-eighths Danny Toala fed a perfect ball to wing Neria Fomai running on the angle to take ball to the goalline where Toala picked the ball from the back of the ruck to score. But Waikato came straight back with wing Liam Coombes-Fabling somehow finding a way to corkscrew through tackles to roll over for Waikato to claim a 14-12 halftime lead. Once Bay first five-eighths Lincoln McClutchie claimed the lead with a 54th minute penalty goal that was the last chance Waikato had. He backed that with a superb lob in-goal where Fomai soared to take the ball to score. Then, in the final 12 minutes, they slammed the door shut with tries to Tom Parsons, Fomai for his second - a length of the field dazzler set up by replacement Danny Tusitala - and replacement Ollie Sapsford. It was the ninth successful defence of the era.

Hawke's Bay 41 (Jacob Devery, Danny Toala, Neria Fomai 2, Tom Parsons, Ollie Sapsford tries; Lincoln McClutchie 4 con, pen) Waikato 14 (Steven Misa, Liam Coombes-Fabling tries; D'Angelo Leuila 2 con). HT: 12-14

Article: https://www.provincial.rugby/news/the-magpies-magic-season-rolls-on/
Article added: Wednesday 27 October 2021