Gutsy Southland make Waikato work for quarterfinal win

Waikato 24 Southland 12

Waikato tuned up for their Air New Zealand Cup rugby semifinal against Wellington with a 24-12 quarterfinal win over Southland in Hamilton tonight.

Starting the match without a handful of key players such as Steven Bates and Byron Kelleher, Waikato were tested by a determined Southland who gave no quarter in defence.

Waikato had an early lead through a David Hill penalty but it was Southland who took control of the game in the opening minutes, retaining possession and moving the ball around the park.

They were unlucky not to have scored twice in quick succession with centre Alesena Muliaina's foot grazing the sideline just before he planted to ball down in the corner and minutes later, prop Jamie Mackintosh was held up.

Waikato, who topped the Top Six table at the end of the pool play were made to look ordinary for most of the first half by Southland who had taken the long route through the repechage rounds to make the quarterfinals.

As always, it was left to All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu to provide most of the entertainment.

He made a couple of searing runs which came to nought due to lack of support but then he showed he could be a provider as well as a finisher.

Collecting the ball in midfield, he glided into the 22 before delivering a sleight of hand pass to fullback Mils Muliaina who made his way into the scoring zone unchecked in the 35th minute.

A two-try burst put paid to Southland's hopes early in the second half as first, Waikato prop Aled de Malmanche finished off a five-metre forward rumble from a lineout and then wing Sosene Anisi finished off a sweeping move started by Hill just inside the Southland half.

Southland were unable to finish off the few raids they managed to put together, mostly from long range.

It was not until James Wilson replaced Blair Stewart at first five-eighth late in the second half that Southland broke the solid Waikato defence.

Off a lineout, halfback Jimmy Cowan fed Wilson and the lanky 1.95m back from the Blues club, slithered past Stephen Bates on the outside to score his first try in the 66th minute that he converted.

Seven minutes later, he stopped a Waikato sally dead in its tracks when he burgled the ball out of Anesi's hands and raced 60m for his second touchdown afterwhich Waikato locked down the game.

Waikato 24 (Mils Muliaina, Aled de Malmanche, Sosene Anesi tries; David Hill pen, 3 con)
Southland 12 (James Wilson 2 tries; Wilson con).
HT: 10-0.

- NZPA