KEY POINTS:
Northland defied the elements and weight of possession to upset Waikato 18-10 in their Air NZ Cup opening round match at Whangarei last night.
The hosts spent much of the match on defence but defended stoutly and struck with a try in each half to topple opponents laden with Chiefs Super 14 talent.
Up 13-3 at halftime but playing into a strong wind in the second spell, Northland dug in and virtually sealed the result through a brilliant breakout try to fullback Jared Payne with 20 minutes remaining.
It was a gutsy performance from the northerners, who won all three of their pre-season matches.
Waikato had an edge in the forward exchanges and dominated more than 70 per cent territory but were guilty of sloppy ball retention at the tackle and of basic errors whenever they built pressure.
Fullback Dwayne Sweeney scored their only points of the first half with a 10th-minute penalty but he missed two others.
Northland first five-eighth David Howell kicked three from four shots for an eight-point haul and was a controlling figure throughout along with fellow-veteran Justin Collins, their flanker and captain.
Ground conditions at Okara Cup were surprisingly good given the wet weather to have struck the region this week but the wind made it difficult to play expansively.
Holwell and Sweeney traded penalties in the opening exchanges before an important Northland double midway through the first half - a Holwell penalty followed by a sweet try to second five-eighth Leo Taliu.
Taliu cut back against the flow with perfect timing off a pass from midfield partner Aiden Dewes and dashed 40m to score.
It capped the best attacking move of the game, which began with a Holwell chip and chase from deep.
The middle two quarters were scoreless before Payne burst down the blind on a 65m run from a scrum which included a fend on opposite number Sweeney to score in the right corner.
Waikato scored their sole try with 9min remaining through loose forward reserve Sione Lauaki, who put his All Blacks axing behind with a strong display of ball-carrying.
They were denied another moments later when winger Sosene Anesi was deemed to lack control in his grounding of the ball by the third match official in a close call.
- NZPA
