Rugby: Hawke's Bay bag late draw

Zac Guildford of Hawkes Bay is tackled. Photo / Getty Images

Waikato and Hawke's Bay fought out an absorbing see-saw of a battle ending even at 27-27 in their ITM Cup match at McLean Park in Napier today.

An injury-time penalty opened the door for Hawke's Bay wing Richard Buckman to nonchalanty strike a sweet 48-metre penalty to secure the draw in the 83rd minute after Waikato led 12-6 at halftime.

It was the Bay's second draw of the season after a 23-23 scoreline in their season opener against defending champions Canterbury.

Although Hawke's Bay started the scoring with a well-struck 40-metre penalty from first five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick in the fifth minute, from then on it was all Waikato.

Their early dominance in terms of territory and possession was rewarded inside 10 minutes when a quick tap from a scrum penalty saw centre Save Tokula hit the ball at pace out wide and barrel over for the try.

First five Trent Renata added the extras, and continued to keep Hawke's Bay on the back foot with some astute tactical kicking.

Eight minutes later, Waikato halfback Brendon Leonard found space on the blindside, breaking the Hawke's Bay line and offloaded to wing Tim Mikkelson who drew the defence before linking with Messam on the inside for the score.

Renata missed the conversion and Hawke's Bay closed the gap through another long-range Kirkpatrick penalty with 25 minutes gone.

As halftime neared, Hawke's Bay's defence out wide was sorely tested, first by No 8 Liam Messam on the left wing then by Mikkelson on the right.

Both times, some excellent scrambling defence saved all-but-certain tries and Waikato went into the break with an unconvincing 12-6 lead.

Four minutes into the second spell, and with Hawke's Bay on attack, Renata extended Waikato's lead after fullback Sosene Anesi sliced up the midfield and found Dwayne Sweeney who popped the pass for Renata to score.

Hawke's Bay responded five minutes later through prop Clint Newland, who proved unstoppable from close in.

With another Kirkpatrick penalty narrowing Waikato's lead to 19-14, loosehead prop Toby Smith gave the visitors some breathing space when he powered over with 20 minutes remaining.

However, Hawke's Bay fullback Gillies Kaka showed tremendous skill and footwork five minutes later to toe the ball ahead, dance along the touchline and steal a dazzling try.

A 50-metre Buckman penalty levelled the scores at 24-24, before another Renata 40m effort returned the lead to Waikato only to see Buckman step up again in injury time for another mammoth effort to tie the match.

Waikato 27 (Save Tokula, Liam Messam, Trent Renata, Toby Smith tries; Trent Renata 2 con, pen) Hawke's Bay 24 (Clint Newland, Gillies Kaka tries; Daniel Kirkpatrick 3 pen, con; Richard Buckman 2 pen). Halftime: 12-6.

- NZPA