Bay of Plenty first five Mike Delany was in superb form against Waikato at Tauranga Domain today. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER
Bay of Plenty first five Mike Delany was in superb form against Waikato at Tauranga Domain today. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER
Bay of Plenty Steamers earned a home semifinal next weekend in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship after a superb 36-32 victory over Waikato at Tauranga Domain on Saturday afternoon.
It has been many a season since Tauranga Domain was packed to the rafters - probably pre-Baypark Stadium in the 1990s - but the venerable old ground provided a wonderful atmosphere.
More than 5,000 were at the game, with many missing the opening 20 minutes as queues snaked past Wharepai Domain a block away.
Once inside, they saw an impressive Bay of Plenty performance in the opening 40 minutes, dominating territory and they had Waikato at their mercy. But they were unable to make all the advantages they had pay and a calamitous final minute of the half saw Waikato score a converted try to ease back into the game to trail 19-12.
In that final play of the half, Lalakai Foketi was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for a deliberate knock on, giving Waikato a numerical advantage to start the second half.
Earlier, Bay of Plenty blindside flanker Tom Franklin handled three times in the key move that opened up the Mooloos, with fullback Chase Tiatia crossing for the easiest of finishes.
The lead lasted just two minutes with Atu Moli crashing over at the other end after Waikato won a penalty from the kick-off.
Steamers winger Monte Ioane has been superb all season and surely deserves a Super Rugby contract. His startling run through the Waikato defensive set up Foketi for a fine try.
Ioane made another crucial break to split the Waikato defence and Terrence Hepetema reacted quickly to score out wide. Delany converted for a 19-5 lead before Waikato winger Sevu Reece set up and scored the Waikato try after the hooter.
Waikato began the second stanza in style with a well-taken try to Pita Ahki and with a conversion and penalty, Waikato had the lead for the first time.
The Steamers forced successive scrums on Waikato's line. Pressure told as Ahki was sin binned for a deliberate knock down and the Bay's advantage paid off as Foketi crashed over. Delany converted, then added a penalty to put the Bay ahead 29-22 with 15 minutes left.
Replacement halfback Luke Campbell finished off a counter attack move involving Hugh Blake, Webber and Fekitoa. Delany slotted a great goal to put the Steamers 36-22.
But Waikato were not finished yet, with Laghlan McWhannell and Loni Uhila scoring to set up a nerve wracking final minute for Bay of Plenty supporters.
Part of the big crowd look on as Bay of Plenty and Waikato forward packs meet. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER
Delany was a class act throughout the match and his deadly accurate goalkicking proved decisive in the end.
Steamers assistant coach Rodney Gibbs says it was tough watching the final stages of the game, as the tension mounted.
"We played some really good rugby and then allowed them back in the game at times. It was probably good for the spectators and probably good for rugby in general. When we had the ball we did some really good things and it was working really well," he said.
"But it is just the little things when you let teams back in. You have to be really disciplined and accurate. You have to keep growing. We have a good group of boys and they will learn from that for next week.'
The loss relegated Waikato to the Championship next year - first time out of the top tier since 1986.
