Rugby: Shield gets a Taranaki summer

Taranaki celebrate. Photo / Getty Images

Taranaki 29 Hawkes Bay 11

They can slap sunscreen and Jandals on the Ranfurly Shield in New Plymouth as Taranaki's convincing win over Hawkes Bay ensured it would stay in the province for the summer.

That, combined with avoiding the ignominy of the Shield's shortest reign, saw the majority of the 17,800-crowd leave Yarrow Stadium fixed with a rictus grin.

"It's the biggest Sunday night in New Plymouth for a long time," Taranaki Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said, as he pondered benefits to the balance sheet and a surge of passion for the sport in the province.

They'll spend the next few days celebrating, then you could not blame Robinson and coach Colin Cooper if a colder reality hits home.

For the second year running, despite having a better record than some above them, they have missed out on the playoffs. Last year they finished out of the semifinals, despite having a better win-loss record than fourth-placed Wellington.

This year they posted a meritorious 7-3 record, but Canterbury will travel to Hamilton for the final next week, despite having won six and lost four matches.

"Bonus points" are two dirty words in the Naki. "We could look through all the trials and tribulations of the past few weeks and certain decisions around bonus points and officiating, but it doesn't do a lot of good," Robinson said. "We're committed to winning as many games as we can."

Taranaki's victory over the Bay was based on a tireless forward pack, including discarded All Black Jarrad Hoeata, two classy interventions from the backs and a flawless kicking display from Beauden Barrett.

The Magpies started well but there was never the sense they were going to lift the Log once Frazier Climo cut back against the traffic to score midway through the first half. When Jayden Hayward cleverly grubbered and regathered, the game was over and the crowd could finally relax.

Hawkes Bay have now lost two matches on the trot and face a battle to turn things around before meeting Manawatu in Sunday's championship final.