ITM Cup: Waikato hold on to beat Manawatu

Waikato players Shaun Stevenson, Anton Leinert-Brown and Declan O'Donnell. Photo / Getty

Manawatu 21
Waikato 28

It ended up being a lot harder for Waikato than they imagined, but they got the win they just about deserved on balance.

Harder, because at 18-0 up after 20 minutes, they were on track to demolish Manawatu who were barely sited in that first quarter. The home side couldn't get their hands on the ball.

They couldn't win a lineout; knock Waikato off their feet at the breakdown or do much at all to get into the game.

It felt a little like a total mis-match at that stage. Waikato, after all, had access to All Blacks Liam Messam and Tawera Kerr-Barlow and that made a huge difference.

Kerr-Barlow was lively. He looked confident, willing to back himself to snipe around the fringes and play his natural game where his strength on the ball in those tight areas is such as asset.

Messam offered what he always does - hard work, strong ball-carrying and big tackling. He also took it upon himself to effectively act as the captain, making sure that referee Chris Pollock had all the information he needed to get the job done.

Three youngsters in the Waikato backline also chipped in with big performances. Damian McKenzie was composed and accurate; Anton Lienert-Brown picked some clever angled runs and 18-year-old Shaun Stevenson scored the opening try - using his pace and elusive running to good effect.

But as quickly as Waikato built their lead, they lost it. Their discipline was poor. Jordan Payne being sent to the bin for 10 minutes after he failed to let the ball go. Kerr-Barlow joined him for a deliberate knock-on - which was harsh - and Ben Tameifuna was lucky not to find himself on the sideline for spell, as the big man failed to keep his cool on several occasions.

Sensing the visitors were a little looser than they appeared, Manawatu clawed their way back into the game with two well-taken tries. That calmed them down and from there they played with more rhythm and control and when Nathan Tudreu went over in the corner with seven minutes left, the green machine was at full noise in pursuit of a draw or even a win.

They had plenty of opportunity to get over the line but a combination of lack of patience and superb defence kept them out and Waikato were able to hang on.

Manawatu 21 (G. Emery, F. Armstrong, N. Tudreu tries; O. Black 3 cons)
Waikato 28 (S. Stevenson, L. Uhila, D. McKenzie tries; D. McKenzie cons, 3 pens)