Rugby: Manawatu see-saw to opening win

Nehe Milner-Skudder of Manawatu is tackled by Hugh Reed of Hawke's Bay. Photo / Getty Images

Manawatu 32
Hawke's Bay 23

Manawatu see-sawed their way to a 32-23 win over Hawke's Bay in their national provincial championship rugby match in Palmerston North today.

After just one try in the first 40 minutes - Manawatu crossed right on the halftime whistle to sneak an 11-9 lead at the break - the second stanza saw five tries as the lead swapped hands with each touch down.

Hawke's Bay drew first blood, two penalties to first five-eighth Andrew Horrell giving them a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Manawatu first five-eighth Aaron Cruden ran his backline efficiently, dictating play and showing strength in the tackle to offload well but Manawatu struggled to break the advantage line.

The two teams continued to exchange penalties, two to Cruden against three from Horrell giving Hawke's Bay a 9-6 lead as the first half closed.

But right on the whistle for the break, Manawatu sprang into life, the ball finding winger Asaeli Tikoirotuma who showed pace down the right touch before offloading with a line ball for halfback Aaron Smith to score.

Cruden missed the conversion, but Manawatu were ahead 11-9 at the break.

Despite dominating territory, Hawke's Bay struggled to maintain possession and were guilty of too many handling errors, something they rectified early in the second half.

Hooker Hika Elliott sparked a counterattack with a midfield turnover, winger Tu Umaga-Marshall toed ahead and second five-eighth Ryan McLeod kept his eye on the ball to touch down near the posts.

Horrell converted and Hawke's Bay took the lead 16-11 six minutes into the spell, only to see the home team bounce back 10 minutes later after Cruden and Tikoirotuma combined for Tomasi Cama to slice through from fullback for the try.

Cruden's conversion gave them an 18-16 lead until Hawke's Bay were rewarded after building some forward momentum with a try to winger Sinoti Sinoti.

The conversion saw the visitors out in front 18-16, but the see-saw nature of the game continued and Manawatu hit the front 25-23 after a converted Casey Stone try with 25 minutes gone.

Manawatu's defensive structure held under real pressure in the closing 15 minutes, and as the clock ticked down the Manawatu forwards pounded the Bay line mercilessly until No 8 Hamish Gosling crashed over to put the game beyond doubt.

Manawatu 32 (Aaron Smith, Tomasi Cama, Casey Stone, Hamish Gosling tries; Aaron Cruden 2 pen, 3 con) Hawke's Bay 23 (Ryan McLeod, Sinoti Sinoti tries; Andrew Horrell 3 pen, 2 con). Halftime: 11-9.

- NZPA