Rugby: Robinson key to solid win

Air NZ Cup
Southland 16
Waikato 6

Robbie Robinson displayed his increasing maturity with an outstanding performance as Southland began its Air New Zealand Cup campaign with a solid win over Waikato at Rugby Park in Invercargill last night.

The New Zealand under-20 star kicked 13 points, four goals from six attempts, and controlled play with authority from first five-eighth.

Southland got its dander up in the second spell and, while there was only one try in the match, there was no question the Stags were the superior side.

They had a solid platform up front through Jamie Mackintosh, David Hall and Chris King and there was some outstanding work from the flankers, John Hardie and Tim Boys, and No 8 Hua Tamariki.

Scott Cowan, brother of All Black Jimmy, was a feisty, competitive halfback, Kendrick Lynn ran strongly at centre but the standout was second five-eighth Jason Kawau.

He had a huge workrate, made vital tackles, broke the line several times and made the break that led to the only try.

It was an unrewarding night for Waikato and, hard as he tried, captain Liam Messam was unable to inspire his team-mates into sustained action.

There were patches. Dwayne Sweeney ran strongly from the left wing, new first five-eighth Sam Christie took the ball to the line strongly and halfback David Bason was excellent on cover defence.

But, as the second spell unfolded, the Stags' forwards became increasingly dominant and, when Waikato did launch some concerted attacks, there was simply no way through the dedicated Southland defence.

There was nothing flashy about Southland but they showed enough to suggest they have the character to again feature in the play-offs. For Waikato, it is back to the drawing board as they try to introduce more firepower in both backs and forwards before round two.

Both sides had their injury problems before the match.

The recuperating Sione Lauaki and Kevin O'Neill were a week away from action for Waikato while promising centre Jackson Willison is out for the season after breaking the scaphoid bone in his hand.

James Wilson was a late withdrawal for Southland with a calf strain, which continued his sequence of injury misfortune.

Southland were confident after last year, when they were a beaten semifinalist but Waikato were seeking redemption after a patchy campaign which ended in the quarter-finals.

But history favoured Waikato for the Stags had beaten the Mooloos only once in the past 20 years, 24-13 in 2003.

It was 3-3 at halftime after a good, old-fashioned arm wrestle.

Waikato had an edge in territory and possession but lost four lineouts on its own throw and it was also under pressure from the Stags in some scrums.

The try drought was eventually broken nine minutes into the second spell after an incisive break by Southland midfielder Jason Kawau ended with Jamie Mackintosh scooping a pass to left wing Pehi Te Whare who scored under the posts.

The Stags led 10-6 but neither side had yet been able to establish an ascendancy.

Robinson, who was shifted from fullback to first five-eighth to replace Wilson, is a clever and resourceful player and he kicked two awkward penalties, after 24 and 26 minutes of the half, to extend the Stags' lead to 16-6.

Waikato's miserable night continued when both props, Ben May and Nathan White, had to leave the field with injuries and uncontested scrums were played for the last 12 minutes.

Southland 16 ( P. Te Whare try, R. Robinson con, 3 pens); Waikato 6 (C. Bruce 2 pens). Halftime: 3-3.