BoP facing playoff after narrow loss

By CHRIS RATTUE - Northland 22 Bay of Plenty 18

Bay of Plenty look set to fight for NPC first division survival in the promotion-relegation game, after they were beaten by Northland in Rotorua last night.

Northland's three-tries-to-nil, four-point win in the final round left Bay of Plenty in second-last position. They will be automatically relegated if Counties Manukau, three points behind them, cause a major boilover and beat Auckland at Eden Park tomorrow.

The Bay of Plenty players' heads dropped as referee Lyndon Bray signalled fulltime at the International Stadium in a match decided in the 77th minute through a try to Northland wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

With the scores at 15-15, Northland worked a planned move, with Caucaunibuca, who had an unusually quiet game, coming in from the left and beating the tackle of Damian Karauna on the way to the line.

Playing into the wind, Bay of Plenty had held sway for many periods in the second half, but when they did break the line through the likes of Karauna's jinking runs, they could not finish it off.

Instead, they had to rely on six penalties from Glen Jackson to keep their score ticking over, and it always seemed that unless they could score a try, penalties alone would not be good enough.

It capped another solid season's work from the Northlanders, who were not in danger of relegation but could not make the playoffs either going into this game. The result meant they overtook Taranaki, who have a bye, to finish seventh.

Northland led 12-9 at halftime after playing into the wind. Superbly placed touchfinders from Jackson put his side into good positions, but the tryscoring opportunities went begging through misdirected final passes, including one from Jackson.

A solo run from halfback Sam Pinder brought Northland their first try. And fullback Hayden Taylor - in his last game before going to Italy - scored the second when Jackson fell off the tackle.

The hard-driving work from forwards such as hooker Derren Witcombe and loosie Vula Maimuri gave Northland the advantage in the spell.

They put together some clever back moves, with runners hitting flat passes, but they also struggled to give their dangerous wings, Fero Lasagavibau and Caucaunibuca, enough room to cut loose.

The first division side will have home advantage in the promotion-relegation game against either Hawkes Bay or East Coast, who play the second division final in Napier tomorrow.

Northland 22 (S. Pinder, H. Taylor, R. Caucaunibuca tries, J. Arlidge 2 con, pen) Bay of Plenty 18 (G. Jackson 6 pen). Halftime: 12-9.